Breathe Support Services Clinician: Portland High School

Job Title: BREATHE PROGRAM CLINICIAN: Portland High School Breathe Support Services

Report to: Building Administrators, Director of Breathe

Portland High School is seeking a Breathe clinician to fill a new opening in their Breathe Support program.
This is a full time, school year position at Portland High School. The clinician filling this position will be a key member of the PHS Breathe Support team and the broader PHS community. The median, starting salary range for this position falls between $42,000 and $62,000 per school year. A generous benefit package is included. Salaries (including starting salaries) and benefits for this position are bound by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Initial salaries are based on education and relevant experience established by the parameters outlined in the CBA.

SUMMARY: Under the direct supervision of building administrators and general supervision of the Director of Breathe, Breathe clinicians provide services to address significant social, emotional, and behavioral challenges that interfere with students accessing their education. In alignment with the district’s Portland Promise and accepted therapeutic professional practices, Breathe clinicians provide comprehensive therapeutic support for students with behavioral challenges and serve as advocates for students’ access to the least restrictive learning environment.

A Breathe Program Clinician has a background in trauma-informed practices and applies a multi-dimensional approach to creating and sustaining a team-based model of therapeutic special education. Breathe Clinicians are collaborative leaders who model adaptive approaches, social-emotional competence, and student-centered thinking to co-create structured and therapeutic classroom environments.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides evidence-based, individual and group therapeutic services within special education behavioral support and day treatment settings.

• Provides assessment of emotional and behavioral needs with recommendations for clinical and/or environmental interventions at school, home and/or in community with quarterly reassessment.

• Participates as a member of a Breathe team that includes special educators and behavioral health professionals.

• Participates in school-based teams involving collaboration with other school personnel and community agencies.

• Provides crisis intervention and appropriate referrals and follow-up.

• Creates and monitors behavior support plans for students in collaboration with the team.

• Serves as a liaison between school, family, including linkage to outside mental health agencies, and community resources; serves as a source of information regarding community resources.

• Consults and coordinates child welfare and safety referrals and provides follow-up case-management.

• Develops and maintains intensive treatment plans (ITP), comprehensive assessments, and other documents as needed.

• Using the existing system, submits required information for section 65 Mainecare reimbursement for services.

• Participates in the individual education plan (IEP) and provides services as determined.

• Develops individualized student therapeutic goals for the IEP.

• Pursues professional development opportunities related to needs assessment for program and school community.

• Applies knowledge of health, mental health, disabilities, and child development in order to ensure that children and families receive the full range of services they require.

• Works with the school community while attending to equity and cultural humility.

• Maintains professional boundaries, code of ethics, and confidentiality.

• Performs necessary intake, treatment planning, supervision of BHPs, record-keeping and billing requirements.

• Demonstrates active reflection regarding personal, implicit bias and a commitment to challenging personal perspectives and deepening self-awareness.

• Performs related work as needed and as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Working knowledge of the pertinent standards and regulations in Maine programs, low-income and culturally diverse populations, and trauma-informed practices.

• Knowledge of the principles and methods of trauma-informed, therapeutic programming.

• Knowledge of positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS).

• Ability to collaborate with a diverse clinical and teaching staff.

• Ability to implement the goals and objectives of programming and evaluate outcomes.

• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with PPS staff, community agencies, and families.

• Effective team leadership skills.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, proficient computer skills, and time-management.

• Experience and knowledge of the process of section 65 Mainecare reimbursement preferred.

• Familiarity with IEP processes and professional practices is preferred.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:

• Clinical Masters degree, from an accredited university or college, that allows licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC).

• Experience in delivery of clinical services to students and families.

• Experience providing therapeutic services in a school setting is preferred.

CERTIFICATE AND LICENSE:

• Licensed, or eligible for licensure, in Maine as one of the following:

  • LCSW

  • LCSW-CC

  • LCPC

  • LCPC-C

• Willingness and ability to be certified in PPS’s crisis response and intervention program.

• Maine state fingerprint (CHRC) authorization ($70; website: https://www.maine.gov/doe/cert/fingerprinting/index.html)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: May vary from light physical to heavy physical (crisis support)

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: N/A

OVERTIME ELIGIBLE: No

Portland Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.