OVERALL FUNCTION:

The Therapist possesses and implements knowledge and educational background applicable to work with individuals, groups, and community systems within as well as outside the agency. The Therapist maintains an active liaison relationship between the Residential Program, community, schools and resources within the neighborhood.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Conducts individual therapy with each resident at least one time per week and as necessary.
Conducts daily group therapy and weekly family therapy sessions with the assistance of the treatment team.
Formulates and implements an overall treatment plan for each resident and his/her family, ensuring individualized treatment and trauma informed care for each client/family, with the assistance of the treatment team.
Utilizes community resources of the group home (i.e. substance abuse treatment, schools, skill centers, occupational centers, and employers etc.) as indicated in the treatment plan.
Completes all mandatory paperwork (assessments, progress notes, treatment plans etc.) in a timely manner.
Enrolls residents in school, contacts school personnel, maintains regular check-ups on attendance and academic performance, and attends individualized education plan (IEP) meetings.
Provides clerical input to staff regarding paraprofessional, individual and group counseling approaches and techniques.
Consults with staff regarding resident progress on a regular basis.
Meets regularly with youth care staff, social workers and consultants at group home meetings regarding coordination and implementation of treatments plans and specific problem situations.
Coordinates visiting plans and home passes for each resident with the treatment team, families and placement officers, obtaining written confirmation from placement officers.
Reports weekly to Director of Off-Site Community Based STRTP (Group Home) s by phone and/or in person and meets weekly for group meetings.
Monitors and supervises the group home clinical program, facility manager and, through the facility manager, group home staff.  Meets weekly with facility manager.
Provides supervision and professional staff development through the use of appropriate agency personnel and resources.
Ensures formal and timely evaluations and discusses disciplinary actions of youth care staff with facility manager, offering a second level signature when indicated.
Oversees budget administration and planning.
Oversees facility maintenance.
Oversees and monitors compliance with all CCL, Probation and other agency regulations and protocols.
Responds to clinical emergencies on an on-call basis.
Attends and participates in mandatory training and in-services as required.
Performs other duties as requested.
QUALIFICATIONS:

Active registration through the Board of Behavioral Science Examiners (BBSE); intent to register as a BBS intern will be considered with the registration process complete within three months of date of hire.
Social work staff hired on or after January 1, 2017 shall meet the following education and experience requirements:
i.      A Master’s Degree from an accredited or state approved graduate school, as defined by the Department of Education, in social work or social welfare, marriage, family and child counseling, child psychology, child development, counseling psychology or social psychology.

ii.      Social work staff shall be at least 21 years of age.

a.      This subparagraph shall not apply to social work staff employed before October 1, 2014 by a short-term residential therapeutic program that was operating as a group home prior to January 1, 2017.

iii.      Completion of at least three semester units or 100 days of field practice or experience in a public or private social service agency at the Master’s Degree level.

iv.      At least nine semester units of coursework related to children and families, or 18 months experience in working with children and families.

v.      At least three semester units in working with minority populations; six months of experience in working with minority population; or six months in-service training in working with minority populations within the first year of employment as a condition of employment.

vi.      At least three semester units in child welfare, or two years experience in a public or private child welfare social services setting.

b.      Social work staff who do not meet the Master’s Degree requirements specified in Subsection (c)(2)(A) may apply for an exception provided he/she completes the coursework and field practice or experience requirements specified in Subsection (c)(2)(C).

c.       Group home social work staff who were hired prior to January 1, 2017 by a facility transitioning to a short-term residential therapeutic program shall not be required to meet the requirements of this section in order to remain employed in a short-term residential therapeutic program

Ability to verbally communicate well with others.
All employees, regardless of position, serve as role models for children and adolescents who are served by agencies.  Therefore, each employee must at all times be emotionally stable and able to function effectively with children, adolescents and adults who may have mental or behavioral health problems.  The staff must be able to demonstrate appropriate daily behavior, appropriate expression of emotions as well as appropriate role modeling.  Hostility, aggression, and unnecessary or inappropriate physical actions as well as inappropriate emotional expression are not acceptable.

REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to pass criminal/fingerprinting background check, TB test, physical exam and drug testing.  Must have and maintain a valid California Drivers License and a good DMV record. Must have the visual, physical and technical ability to independently operate a variety of office equipment including the use of a computer.  Will also require bending, stooping, filing, lifting of at least 50 lbs. or more and able to interrupt physical altercations. Must have the physical mobility to climb stairs, etc. due to apartment locations.