Mental Health Therapist

Job description

Mental Health Therapist

Reports to: Assistant Director of Wellness and Intervention

Employee Type: Full Time, 10 Months, Salaried, Exempt

Summary: This position provides direct therapeutic services to students, including individual and group counseling, to support emotional, behavioral, and academic success. The therapist develops individualized goals, designs and implements interventions, and monitors progress aligned with students' IEPs. Responsibilities include maintaining required documentation such as progress notes, assessments, screenings, and fiscal records. The role also involves ongoing collaboration with families, school staff, and community mental health providers to ensure coordinated support and promote student growth and recovery.

Essential Duties:

Conducts mental health screenings and assessments to determine the need for school-based mental health services.

Provides direct therapeutic services through individual and group interventions.

Develops, implements, monitors, and reviews therapeutic plans.

Maintains daily progress notes as well as supporting documentation necessary for fiscal and insurance requirements.

Leads and collaborates with all team members, including parent(s), to ensure consistent and effective therapeutic intervention.

Conducts suicide risk screenings and assessments.

Develops safety plans, connects with parents and community providers, and monitors progress.

Conducts mental health assessments as part of the Threat Assessment Team.

Designs and implements services to meet individual and organizational outcome expectations.

Coordinates and implements evidence-based clinical interventions for students.

Develops goals for IEPs and provides reports of progress based on regular progress monitoring as outlined in the IEP.

Participates in all team meetings requested by the school team.

Contributes to the development of Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSP).

Exercises independent clinical judgment in defining significant life intervention with students and family.

Ensures confidentiality of information as required by the federal, state and local regulations.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Licensed mental health professional (LCSW, LSW or LPC)

Minimum one year experience in a CASSP system, child welfare or school-based experience

Knowledge of Pennsylvania Charter School Law and School Code as it relates to School Based Mental Health Services

Knowledgeable of cognitive behavioral techniques as well as multiple other approaches to needs assessment and intervention.

Skilled in designing services that are flexible, culturally sensitive, and individually tailored to meet the diverse needs of the child and family

Knowledge of Medicaid systems and school-based ACCESS Program

Knowledge of special education programs, regulations and operations.

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.

Ability to write reports, formal correspondence, and other documents that conform to prescribed style and format

Ability to interface diplomatically with other administrators, teachers, parents, students, Board members, support staff, colleagues, and outside professional contacts.

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Strong interpersonal skills, and effective verbal and written communication skills

Training on equity, diversity, and culturally responsive pedagogy preferred, as well as a willingness to extend his or her professional development in these areas

Required Clearances include Criminal Background Clearance (Act 34), Child Abuse Clearance (Act 151), and FBI Fingerprint Clearance (Act 114), all dated within one year of receipt

Meets criteria for employment in a PA Public School.

Job Performance Requirements:

The mental and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

Ability to bend, stoop, climb stairs, and reach overhead.

Ability to exhibit mental dexterity to enter data into a computer, to read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids, to hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels outdoors, and on the telephone, and to speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal classrooms, outdoors, and on the telephone.

Ability to physically lift up to 20 pounds.

Noise level in the work environment is usually mild to moderate depending on the specific site.

Position may require implementing de-escalation tactics with students who present an imminent risk to themselves or others, in accordance with established safety care training guidelines.

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.