Behavioral Assistant
August 28, 2023Position Title: Group Practice Therapist
Reports To: Clinical Director
Broad Function: Provide clinical counseling to Youth, Adults, Couples and Families
I. CORE VALUES:
- Demonstrates cultural competence through an awareness of and sensitivity towards Agency’s clients’ and coworkers’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
- Must be able to professionally relate to and connect with a diverse set of stakeholders including partners, clients, community members, and coworkers.
- Is committed to the value of a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a child and believes in the capacity of people to grow and change.
- Works from a strengths-based perspective.
- Understands and works well with other service systems (i.e.; Division of Child Protection and Permanency, Care Management Organizations, juvenile justice, division of aging, probation and parole), maximizes resources to assist client.
- Recognizes that the needs of consumers are priority and responds appropriately.
- Understands and adheres to all HOPE policies and procedures and keeps abreast of and adheres to QI policies and procedures.
II. PROFESSIONALISM:
- Values and participates in the Team as a proactive member.
- Respects others’ professional opinions and tolerates a range of feelings.
- Able to give and receive constructive criticism.
- Willing to take on extra work when needed (i.e. when there is a vacancy).
- Performs required tasks according to the program philosophy, policies and procedures.
- Is courteous, approachable, and cooperative towards others and conducts self in a mature, competent, confident, and respectful manner.
- Understands and adheres to confidentiality rights of clients, co-workers and agency, consistent with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and protects personal health information in written, verbal and electronic forms.
- Practices self-care possesses a healthy work/ life balance and provides exceptional customer service.
- Ensures the safety & comfort of others by communicating the presence of hazards, injuries, equipment problems.
- Understands, practices, and reiterates the importance of emergency evacuation plan and other safety policies (universal precautions, etc.).
- In times of crisis is willing to help others and communicates urgent information quickly to supervisor and team.
- Maintains good attendance (i.e. Maintains FT schedule as contracted, and attendance does not impair or negatively affect the team.)
- Is punctual for appointments, meetings, etc.
- Meets program productivity requirements.
- Uses good judgment, practices ethical decision-making, and explores all options in problem solving.
III. SUPERVISION:
- Attends supervision consistently and comes prepared.
- Documents supervision.
- Able to receive feedback and to learn from it.
- Has insight about self (i.e. strengths and challenges) and utilizes that knowledge toward growth and change.
IV. CLINICAL:
- Provide office based and telehealth clinical services to youth, adults and families.
- Conduct a comprehensive intake assessment.
- Provide ongoing assessments for safety risks and utilize interventions to mitigate safety issues.
- Assist youth with establishing goals and strategies for increasing selfsufficiency and provide appropriate referrals when necessary.
- Liaison to DCPP, CMO, probation and/or parole and other state regulatory entities as needed.
- Provides psycho-education on harm reduction.
- Incorporates trauma informed integrated approaches to support treatment and recovery from mental health and substance use disorders.
- Completes follow ups and evaluation for youth enrolled.
- Experience with the dynamics facing youth previous/currently involved in child welfare.
- Clinical Intervention
- Differentiates between the range of normal development and behaviors and pathological adaptations, and then initiates appropriate interventions.
- Demonstrates the ability to utilize appropriate interventions in both non-crisis and crisis situations.
- Integrates adolescent development and needs into comprehensive treatment approach.
- Tolerates a range of feelings, affect, and personal presentation without judgment.
- Uses a range of approaches according to client need (e.g. individual, family therapy or couples, in-home, crisis intervention, (short or long term) and is creative when needed.
- Acts in the best interest of the client.
- Consults with psychiatrist as needed and is knowledgeable about client’s medication regimen and side effects, and monitors medication appointments.
- Provides case management services as indicated.
- Advocates, coordinates, and maintains on-going contact with other providers involved in clients’ care
- Case presentation and Documentation
- Active part of HOPE team.
- Attend meetings, prepare case presentations
- Maintain electronic health record.
- Completes documentation as per agency and program guidelines.
- Discharge / Termination
- Identifies when treatment goals have been reached and/or benefits maximized and works toward appropriate discharge.
- Discusses progress with client and prepares client for termination, with appropriate and timely discharge planning.
- When appropriate, facilitates transfers/referrals for further services.
- Consults with supervisor regarding termination prior to discharge.
- Completes termination paperwork and appropriate discharge planning in a timely fashion.
SPECIFICATIONS:
*Must have valid New Jersey state driver’s license
Education/Certification: Master’s in Social Work or equivalent master’s in human services. LSW, LAC, LCSW, LPC, LMFT or state licensure/certification specific to degree.
Experience: Three years’ experience in mental health. Experience with diverse populations in an urban setting, and substance use/abuse disorders.
Knowledge: Knowledge of psychiatric disorders and various treatment modalities, including group, family and individual treatment. Knowledge of community resources, social service and mental health systems. Knowledge of appropriate clinical interventions in a crisis and non-crisis situation. Knowledge of harm reduction medication-assisted treatment and recovery support for substance abuse disorders. Knowledge of appropriate treatment interventions for victims of abuse, individuals suffering from PSTD, needs of incarcerated persons, Knowledge of Family System Theory.
Skills and Abilities: Ability to conduct psychiatric and psychosocial assessments and to make a differential diagnosis.
Professional Characteristics: Open, warm, empathic, attentive listener, selfaware, ethical, creative, organized, flexible, open to criticism, patient, responsible, able to work independently, mature, self-motivated, dedicated, enthusiastic, willing to take on additional tasks and responsibilities, and interested in seeking additional training and skills
Work Environment/Physical Demands: The individual must possess the ability to perform work that requires frequent standing, bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, moving, and lifting of up to or in excess of 50 pounds.