“Together, we can make the difference of a lifetime.”

Door to Hope opened its doors 50 years ago with a residential treatment center for women in need who were struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. Today, we have ten caring programs to help infants, children, teenagers, men, women and families. We collaborate with agencies, and receive support from businesses, individuals and charitable organizations to find innovative ways to change lives for the better.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Life and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Holidays, Vacation and Sick pay
• Yearly Continuing Education Bonus
• Opportunities to Advance
• Family Oriented Environment

Join a growing team and learn alongside accomplished professionals!

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under general professional and administrative guidance and supervision and with latitude for independent professional judgment, the Therapist functions as the lead clinician for a designated caseload of no more than six (6) adolescent females and their family or caregivers in the Santa Lucia Program. The Therapist works closely with the team to assess, develop, implement, and evaluate the provision of all services, in accordance with the adolescent’s care plan and is responsible for oversight of the therapeutic milieu and coordination and supervision of the counselors. The Therapist assures the development and implementation of the strength-based process and compliance with the program’s core values and principles.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

1. Education:

a. Graduate degree in social work, counseling or a related field is required.

b. Specialized education and/or training in both substance abuse and mental health disorders is required.

c. Educational focus on the delivery of clinical services to children and families is required.

2. Licensure/Certification:

a. LCSW or MFT license through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences is preferred, ASW, AMFT, APCC (internship status) is required.

b. Certificate or completion of an alcohol/drug studies program from an accredited college or university is preferred. Applicants who lack certification must have twice the experience to qualify for this position.

c. Special training and/or certification in the evidence-based practices utilized in the Santa Lucia Program, including but not limited to: ICT®, Seven Challenges, Seeking Safety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, is preferred.

3. Experience:

a. A minimum of two (2) to three (3) years satisfactory employment in clinical counseling or an addiction recovery setting is required;

b. Two (2) to three (3) year’s satisfactory employment in alcohol/drug recovery counseling is required for applicant’s who lack certification in alcohol/drug counseling from an accredited college.

c. A minimum of two (2) year’s clinical experience with children and their families is required.

d. Clinical experience in the provision of residential milieu services in a residential treatment center or group home is preferred.

e. Documented experience in meeting the needs of youth with multidimensional needs is desirable.

4. Skills:

a. Thorough knowledge of behavioral health problems as they impact on adolescents and appropriate interventions and counseling techniques for such; including but not limited to: the ability to recognize the early signs and symptoms of illness; the ability to promote the need for professional assistance; and the ability to recognize individuals who are under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs.

b. Knowledge of State and county guidelines as applied to group homes services and Short Term Residential Treatment Programs (STRTP).

c. Ability to engage, motivate, and counsel youth and their families in a variety of modalities and settings, including individual, group, and family.

d. Ability to facilitate peer recovery, 12-Step-oriented, and support groups and classes in an age-appropriate manner.

e. Ability to coordinate services within an interdisciplinary team basis.

f. Ability to assess strengths and needs.

g. Ability to practice trauma-informed care.

h. Demonstrate and document progress and complications in client’s treatment process as required by State, County and organizational policies.

i. Knowledge and ability to implement core values, including: family centered, strengths-based, consumer and needs driven, individualized, culturally relevant, unconditional, community and team based, accountable, accessible, outcome based, cost-effective, flexible, promoting self sufficiency, comprehensive, and collaborative.

j. Knowledge of Continuum of Care Reform and RCL 10-14 placements and placement alternatives.

k. Ability to administer the GAIN, CANS, SASSI, ASI-Adolescent, and the CAFAS.

l. Knowledge and training in evidence-based practices, including MET, ICT, Seven Challenges®, and/or Seeking Safety is required as necessary and appropriate.

m. Considerable knowledge of community referral resources and the ability to use them appropriately. Ability to liaison with judicial system, social service, mental health, and other agencies and providers as required by the needs of youth and their families.

n. Ability to maintain accountability and meet deadlines and follow-through on tasks.

o. Exemplary critical reasoning and decision-making capabilities, particularly in crisis or demanding situations.

p. Good written and verbal communication skills;

q. Ability to coordinate the work in an interdisciplinary team setting.

r. Fluency in both English and Spanish (bi-lingual) is preferred but not required.

5. Physical Demands and Special Job Conditions

a. In good physical health as verified by a health screening.

b. Must have criminal records clearance.

c. Must be insurable with Door to Hope’s automobile insurer with acceptable driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

d. Current CPR/First Aid certification.

e. Must pass State criminal records and child abuse index clearance.

f. Tuberculosis clearance (within 7 days of hire, annually thereafter).

g. Moderate walking and standing. Position may require extended sitting.

h. Ability to assist a debilitated client or lift a small child.

i. Voice level that is audible to groups in a class setting.

j. Ability to twist, lift, bend to store and retrieve records.

k. Flexibility and dexterity to assist in basic household duties.

l. Ability to tolerate moderate stress levels.

m. Ability to work a flexible work schedule, based on the needs of the job.

