Mental Health Liaison

ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Mental Health Liaison 
JOB STATUS: Full-Time "1 Year Contract"
LOCATION: District
CONTACT: Kim.Robinson@acsgmail.net

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB:
Reports to the Executive Director of Student Services.  Supervise, coordinate, and enhance the comprehensive mental and behavioral health services within the Asheville City Schools district. Communicate and collaborate with other community leaders to ensure an effective implementation of school support services. Provides skill training through psycho-education and student education strategies to staff and colleagues. Assists supervisee’s in developing specific mental and behavioral change plans for students and classroom interventions. Make professional recommendations to refer for supplemental services when proven necessary.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborate with community support service agencies in strategizing interventions for students and families.

• Assist primary health care provider in recognizing and treating mental disorders and psychosocial/social emotional problems

• Work with a primary treatment care team (primary care provider, nutritionist) to treat and manage students with emotional and/or mental health problems efficiently and effectively assisting in the development of treatment plans to prevent further psychological or physical deterioration.

• Assist and supervise Asheville City Schools student support specialist and intervening when they feel or Executive Director of Student Services deems necessary.

• Provide behavioral health care guidance to minors in accordance with North Carolina State and Federal Laws; maintain strict adherence to confidentiality policies.

• Work with a primary care provider to refer cases to mental health specialists as appropriate. Assist school personnel with referrals and psychoeducation as needed to best serve the students and families.

• Evaluate patient care plans with the primary care teams and ensure that contracted agencies adhere to the agreed upon MOU.

• Provide consultation and/or education to school personnel (e.g. school counselors, social workers,  principals, and teachers) as warranted.

• Maintain, improve, and develop positive relationships with families/ students/ school contracted support personnel/ school staff, community support agencies and leaders. (E.g. school counselors, social workers, principals, and teachers).

• Monitor the site’s mental health support agency, identifying strengths and concerns related to student services, making recommendations for improvement, and identify linkages to beneficial community resources and external specialty services.

• Participate in evaluation of peers, support staff, and supervisor as required.

• Provide assistance in the efforts to grow Mental and Behavioral Health services within the district. 

• Coordinating school-based mental health services across all tiers of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework

• Providing direct services with students, such as individual and group counseling

• Follow-up with agencies weekly on mental health referrals and status of referrals

 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS 

Graduation from an accredited college or university in a mental health field with a Bachelor’s degree is required. A Master’s degree is preferred. Experience in professional development, crisis intervention, and collaborative teaming are preferred. Preference is given to those with a degree or considerable coursework in the behavioral sciences or closely related field, and/or professional work experience in a psychiatric hospital, residential treatment center, and community based, and school based mental health setting.

 
Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to sit, stand, walk and drive a car. Must be able to lift mail and boxes up to 10 lbs. Must be able to sit at a computer for extended periods of time. Physical demand requirements are for Light Work.
 
Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
 
Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants.
 
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read simple forms. Requires the ability to prepare time sheets and supply requisitions using prescribed format.
 
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagrammatic form; to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in or from standardized situations.
 
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in Standard English.
 
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas, to add, subtract, divide and multiply.
 
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using a keyboard.
 
Manual Dexterity: Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
 
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress.