CLINICAL INTERNSHIP: Community Counseling Trainee

Description

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Since our founding in 1895 in Marin County as an orphanage – and through subsequent years as Sunny Hills Services – Side by Side has been at the forefront of best practices in child welfare, working with the most vulnerable youth in our community. Today, Side by Side operates in four counties – Marin, Alameda, Sonoma, and Napa – across the Bay Area, reaching nearly 2,000 children, young adults, and family members per year with much-needed services related to behavioral and mental health, early intervention in schools, LGBTQIA support, transitional housing for foster youth, and special education. 

Side By Side places high value on individuals with a passion for helping underserved youth and families in a collaborative and inclusive work culture. We strive to work together to create a trauma-informed workplace where we walk the walk of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Community Counseling clinical services are individualized and include school, home, and community-based support for youth ages 5-26. Informed by a holistic understanding of the young person’s history and strengths, Community Counseling supports the development of coping skills and strategies to help the family function more effectively and the young person attain stability and a sense of personal agency.

Community Counseling includes a spectrum of community-based services to respond to the specific needs of the individual young person and their family, as follows:

• For mild to moderate diagnoses, such as depression and anxiety, services include individual and group therapy through telehealth, in office locations, as well as on-site in schools and other youth-serving organizations (post-pandemic).
• For moderate to severe diagnoses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder/mood disorders, or early onset psychosis, services include individual and group counseling and rehabilitation, as well as crisis stabilization and medication management.

Raices Unidas is primarily done in Spanish through group and parent workshops with for youth in K-12 and their parents. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide culturally responsive, strengths-based, trauma informed services to youth (ages 5-26 in the Outpatient Therapy Program (OBHS) which provides in office, school based and virtual individual therapy to youth (ages 5-26) experiencing mild to moderate mental health symptoms using a variety of clinical approaches and interventions to reduce symptoms.
• Participate in program outreach and program development as appropriate.
• Attend weekly OBH supervision (1 hr) and group supervision (2 hrs) is optional and available. 
• Responsible for writing progress notes and documentation as needed for programs and services, as well as curriculum development.
• Chart and record services rendered in accordance with agency standards.
• Maintain intern standards set by student has identified by university.
• Participate in developing goals, treatment plans, and surveys as appropriate. 
• Participate in intakes through the assessment and diagnosis with support and supervision.
• Develop and teach child/youth effective tools/skills for coping with challenging behaviors through therapeutic relationships. 
• Interact with school personnel for referrals.
• Developing a transition plan that achieves independence for youth.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of internship being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and expectations required of the position.

AGENCY-WIDE CORE COMPETENCIES

Ethical Conduct: Understands and adheres to the Agency’s Code of Conduct, demonstrates a high level of integrity in all internal and external activities and complies with all Agency policies, practices and procedures. Must maintain strict confidentiality related to client, staff and other Agency information.

Communication: Able to inform verbally and in writing, with clarity and good effect and to understand clearly and quickly when instructions or orders are received. Includes judgment about what information is important and what is not, and what should be communicated, how, to whom and when. 

Judgment: Able to make decisions in a timely fashion that are sound, accurate and supported by the reasoning and inclusion of appropriate people. Includes the ability to recognize, address and propose solutions to problems that arise. 

Safety: The intern is safety conscious about the work environment and equipment. The work area is free of debris. All products and equipment are stored in its proper location. Standard operating procedures and safety work rules are followed on a daily basis.

Trauma-Informed Care: Responsible for upholding the principles of youth-oriented, trauma-informed care in all service provision.

Theory of Change: Will be supportive of and make every effort in daily work with clients to integrate the SBS agency philosophy and Theory of Change, which is defined as follows: Early intervention and intensive, holistic services guide at-risk children and youth on pathways to achieve emotional, social and functional well-being.

INTERNSHIP-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Work Quality: Performance of work to standard with a minimum of avoidable errors and problems. Includes meeting deadlines and commitments and communication on a timely basis, even when there are obstacles to meeting them, as well as adherence to productivity standards. 

Priority Setting: Spends their time and the time of others on what's important. Quickly zeros in on the critical few and puts the trivial aside. Can quickly sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal. Eliminates roadblocks, creates focus and uses time effectively.

Intern Knowledge: Intern has relevant knowledge and skill to perform job duties. Includes awareness and possession or mastery of position facts, practices, manual skills and techniques and decision-making methods. Demonstrates ability to use technology to efficiently complete work assignments, including demonstrated proficiency in using personal computers, email, the Internet and web-based programs, and necessary familiarity with Microsoft Office products, particularly Word and Excel. Also includes ability to assess own strengths and weaknesses and taking the initiative to seek feedback and further training to improve performance. Individuals who excel in this area strive to share their job knowledge with others. 

Cooperation: Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships. Exhibits tact and consideration. Displays positive outlook and pleasant manner. Offers assistance and support to others. Works cooperatively in group situations as the situation requires. Works actively to resolve conflicts.

Adaptability: Picks up on the need to change personal, interpersonal, and managerial behavior quickly. Watches others for their reactions to their attempts to influence and adjusts. Seeks feedback. Is sensitive to changing personal demands and requirements and changes accordingly. Demonstrates ability to work with clients in a wide variety of cultural contexts and community settings.

Composure: Maintains composure in internal and external interactions and situations. Able to handle personal and work-related stress. Acts with maturity and confidence, stays in balance and is a calming influence in challenging situations.

Cultural Responsiveness: 1) Commitment to working in a diverse workplace, and self-awareness regarding issues of race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion/spirituality and disability. 2) Passion for working with a diverse group of adolescent clients, including youth of color, LGBTQ youth, and youth with disabilities. 

Requirements

INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS

• Current participation in a university program requiring internship experience as part of education and degree.
• California Department of Justice and FBI fingerprint clearance.
• Must have a dependable car, valid driver’s license, and proof of insurance.
• Insurable by Side By Side’s automobile policy.
• Please note that the COVID-19 vaccination is mandated for all Side by Side interns, except in the cases of approved medical or religious accommodations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Walking, standing, twisting and bending for brief periods of time.
• Occasional reaching and/or grasping using hands and/or arms.
• Regular use of hands requiring dexterity in using the telephone, computer keyboard, mouse or calculator.
• Regularly required to talk and hear in person or by telephone.
• Visual ability to read documents and computer monitor.
• May be required to lift up to 10 pounds.
• May be required to ascend/descend stairs.
• Ability to drive.

AGENCY EXPECTATIONS 

• Adhere to all Agency Health and Safety policies and procedures administratively as well as related to the care of our clients.
• Adhere to the Agency’s Code of Conduct, as well as any other agency policies and procedures.
• Attend and participate in all required agency supervisions, meetings and trainings.
• Must maintain strict confidentiality related to client, staff and other Agency information.

NEXT STEPS

interested candidates, please submit a copy of your resume, cover letter and two letters of recommendation.

Thank you and good luck!

Side By Side is an Equal Opportunity agency and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or veteran status.