Mental Health Specialists

UPPER ARLINGTON CITY SCHOOLS 
JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Mental Health Specialist
Reports to: Chief Excellence and Engagement Officer/Designee
Employment Status: Regular/Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt

Description: Provides case management, diagnostic assessments, and therapeutic intervention services to address student needs that are consistent with the district’s mission and mandated requirements.

Qualifications:

• Graduate or professional degree
• Valid Ohio social worker or counselor license (e.g., LSW, LISW, LPC, LPCC, etc.).  Independent License (LPCC/LISW) preferred.
• Two years of social work, counseling, or related experience preferred
• Training and/or experience in behavioral management techniques.
• Alternative to the above qualifications as the superintendent and/or board of education may find appropriate
• Experience with drug and alcohol intervention

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to work effectively with others
• Ability to communicate ideas and directives clearly and effectively both orally and in writing
• Effective, active listening skills
• Organizational and problem solving skills
• Knowledge of barriers to learning (physical, mental, behavioral) and strategies and resources to overcome such barriers 
• Knowledge of public school policies and practices
• Experience teaching and/or coordinating academic programs
• Experience leading professional learning opportunities for other professionals
• Ability and skill to operate various computer programs
• Understanding and patient with staff, parents, and students
• Ability to access community resources appropriate to the needs of students
• Experience writing, implementing, and monitoring behavioral management plans.
• Crisis intervention and ability to perform lethality screeners 

NOTE:  The lists below are not ranked in order of importance: 

Essential Functions:

• Exhibit professional behavior, emotional stability and sound judgment
• Respond appropriately to crisis situations (i.e. emergencies, employee/parent concerns)
• Provides emergency consultation as needed. Facilitates parent, student, and staff involvement in decision-making activities.
• Conducts risk assessments and lethality screeners
• Ensure safety of students
• Complete diagnostic assessments for identified students
• Provides individual, group, and family counseling services
• Consults with the IEP team and district BCBA staff
• Instructs teachers in mental health issues that may impact school success.
• Provides assistance to help parents improve parenting skills.
• Serves as a member of the IEP team where appropriate.
• Provides ongoing communication and support for teachers. Shares knowledge and resources that enhance student learning.
• Serves as a resource for drug prevention awareness and intervention activities.
• Consults with parents as needed (e.g., telephone calls, messages, meetings, etc.).
• Coordinates activities and referrals between the school district and outside agencies
• Monitor the progress of students receiving services provided by or coordinated by the district
• Attend student conferences as needed
• Develop and maintain complete cumulative individual records of all children recommended to receive special education services or those enrolled in special education that are serviced by the specialist
• Advise all personnel on rules and regulations regarding all programs that relate to non-academic barriers
• Provide in-service for personnel
• Respond to routine questions and requests in an appropriate manner
• Follow board policy and state law in regards to servicing students
• Make contacts with the public with tact and diplomacy
• Maintain respect at all times for confidential information
• Interact in a positive manner with staff, students, and parents
• Outstanding attendance and punctuality
• Promote good public relations by personal appearance, attitude, and conversation
• Attend meetings and in-services as required
• Other Duties and Responsibilities:
• Attend meetings as needed
• Plans activities, provides consultation, and supports assigned staff and volunteers
• Supervises assigned interns as needed
• Promotes teamwork and helps staff as needed to successfully accomplish delegated duties
• Provide any additional duties which may be assigned by the Chief Excellence and Engagement Officer, the Chief Student Services Officer, or designee
• Serve as a role model for students in how to conduct themselves as citizens and as responsible human beings
• Instill in students the belief in and practice of ethical principles and democratic values

Equipment Operated:

• Telephone
• Cellular phone
• Calculator
• Computer/Printer
• Computer software
• Motor vehicle
• Copy machine
• Fax machine

Additional Working Conditions:

• Occasional exposure to bodily fluids
• Occasional operation of a vehicle under inclement weather conditions (i.e., being prepared to report to work on all scheduled days, including calamity days)
• Occasional interaction among unruly children
• Occasional travel
• Occasional evening/weekend work; e.g., committee meetings, etc.
• Regular requirement to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, see, read, speak, reach, stretch with hands and arms, crouch, climb, kneel, and stoop

Frequent repetitive hand motion, e.g., computer keyboard, typing, calculator, writing

NOTE:  The above lists are not ranked in order of importance.

 

Employee shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance use in the workplace throughout his/her employment with the District. 

This job description is subject to change and in no manner states or implies that these are the only duties and responsibilities to be performed by the incumbent.  The incumbent will be required to follow the instructions and perform the duties required by the incumbent’s supervisor, appointing authority.