Clinician / Social Worker / Counselor

Job Summary :

The Clinician I is responsible for providing mental health assessment and counseling intervention services, as well as continually monitoring and documenting clients’ mental well-being and overall adjustment to the Unaccompanied Minors program.

The Clinician I functions are performed as part of a multi-disciplinary team and include development and implementation of client therapeutic plans, facilitating transfers, and reunification planning.

All duties will be performed based on education, training and certified counseling experience within the social service and / or mental health fields.

The clinician is subject to work extended hours and weekends, and to be on-call.

Essential Functions :

• Conduct intake, admission, and diagnostic assessments, including crisis assessments when needed, with clients, and document results according to southwest key programs standards to maintain quality assurance standards.
• Collaborate with treatment team members and clients to develop treatment plans.
• Provide minimum of one weekly one-to-one counseling session (or more often if needed) and crisis intervention as needed.
• Facilitate weekly psycho-educational and therapeutic client groups.
• Continually monitor the mental well-being of clients and arrange for appropriate services as needed, including arranging for and facilitating external specialized services with community providers.
• Provide consultation and documentation regarding clients’ functioning, mental health status, and treatment needs.
• Provide clinical services within Southwest Key, licensing and funding source guidelines.

Other Functions :

• Attend all organizational required trainings.
• Attend all departmental and program meetings to ensure that up-to-date information is received and / or information of policy changes or practice are adhered to.
• Must assist in the evacuation of youth as needed due to inclement weather conditions, natural disasters, or other unforeseen occurrences.
• Travel as needed for trainings, conferences or to transport youth to destinations located within the .
• Maintain a safe, clean and hazard-free work area.
• Ensure the proper supervision of youth at all times.
• Able to react to change productively and handle other essential tasks as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements :

These requirements may be waived with written approval from the ORR Project Officer

Master’s degree in social work (MSW) counseling, psychology or other relevant behavioral science

field in which clinical training and experience is a program requirement and one year of postgraduate direct mental health service delivery experience.

• One year of postgraduate direct service delivery experience preferred in conducting clinical interviewing and assessment, as well as individual and group counseling.
• Ability to utilize evidence-based theory to conceptualize clinical cases to formulate treatment plans and related techniques and interventions.
• Licensed or license eligible in respective field (to include but not limited to : LPC, LCSA, LMFT, LAC, LMSW, LAMFT, and LASAC).
• Experience working with children, youth, and / or families from high-risk backgrounds
• Successful completion of 86 hours of pre-service training and job shadowing.
• Required to work a flexible schedule to facilitate program services.
• Cleared tuberculosis test results.
• Cleared background check from appropriate entity.
• Ability to communicate well both verbally and in writing.
• Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of hire.

Preferred :

• One year of postgraduate direct service delivery experience conducting clinical interviewing and assessment, as well as individual and group counseling.
• Experience working with children and youth in inpatient, residential, or detention facilities.
• Experience working in an ethical and culturally diverse environment with undocumented children and / or refugees
• Bilingual - (English / Spanish)

Physical Demands :

Must be able to obtain Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) certification and First Aid Certification (CPR). Must be able to supervise clients indoors and outdoors as necessary.

Bending, stooping and lifting up to 15 lbs required to complete daily tasks.

Work Environment :

This is a twenty four hour residential facility at which minors receive multiple services. Three shifts per twenty four hour period.

Work shifts are subject to change. Noise levels vary from mild to moderate. Predominantly indoors, occasional outdoor monitoring or activities.