Clinician |Family Support & Stabilization

The Family Stabilization Model of Services targets or is intended for families (usually Latino, Cape-Verdean and Portuguese speaking families) in which the child remains in the home but where there is a risk for out-of-home placement due to safety concerns resulting from issues of neglect and/or abuse. The standard intervention includes three weekly home visitations or wraparound services provided within the community. This service will be provided by a team that includes a Master’s level clinician and a Clinical Parent Aide.

Benefits:

• Retirement Plan 403(b) (Match)
• Health, Dental, Vision, Pet and Life Insurance
• Paid vacations
• Paid holidays
• 8 discretionary days
• Mileage Reimbursement

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Provide quantity and quality of services to DCF-involved families in accordance with the specified FSS models (Comprehensive and Family Stabilization).
• Work with the parents/caregivers to achieve the goals determined by DCF.
• Review and modification of treatment plan as necessary; complete a family-centered assessment.
• Development of a youth and family centered treatment plan in collaboration with the youth, parent/caregiver(s), and with required consents, in consultation with other providers.
• Work on child safety and welfare issues in the context of community connections to resources, school advocacy, law enforcement and court related needs, as well as behavioral and medical health needs.
• Identification of community resources and development of natural supports for youth and parent/caregiver(s) to support and sustain achievement of the youth’s treatment plan goals and objectives.
• Provide additional visits, wraparound services and 24-hour emergency support for families as needed and in accordance with the FSS models.
• Ability to be flexible when scheduling visits with families with availability during evenings and weekends, if needed.
• Engage in ongoing collaboration with clinicians, DCF social workers, school, law enforcement and other providers within the community.
• Participate in DCF meetings to discuss ongoing concerns, challenges and recommendations as well as in quarterly DCF case review meetings to monitor progress, discuss changes in goals and plan termination with the team.
• Maintain a detailed record of the work done with the family, including progress notes, and collateral contact notes.
• Assist in providing specific information on topics such as appropriate discipline and setting schedules; as well as focusing on stressors unique to the Latino, Cape Verdean and Portuguese populations including acculturation.
• Assist parents/caregivers in improving parenting skills and decreasing behaviors that adversely affect the child’s safety in the home.

• Provide or arrange for transportation for his/her clients to appointments, crisis/respite services, etc. if needed.
• Review/development of a risk management/safety plan in collaboration with the youth and parent/caregiver.

• Provide or secure support and crisis/emergency services for the youth/family. This may be done through face-to-face contact, phone contact or by emergency on call system.
• Collaborate with other necessary individuals the youth and family may have contact with, such as Bureau Case Managers, Probation Officers, Judges, District Attorneys, Attorneys, Teachers, Physicians,  etc.
• Inform the Agency of all emergencies or critical incidents.

  Administrative Responsibilities/Record Keeping

• Keep current on all Agency, Government, and Funding training and health requirements (OSHA, Sexual Harassment, etc).
• Complete all the necessary paperwork in a strength-based manner per Agency requirements, (i.e. court letters, change of placement forms, Referrals, ICP, Progress Notes, evaluation instruments, consent forms, etc.).
• Complete timesheets, mileage forms etc. and submit them accurately and in a timely manner.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Ability to work with the target population.
• Ability to structure and organize job responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills.
• Display sound judgment.
• Ability to provide goal-oriented services.
• Work well as a team member.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) Portuguese and Cape Verdean a plus.

Minimum Qualifications

• The Master Level Clinician must possess a master's degree in a human service field (including but not restricted to counseling, family therapy, social work, psychology, etc.) from an accredited college/university.
• The Master Level Clinician must possess training in family therapy as well as training and working experience with youth and families.
• Experience navigating any of the child/family-serving systems and advocating for family members who are involved in the behavioral health system
• Demonstrated ability to be innovative, creative, analytical, and decisive in problem-solving.
• Demonstrated communications, administrative and organizational capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and community agencies:  School Dept., DYS, Juvenile Court, etc.
• Understanding/willingness to be part of a program that supports youth and families 24 hours per day, 365 days a year.
• Must have a driver’s license and availability of a vehicle to support Program needs.
• Bi-Lingual Spanish/English a must. Portuguese and Cape Verdean a plus.

The Gándara Mental Health Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.