ABOUT THE JOB: Persons in these positions work 8 hours per day, 10 months per year. Under general supervision of an administrator, helps support district-wide or school-wide mental health/wellness by providing mental health services, such as individual or group mental health consultation, counseling, and outreach; assist with mental health treatment and case management for individuals and families under the direction of  School Social Worker or other certificated employee; collaborates with school sites to promote a positive school climate with a focus on mental health prevention, intervention and case management; and performs related duties as assigned.

JOB DUTIES: Provides direct mental health services including counseling, consultation, evaluations, treatment coordination, individual or group counseling and case management, to students and families, in collaboration with a School Social Worker; provides consultation and collaborates with school staff, students and/or parents to identify or develop appropriate strategies to support student engagement, social-emotional wellness, behavioral health, and mental health, both in school and home settings; conducts intake assessments for students to develop and implement treatment plans, in collaboration with a School Social Worker; evaluates the effectiveness of counseling intervention and student’s progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives either independently or, in collaboration with a School Social Worker; provides information and support to school staff regarding the school-wide learning environment and identified individual student needs, in consultation and collaboration with a School Social Worker; supports students and participates in meetings to encourage engagement, development, and success at school, such as finding alternatives to suspension or other discipline and drafting student re-entry plans; gathers information about community mental health needs and resources that could be used in conjunction with mental health counseling; refers students and families to support services, if needed, when students and families experience food shortages and homelessness, among other things; prepares assessments, treatment records, and reports, as required, at the direction of and/or under the guidance of a School Social Worker or other certificated employee, and maintains all required documents; assigns work to mental health interns with authorization from School Social Workers or other certificated employees; following collaboration with a School Social Worker, assists School Social Workers by reviewing cases with staff, providing feedback and suggestions, modifying treatment plans, and monitoring behavioral plans; participates in trainings conducted by School Social Workers specific to socio-emotional and mental health topics; attends and participates in meetings related to school site or individual student mental health needs; and participates, alongside School Social Workers and others, in the coordination of mental health services for students in emergency or crisis situations and conducts suicide risk and other risk assessments in collaboration with School Social Worker; follows up with family after the event and provides support as needed.

 Complete Job Description available at www.ggusd.us under Employment/Classified Job Opportunities/Job Descriptions

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related mental health field; and a minimum of nine months of post-graduate Master’s-level experience providing mental health services to school age children or families is required. Successful completion or current participation in a Garden Grove Unified School District internship, under the supervision of a school social worker, can substitute for the required education and experience. Experience providing direct mental health support for students in school settings and/or experience providing crisis support is highly desirable. Part-time experience will be considered and adjusted appropriately. Any other combination of training and experience which would likely provide the required skills, knowledge, and abilities may be considered.

LICENSE: Must possess and maintain a valid registration or license with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) or a valid registration or license with the California Board of Psychology.

A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING….

Knowledge of: Social and emotional development and needs of school-aged children and adolescents; principles, practices, and techniques related to mental health counseling and behavioral health for school-aged children and adolescents; conflict resolution and group dynamics; crisis management and intervention techniques; current mental health assessments, diagnoses, and treatments for school-aged children and adolescents; diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of students; federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to general education, special education, and mental health services; and professional writing skills sufficient to write reports and correspondence that may be sensitive and have legal implications.

Ability to: Plan, prepare, and conduct individual and group mental health counseling sessions; achieve and maintain trust and cooperation with peers, families, and students; accurately assess student needs and understand the influence of the environment on their needs; develop, implement, and monitor measurable goals, treatment plans, and interventions for students; analyze situations, practice sound judgement, and adopt an effective course of action; maintain confidentiality of student records related to mental health services and treatment; collect and maintain data and relevant information; develop written reports, presentations, and other related materials; and establish and maintain effective working relation­ships with students, parents, school and district staff.