Therapist - Outpatient mental health

• General Responsibilities
• Maintains a critical function in providing clinical leadership to assure compliance with the individualized treatment plan and monitoring the child's progress in their treatment.
• Engages in consultation as needed with Agency program staff (including paraprofessionals, managers, Psychiatrist, and nurse) as well as external team members (such as referring workers and natural team members) on the development and progress toward treatment plan goals of each client.
• Completes all clinical documentation such as mental health assessments, individualized treatment plans, and progress notes based on timelines set by Santa Clara County Mental Health and RCS policies and procedures.
• Maintains client charts in compliance with requirements of Phase II Medical Consolidation (Title 9, Chapter 11, Section 1810.440).
• Demonstrates and promotes an understanding of the agency treatment philosophy, including Transformational Care Planning, Wraparound Values, and Best Practices; supports the integration of services and approaches each child’s functioning from an individualized strength-based model that enables each child to make progress on their treatment goals.
• Participates in agency meetings and Ad Hoc Committees as appropriate.
• Every employee has the opportunity and responsibility to participate in one or more activities each year that support the performance quality improvement (PQI) of RCS programs and services. Activities might involve membership on a PQI committee or work group, service as a peer reviewer, data collection for PQI and evaluation purposes, completion of PQI questionnaires and surveys or participation in focus groups, or other activities as identified by PQI committees or work groups.

• Clinical Responsibilities
• Assists Clinical Program Manager and individual program management staff with the intake process, including performing assessments and communicating with managers regarding the intake process.
• Develops, reviews, and updates the treatment plan for each client. Creates safety plans with clients and their caregivers when clinically indicated.
• Conducts and maintains authority for all therapy; individual, group, and family and initiates communication with internal and external team members.
• Maintains on-going written and verbal communication with county workers and other referral sources, advocates, interns, and consumers as indicated.
• Coordinates treatment direction and discharge plans with parents, caregivers, community-based resources, county placement workers, and the Program Director or Clinical Program Manager.
• Maintains positive relationship with parents, caretakers, referral sources, and internal consumers as a valuable part of the treatment team.
• Develops and submits written reports, including assessment and admission documents, discharge summaries, and coordination and service plans as appropriate.
• Maintains professional standards regarding clients’ rights including confidentiality, access to competent, individualized mental health promotion and treatment.
• Promotes cultural awareness and competence within the program and the Agency.
• Maintains program adherence to confidentiality policies, mandated child abuse reporting, duty to warn procedures, and all laws, regulations, ethics, and policies that apply to program activities.
• Maintains compliance with all applicable standards/requirements for Agency services, e.g., Title XXII, CSC, MH.
• Utilizes supervision, consultation, and training as necessary to continue to provide high quality services to children and their families as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education, Training, and Experience
• AMFT, ASW, APCC or equivalent required.
• Current registration with the California BBS or the Board of Psychology required.
• One year of full-time experience in a setting working with children and families, preferred.
• Experience in a children’s mental health setting, strongly preferred.
• Bilingual/Bicultural (Spanish & English) strongly preferred.

• License (s)
• California driver’s license and good DMV report (ability to be insured by our insurance carrier).
• Ability to obtain licensure with the BBS upon completion of hours.

• Knowledge and Skills
• Individual, family, and group therapy including Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Interventions, treatment of trauma-related symptoms, behavioral approaches for externalizing symptoms, and cultural competency.
• The ability to demonstrate maturity, leadership, flexibility, creativity, and problem-solving skills in the execution of clinical tasks.
• The ability to conceptually and pragmatically organize complex circumstances presented in community-based services.
• Ability to remain calm and professional during crisis intervention, suicide assessment, conflict resolution, and interpersonal communication. Ability to maintain a positive perspective in the treatment and care of emotionally disturbed clients and families.
• Professional ethics and confidentiality including informed consent, risks, and benefits to participation in treatment, knowledge of the issues related to family disruption, immigration trauma, unmet mental health needs, substance abuse, and domestic violence.

Special Requirements

Must be able to meet and receive a criminal records clearance as required by Title XXII licensing regulations.

Physical and Mental Requirements

• The following are required in day-to-day performance of the duties of this position:
• Sitting, walking, standing, grasping (simple), and visual/auditory acuity are constantly required (over 2/3 of the workday).
• Bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting, lifting, reaching, and pushing/pulling are required occasionally (under 1/3 of the workday).
• Climbing and crawling are generally not required.