Clinician - Child First

Job Description

About us: The Village was one of the first agencies in the country to provide homes for neglected children. Today, we continue to achieve our mission “to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children” by providing a full range of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development, substance use treatment and support services for children, adults and families in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut region.

Named a Connecticut Top Workplace for six consecutive years with national distinction for workplace culture and diversity, equity and inclusion practices, you can be sure you’re joining an organization that’s just as committed to your success as we are to those we serve.

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Starting annual salary $63,000

• Continuing Education Units through Healthstream and beyond
• Professional License Reimbursement
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Clinical Supervision toward Licensure

Child FIRST Clinician:

Clinician provides intensive home-based services to children and families. The children served within the Child First program range in age from prenatal to six years old. Services provided include attachment-based therapy, parenting skills training, crisis support, extensive case management, and advocacy. Child First operates from a team approach and consists of a Clinician and Family Support Specialist, both of whom participate in sessions and treatment meetings. The clinician facilitates development and implementation of treatment plan and collaboratively modifies with client and family as appropriate during term of service. Services provided are in collaboration with DCF, schools, pediatricians, and other community-based providers. Each team member participates in weekly individual, team, and group reflective supervision and is responsible for maintaining clinical documentation according to licensing, accreditation, Medicaid, and Child First requirements. The purpose of services is to facilitate the attachment relationship between the child and caregiver, improve family functioning overall, and connect the child and family with community service providers in a positive way. Consultation and coordination with medical and psychiatric providers are expected as appropriate to meet families' needs. Staff must maintain productivity targets determined by the Scope of Service and remain current on all model training requirements.

JOB SUMMARY

The Clinician provides direct services to clients in their home, office, school, or other identified setting to meet the unique needs of families served. Unlicensed clinicians are hired prior to obtaining their license to practice as mental health practitioners (i.e., psychology, social work, LMFT, LPC, LADC). Unlicensed clinicians will receive supervision by a licensed clinician and may be offered training opportunities. When eligible, all unlicensed clinicians are expected to obtain licensure to be considered for ongoing employment at The Village.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Direct services may include, but not limited to:
1. Conducts comprehensive clinical assessments and engagement.
2. Determines DSM V Diagnosis in consultation with Supervisor and Medical Director or designated Psychiatrist, as needed.
3. Develops treatment plans and contracts for services.
4. Implements treatment plans, modifying it as appropriate during treatment.
5. Discharge planning, which may include linkages to community support services.
6. Provides case management services.
7. Completes clinical documentation required by agency and program policies, HIPAA regulations, and funding sources.
8. Maintains productivity targets determined by service.
2. Participates and presents in Peer Consultation and Quality Assurance Reviews.
3. Fosters collaboration with other clinical and administrative staff to respond to client and programmatic needs, including the implementation of agency policies, procedures, and initiatives.
4. Partners with other programs or clinical staff to identify and develop approaches to address clients’ unmet needs or service gaps.

• Acquires and maintains the needed skills in evidenced based models that the agency/program ascribes to.

Experience and Skills

EDUCATION

• MSW or equivalent required with a minimum of 3 years’ post graduate clinical experience preferred.
• Clinical degree in social work, psychology, or other licensed-eligible counseling degree
• LMSW or equivalent required and licensed eligible

EXPERIENCE

• Must be able to function independently and be able to seek guidance when necessary.
• Strong diagnostic, assessment and treatment skills for individual, family, and group therapy
• Extensive experience working with culturally diverse urban populations, a wide age range, and a variety of clinical presentations; Cultural competency to serve a diverse population.
• Knowledge of behavioral health, child welfare systems, and community resources
• Ability to author professional/clinical reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of an organization.
• Knowledge of and ability to use Microsoft Office Suite and web browsers effectively.
• Knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV)
• Good knowledge of a variety of therapeutic interventions and models emphasizing empirically validated interventions

• Skill to maintain a professional, confidential work environment.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks at one time in an efficient manner.
• Ability to relate to children and families in a positive manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with children and families.
• Good organizational and communication skills
• Bilingual/bicultural skills preferred.
• Partners with Supervisor to identify and develop plans for professional growth.
• Contributes to program functioning by assuming responsibility for special tasks or leadership in special projects as appropriate.
• Contributes to agency organizational life by participating in agency wide task forces, committees, or problem-solving teams as appropriate.
• Contributes to agency visibility and development of community linkages by representing the Village in community groups or committees.