School Based Mental Health Licensed Clinician (Bilingual Spanish Preferred)

North County Outpatient School Based Services, New Alternative, Inc.

Committed to Caring for the Whole Child

School Based Mental Health Licensed Clinician (Bilingual Spanish Preferred)

New Alternatives, North County School Based Services, is committed to treating the whole child. Our mission is to create and support trauma informed care that supports healthy relationships through safe and emotionally supportive environments that promote personal growth, self-sufficiency and healing.

New Alternatives is contracted with both the County of San Diego and San Marcos Unified School District to service youth in North County. Our focus is to provide school-based therapy to students who are uninsured, low income, or have full scope Medi-Cal with behavioral health needs. Also, providing outpatient services to children and youth in the community.

We are highly skilled professionals working collaboratively to implement evidenced based interventions to students who have emotional and behavioral disabilities. We work alongside teachers, school psychologists, behavioral staff, and administrators to provide positive academic settings and interventions designed to foster healing and growth. We believe in individualized, client-focused and strength based interventions utilizing the power of relationship, positive reinforcement, and trauma-informed care.

KIDS and FAMILIES WE SERVE

At New Alternatives, we believe that challenging behaviors are the direct results of individuals lacking the developmental skills needed to manage day to day demands. We believe that these children are doing the best that they can given the resources and circumstances at that given time. We utilize the power of relationship with our clients to develop lagging skills, as well as evidenced based interventions in our therapy sessions.

Students we work with may have incredibly challenging behavior which may include physical aggression, property destruction, anger outbursts, verbal aggression, SI.HI, psychosis, substance use, and/or eloping. Many of our students have extensive trauma histories, limited resources, as well as organic mental health diagnoses.

SERVICES

We provide a variety of Behavioral Health services and supports to the youth and families we service which could include: screening, assessment; individual and group treatment; consultation and training for school personnel, parents, caregivers, and other collaterals; maintaining a written record of treatment, including initial assessments and treatment plans; individual, group and family therapy.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, Counseling, or related field from an accredited university
• Must be Licensed with the BBS as a LCSW, LMFT, or LPCC.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to work effectively in a multi-faceted team of professionals
• Strong collaboration and communication skills with the ability to work both independently and as a team.
• Ability to provide psycho-education to the IEP team around various diagnosis and/or clinical presentations.
• Strong awareness and proficiency working with clients from multicultural backgrounds.
• Strong self-assessment, self-awareness, and self-regulation skills.
• Bilingual Spanish / Arabic strongly preferred.
• Experience with providing school-based therapy and understanding of the IEP process
• Experience providing therapy to children with autism and/or sensory processing challenges.
• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care, Positive Discipline, Play Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Pro-Act trained and/or experience with crisis and de-escalation
• Ability to conceptualize a client from a wide lens, taking into consideration trauma, early childhood experiences, culture, family dynamics, physical health, social functioning, intellectual ability and other domains that contribute to the client's current presentation
• Strong systemic assessment skills of team and family dynamics
• Experience providing individual, group, family and milieu based therapy to children and adolescents
• Case Management skills and experience with linking families and clients to supports in their community

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Other duties may be assigned)

• Provides individual, group, family therapy in a school based setting, clinic setting and provided home visits when indicated or appropriate.
• Facilitates linkages and provides education regarding community resources to better support the youth and family with needs that will support their treatment outcomes.
• Completes comprehensive intake assessment that includes mental health, physical health, trauma, and possible substance abuse
• Collaborates, formulates, monitors, and revises goals alongside the IEP or school team and/or family focused on improving social, emotional, and behavioral functioning.
• Assists families in creating crisis/safety plans to prevent/respond to unsafe behaviors or environments that may exist in the home or community
• Facilitates a wide array of therapeutic interventions based on evidence based practices
• Provides crisis intervention to students on school sites.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely case records and client charts.
• Maintains positive relationships with school staff, co-workers, clients and families.
• Attends and contributes to IEP meetings or other related meetings to support the youths behavioral health needs.
• Required to travel between office and community locations, including client homes, in personal vehicle
• Active participation in individual and group supervision, team meetings, and team collaboration meetings
• Willingness to gain additional knowledge and understanding to work interdisciplinary approaches and work alongside in partnerships
• Consult with Clinical Supervisor on high risk situations
• Monitor eligibility and obtain authorizations where appropriate for services including but not limited to Legal consents, IEP service dates, and County Utilization Management requests.
• Through regularly scheduled sessions and weekly home visits (when appropriate), provide intensive clinical case management, crisis intervention, therapy, to children and families. Work with various modalities including individual, dyadic and conjoint family therapy. Conduct assessments, diagnosing, and writing treatment plans. Provide appropriate mental health services.
• Provide consultation and care coordination with classroom teachers, school staff, administrators, psychiatrists, and outside community providers.
• Follows all procedures and protocols related to Early Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT)
• Follow regulatory guidelines, mandated reporting, and program/agency protocols in performing duties
• Abide by all provisions of professional license and governing boards personnel manual
• Document services and minutes provided and track and record in electronic records (CERNER)
• Perform any other duties as directed
• Maintains accurate records per the County and New Alternatives standards with timelines, documentation, and protocol.
• Follows county guidelines with regard to Pathways to Wellbeing including those related to teaming, collaboration, documentation, use of proper service codes, scheduling of child and family team meetings, and other responsibilities as assigned

BENEFITS

• Competitive benefit package offered for full time employees
• Excellent medical and dental benefits
• Vacation (80 hours accrued yearly)
• Sick Time
• 403B Plan
• Mileage reimbursement provided
• Family Fit Program through LA Fitness

New Alternatives offers a comprehensive approach to therapeutic services for children and families. New Alternatives is committed to workforce diversity. Qualified applicants will receive full consideration without regard to age, race, color, ethnic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, HIV-status, national origin or disability.

New Alternatives, Inc. falls under the California Public Health Order and is additionally required by our county contract to ensure that all employees are vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.  

COVID-19 considerations:

We are taking precautions due to COVID-19 and all our efforts will be thoroughly explained in the initial job interview.

**Pay ranges will be discussed with qualified candidates upon receipt of resume.