FSP / OCS Therapist

Aviva Family and Children’s Services Mission Statement

Aviva believes every child and every family in our Los Angeles community deserves the chance for a brighter future.  We provide compassionate support, therapeutic services, and guidance to at risk children and families.

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Clinical Supervisor the Full Service Partnership (FSP) / Outpatient Client Services (OCS) Therapist provides individual and family therapy.  The FSP / OCS Therapist is part of a multidisciplinary team that works intensively with the child/youth and family members to address critical mental health and/or behavioral problems and tries to stabilize the home environment and reduce functional impairment. The FSP / OCS Therapist provides field-based services, collaborates with community agencies and other service providers, and is available 24/7 for crisis response. Additionally, the FSP / OCS Therapist completes all necessary documentation in accordance with Aviva, DMH, DCFS, and COA standards.

Essential Functions

• Provide appropriate field based (home, school, community, etc.) therapeutic services and interventions based on specific needs of the client and family.
• Complete all required documentation, reports and outcome measures in accordance with program guidelines and within timeline requirements.
• Ability to build protective capacity with families;  and Core Practice Indicators
• (engagement, teaming, assessment and understanding, long term view, planning, cultural competence, transitions, crisis management).
• Provide accurate and on-time DMH billing while also meeting agency productivity requirement.
• On-call 24 hours per day, 7 days a week to provide crisis support, by phone and/or in-person if indicated
• LPS designation by Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health is required for this position and includes all associated responsibilities including but not limited to assessment, writing holds when necessary, coordinating services for hospitalization and transportation.
• Provide Trauma Informed Care and educate parents/caregivers
• Actively participate/collaborate in team meetings and case conferences for optimal mental health prognosis of clients
• Works collaboratively and cooperatively within a multidisciplinary team
• Assess the need to request flex funds and communicate need to immediate supervisor
• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings, in-service trainings and other meetings as appropriate.
• Maintain client information in a confidential manner.
• In collaboration with team members, create and maintain a Crisis Safety Plan for families
• Communicate crisis situations, e.g. psychiatric hospitalizations, Suspected Child Abuse, etc. to supervisor as soon as possible.
• Provide comprehensive treatment services which may include interfacing with community psychiatric hospitals, Department of Family and Children Services (DCFS), Department of Mental Health (DMH), school officials, probation department, court system, law enforcement and others as appropriate.
• Keep detailed, accurate and complete documentation
• Sensitive and responsive to the cultural differences among the agency’s client population
• Actively participate in the quality improvement project

The FSP / OCS Therapist will take on special projects or additional duties as assigned by the Clinical Supervisor or Program Director

Competency Requirements

• Ability to fluently speak, read, write and understand English
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with families and colleagues
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team
• Ability to successfully work with families of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to assess a crisis situation and respond in a timely and professional manner
• Must have strong organizational and planning skills
• Knowledge of principles and practices of community mental health treatment, including interviewing, assessment, individual, family and group counseling.
• Knowledge of general psychiatric emergency intervention, diagnosis and brief and long-term therapy methods
• Knowledge of principles of adult and child psychology
• Knowledge of laws and regulations related to patient’s rights, voluntary or involuntary treatment and commitment for treatment, including criteria for commitment
• Knowledge of community resources and agencies proving support services for the mentally ill or disabled
• Knowledge of Medical record-keeping and documentation including patient charting
• Knowledge of Medi-Cal regulations and documentation for medical necessity
• Bilingual (Spanish) a plus

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in Social Work or Clinical Psychology required
• Must be registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences
• Experience working with DMH programs highly preferred
• Experience with crisis management and intervention highly preferred
• Experience conducting individual therapy with high-risk you youth and their families required

Certifications/Licenses

• Valid CA driver’s license
• Valid intern number or license (ASW, AMFT, LCSW, LMFT) with Board of Behavioral Sciences

Additional Requirements

• Tuberculosis clearance
• Department of Justice/Fingerprint clearance
• Child Abuse Index clearance
• Satisfactory completion of health screening
• Proof of legal eligibility to work in the United States
• Satisfactory driving record

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of a FSP / OCS Therapist, the employee is frequently required to walk, drive, sit, and use his/her fingers to manipulate a keyboard or writing instrument. The employee is occasionally required to sit, stand and reach. The employee is rarely required to run, bend, kneel or lift objects weighing more than 30 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment is indoor and outdoor. The noise level varies from moderate to loud.