Job Title: Mental Health Clinician

Job Purpose:

The Mental Health Clinician assumes responsibility for the development of a coordinated Educational Related Mental Health Services (“ERMHS”) program. The Mental Health Clinician works in partnership with school administration, student services, social workers, school psychologists, teachers, and other specialists in developing, monitoring, and evaluating ERMHS strategies and services for General and Special Education students.

Team Relationship:

The Mental Health Clinician is directly responsible to the Director or Special Education; and providing information and/or advising others who are members of the student’s educational team.

Essential Job Functions:

• Organize staff and parent development programs for CMO staff serving students receiving ERMHS services to enhance the delivery of services.
• Organize the ERMHS services and serve as a contact for the Director of Special Education, Education Specialists and Administration.
• Serves as a contact for contracting agencies to secure the services of contracted providers, as needed.
• Collaborate with referral services, parents, teachers, administrators, law enforcement, and Student Success Team members to identify and manage student crisis situations.
• Advise relevant staff on emotional, social, behavioral, and mental health issues.
• Consult and participate with the Student Success Team to evaluate at-risk students.
• Conduct interviews, observations, and behavioral health assessments with students and parents.
• Contribute information to and provide goals for individual educational plans based on mental health and environmental considerations.
• Collaborate with other school professionals to enhance student performance by applying psychological methods.
• Plan, prepare, and conduct groups with the purpose of improving social and emotional functioning and development.
• Plan, prepare, and conduct in-service education for other school professionals and parents/families on various topics applying to students with drug abuse and behavioral/mental health needs.
• Serve as a liaison to regional and community resources that provide services to students and parents for medical, psychiatric, therapeutic, and other needs.
• Act as an ongoing member of the school crisis response teams, when assigned.
• Assist with facilitating coordinated multi-disciplinary student support structures including interventions using tiered supports such as Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS).
• Use a data-driven improvement culture framework to assess current needs and resources of the schoolwide community and inform program implementation.
• Provides assessment and intervention, ongoing counseling services and outside referrals to students and families for mental health services.
• Serves students identified by the school for ERMHS.
• Delivers student curriculum addressing mental health concerns.
• Provides timely feedback to students, parents and general education teachers regarding strategies developed for referred students.
• Attends IEP meetings with parents, teachers, administrators, and any members of the IEP team required by law for the purpose of maintaining compliance with federal and state laws, as needed.
• Trains and provides work direction and guidance to assigned instructional staff in areas related to mental health strategies and services.
• Maintain and file confidential records, such as treatment records, IEPs, assessments, and any notes and data related to those files.
• Exhibit professionally appropriate interpersonal skills including but not limited to tact, patience, flexibility, and courtesy.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications:

Education/Certifications

• Master’s degree in job-related area; such as Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Clinical Social Work, or Counseling Psychology. (required)
• Licensed as a Clinical Social Worker, Marriage & Family Therapist, or Clinical Psychologist. (required)
• Spanish language fluency. (desired)
• Valid California driver's license and proof of automobile insurance
• Department of Justice and FBI Fingerprint Clearance

Experience

• Minimum of two years of experience after licensure. (desired)
• Experience working with children and adults in a school setting. (desired)

Skills, Knowledge and/or Abilities Required

• Advanced specialized professional principles and practices associated with adolescent development and psychology as applicable to an educational setting.
• State Education Code as it applies to the specific accountability of this position.
• General Education and Special Education learning environments.
• Work with administrators, teachers, classified personnel, parents and students.
• Coordinate services with the general education teacher & make suggestions for modifications/ accommodations of core curriculum that targets students’ needs.
• Administer a variety of assessments
• Provide students with specialized social-emotional / behavioral instruction based on their unique needs.
• Adhere to federal and state laws pertaining to students with special needs.
• Communicate effectively with school staff, teachers, administrators and parents.
• Use electronic devices including common office productivity software, internet, and assessment software.
• Maintain trust and cooperation with peers and clients.
• Deliver formal discussion with classroom-sized groups to resolve conflict.
• Use advanced lines of inquiry to obtain personal information from clients.
• Write reports and correspondence that may be sensitive and have legal implications.
• Relate well with students, parents, all levels of staff, and other community-based mental health professionals.
• Facilitate communication with students and parents who speak languages other than English.
• Work cooperatively with others of diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Write, communicate, and demonstrate time management and organizational skills in an exemplary manner.
• Maintain student confidentiality.
• Exercise initiative.
• Possess good judgment.

The Academies CMO Board will consider candidates for the Mental Health Clinician position based upon a combination of education/certifications, experience, skills, knowledge and/or abilities, and mission fit.