Mental Health Clinician - Redwood City (24-25)

Position Summary  

KIPP Public Schools Northern California is seeking an experienced Mental Health Clinician to provide on-site culturally responsive and trauma informed mental health and socioemotional support to students on campus.  In this position, you will provide an array of therapeutic services to youth in a public school-based setting. This role also provides outreach and education on topics of mental health, substance use, and other wellness subject matters as relevant to the immediate school community.  The ideal candidate cares deeply about children and adolescents, especially those who have experienced significant trauma in their lives.  

Reporting to the school leader & receiving coaching from the clinical supervisor, the Mental Health Clinician will provide psychotherapeutic interventions, behavioral supports, and mental health treatment services including counseling, consultation, treatment and case management for students receiving ERMHS.  

Essential Functions and Responsibilities  

●        Provide culturally appropriate school-based mental health and substance abuse services in the forms of individual, group, and family treatment, therapeutic case management, crisis intervention, intake assessment, clinical evaluation, and consultation services for the school community.  

●        Provide outreach and education on mental health and substance abuse services and issues to students, families, community members, other professionals, school staff, and in community settings as necessary.  

●        Develop and maintain administrative and treatment records related to client care in accordance to standards specified by funding source and Regional Support Office (RSO) policies.  

●        Participate in internal and/or external training as required by the position, school, or RSO.  

●        Collaborate with and be part of any coordinated meetings (such as COST Team Meeting and SST meetings) as the mental health professional.  

●        Perform job assignments primarily at the assigned school sites.  

●        Provide crisis intervention, assessments, and triage of students.  

●        Coordinate with other school support staff (i.e. School Psychologist, Instructional Aides) to provide direct counseling services to students.  

●        Establish, maintain contact with, and assist in collaboration with local community based social service agencies in order to refer students and families for further services in conjunction with or in place of (in cases in which counselor’s caseload capacity is reached) therapy.  

●        May provide on-site coordination of counseling intern(s) from outside agencies.  

●        Perform other duties as assigned (not to include non-counseling or other duties that could compromise potential counseling relationships).  

Preferred Qualifications  

Experience:  

●        At least one year (2 years preferred) of post-master’s experience providing mental health and substance abuse services in school-based settings.  

●        At least one year (2 years preferred) of  post-master’s experience providing mental health services in a community mental health setting.  

Education:  

●        Master’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related field.  

●        Must possess one of the following valid California licenses: Marriage Family Therapist (MFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC); or possess associate registration as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW),  Associate Marriage Family Therapist (AMFT), or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC).   

Knowledge/skills required:  

●        Familiarity with community behavioral health systems of care, including the philosophy of care, levels of care for counseling services, and the delivery of such services, highly preferred.  

●        Familiarity with local community resources/services (which may include health, mental health, substance abuse, vocational, housing, etc) highly preferred.  

●        Strong commitment to the philosophy, goals, and mission of KIPP Public Schools Northern California and to providing community-based, culturally competent, and client centered mental health treatment and prevention services for the school community.  

●        Commitment to engaging in professional development activities such as trainings, continuing education seminars, case conferences, and reviewing up-to-date material, etc., as related to treatment and intervention strategies for the school community.  

●        Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively, function independently, and interact professionally with a diverse, multicultural, and interdisciplinary staff of all levels.  

●        Knowledge of crisis intervention, strong work ethic, demonstrated flexibility, superior time management and boundary-holding skills, and a commitment to KIPP Bay Area Public Schools’ philosophy as well as to the foundational school-wide systems at this campus.  

●        Strong skills in self advocacy as well as for advocacy of students and families.  

●        Commitment to systems change, equity and justice as well as to providing services with a trauma-informed care lens.  

●        Familiarity with socio-emotional learning competencies and restorative practices is a plus.  

●        Must be able to effectively communicate with the student or family population.  

●        Bilingual candidates in Spanish, Arabic or Vietnamese also a plus, though not required.  

Physical, Mental and Environmental Demands  

Physical:   

Sitting, walking, reaching, bending, use of both legs; use of both hands, wrist/arm motion, grasping/holding, use of all fingers; lift, carry/push objects 1-20 lbs.; use of both eyes, color vision, near vision; sense of smell, normal hearing, distinguish sounds in transmission, speaking.  

Mental:    

Stress of deadlines and normal work standards, ability to analyze problems and generate alternatives, work with interruptions, concentrate for long periods of time, read, calculate, perform routine math problems, memorize and recall objects and people.  

Environmental:  

School environment subject to constant interruptions and distractions. In emergency context (e.g., pandemic) work may be conducted virtually fully or partially for extended periods of time or longer, and the expectation is that the individual will establish a productive, remote work environment (e.g., ability to stay connected through different technology means). It may require remote work as current public health guidelines warrant.  

Classification  

Full-time, exempt position  

Compensation  

KIPP offers a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and transportation benefits.   

To Apply  

Submit a detailed cover letter outlining your specific interest in this position and your relevant experience and a resume online. Applications without cover letters will not be considered.  

As part of the application process applicants who receive an offer of employment will be required to clear a background check.    

Questions? Please reach out to careers@kippnorcal.org  

About KIPP Public Schools Northern California  

We are a thriving nonprofit network of 16 free, public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical factor in making that vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.  

Our student community consists of over 6,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San Jose, and Redwood City. 79% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 23% are English language learners, and 10% have special needs.  We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflect our students’ diversity.  

KIPP Bay Area Schools does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, color, national origin or ancestry, cultural background, religious creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital/registered domestic partner status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, primary language, citizenship or immigration status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.