POSITION STATUS: Non-Exempt

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:

1. Responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating all aspects of the treatment service process for a caseload of up to six (6) adolescent females and their family or caregivers. Responsible to assess and document medical necessity for specialty mental health services.

2. Maintains close, direct service contact with youth and families or caregivers. Routinely completes screenings, assessments, and individual, family, and group psychotherapy to assist in the provision of therapeutic services, as necessary and appropriate. Demonstrates a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions and clinical techniques to effectively assist youth and their families/caregivers in articulating and understanding the individual impact of their multi-dimensional problems. Demonstrated ability to work from a strengths basis.

3. Develops the Mental Health Plan that provides direction and accountability for treatment services; evaluates and updates the plan on a regular and as-needed basis; promotes innovative and creative planning processes; and is able to promote the development and functioning of the trans-disciplinary planning process to the benefit of the youth and the family/caregiver.

4. Provides services on a comprehensive, unconditional basis in a variety of modalities, including individual sessions, group sessions, and family counseling. Demonstrates the ability to engage and motivate youth and families to strive to attend stated care plan goals and objectives.

5. Utilizes a variety of clinical interventions and techniques to promote engagement, improve emotional and behavioral functioning, improve family functioning, and reduce the need for placements in more restrictive environments. Meets regularly and intensively with youth and family members, facilitates formal individual and group therapy experiences as indicated, and maximizes the youth’s and families’ clinical experiences.

6. Provides case management for all services, including coordinating the provision of advocacy and support services. Integrates all service delivery components, whether provided by direct or contract staff or provided by teachers or community-based clinicians and agencies. Liaisons with all team members, referring agencies, clinicians, probation officers, and other providers as necessary and appropriate.

7. Completes all required documentation including assessment, treatment and service plans, family plans, incident reports, and case notes. Develops individual and multi-dimensional discharge plan to assure the client and family are able to maintain the gains experienced during the treatment process. Provides for a comprehensive and individualized aftercare plan and maintains contact and accountability with the case after formal discharge, as appropriate and indicated.

8. Coordinates and facilitates team meetings, staffing conferences, and case planning and review sessions on a regular basis to adequately communicate with all members of the interdisciplinary team to provide consistency and continuity of care. Provides direction to team members in difficult situations.

9. Works closely with the Clinical Services Director and Santa Lucia Facility Manager to assure appropriate utilization of clinical, environmental, and personal resources. Conducts intake interviews as appropriate. Provides oversight of the residential milieu and coordinates the structure and operation of such with the lead childcare counselors.

10. Documents information and referrals and documents such to in the case file. Maintains mutually productive and beneficial relationships with community providers to provide for a wide-array of resources to meet youth and family needs. Prepares agenda for and facilitates regular interaction and meetings with judges and probation.

11. Demonstrates positive and effective relations with colleagues and co-workers, including mentors and peer partners, to promote good working relationships, efficiency and a positive work environment. Evaluates, coaches, and directs mentors and peer partners to provide a high level of care to youth and their families.

12. Effectively assists youth and their families in articulating and understanding the individual impact of trauma and substance abuse on their functioning and effectively motivates clients to apply appropriate corrective measures and accommodations. Utilizes evidence based practices to provide for treatment of trauma and co-occurring disorders.

13. Demonstrates the ability to develop and present didactic information for the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program in a presentation/discussion format for youth, their families, and the community that promotes understanding and utilizes good communication skills in an age-appropriate manner.

14. Assures that client records document the youth and family/caregiver’s course of services appropriately. Conducts record reviews on a retrospective and concurrent basis to assure that all utilization review and documentation standards are met. Reviews case and care plans on a regular basis and assures that discharge plans reflect the needs of the youth and family and assist in sustaining the gains made during the treatment process.

15. Demonstrates the ability to deal with stress, anger, and/or frustration in a professional manner. Maintains appropriate and ethical behavior at all times. Represents Door to Hope appropriately in the community.

16. Responds to unanticipated, unusual, and/or crisis situations with good judgment and demonstrates the ability to collaborate with co-workers as appropriate to the situation. Utilizes good crisis intervention skills, including suicidal risk assessment, and utilizes medical and community referral resources appropriately.

17. Coordinates the completion of performance improvement activities as described in the program’s Continuous Quality Management Program. Participates in all necessary and pertinent orientation and training programs. Demonstrates the ability to meet quality assessment and performance improvement indicators and outcomes. Participates in regular team meetings and performance improvement meetings and committees as necessary. Meaningfully participates in weekly clinical supervision and evaluation activities. Responds to supervision receptively when thresholds are not met.

18. Performs additional duties as required by the needs of program.

WORK HOURS: Ability to work a flexible schedule to promote engagement and retention of youth and family. Ability to be on-call as scheduled.

NON-DISCRIMINATION CLAUSE: No discrimination will be made on the basis of disability, race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual preference or national origin in accordance with the standards and policies of Door to Hope.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $4,214.00 – $6,719.00 per month

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Holidays
• Weekends

Education:

• Master’s (Required)

License/Certification:

• LMFT or LSW (Preferred)

Work Location:

• One location

Work Remotely:

• No