FLSA status:
Part-time, 0.5FTE, non-exempt
Salary Range: $33,312-$43,563
Reports to: School Services Director
Location: Aspen
Overview:
The school-based team provides onsite clinical mental health services to schools from Aspen to Rifle. We serve Aspen School District, Roaring Fork School District/Re-1, Garfield/Re-2 School District, Colorado BOCES Association, and private schools within our regional footprint. The contracts between Aspen Hope Center and our school partners allow students to access clinical mental health services at their school and serve as a mental health resource for the school as a whole. AHC school-based clinicians work closely with school counselors and administrators to provide timely, high-quality, and confidential services to our Valley's most at-risk youth.
Job Summary:
A school-based clinician's role is to provide care and clinical mental health services to students. The primary function is to assess and provide high-quality mental health interventions to individuals who are seen as at-risk by administration or school staff and deemed to be in need of mental health services. The school-based clinician is responsible for ensuring continuity of care: collaboration with proper school personnel, referral to appropriate type and level of service, attendance at school meetings if deemed appropriate, coordination with partner agencies, and advocacy for any treatment deemed necessary beyond initial referral. School-based clinicians are tasked with providing individual and group counseling, social-emotional check-ins, social-emotional classroom support as deemed necessary by the school, and staff development. A Hope Center clinician is able to provide these services on school grounds at no charge to the student.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Supports the mission and values of Aspen Hope Center and contributes to a collaborative, team-based work environment
- Works school hours where on-site presence is used for assessments, individual and group mental health services, social-emotional check-ins, classes or meetings
- Conducts assessments of referred students and initiates appropriate clinical responses, interventions, and levels of service
- Obtains proper paperwork and maintains strict adherence to confidentiality
- Provides individual and group therapeutic support and care coordination to students experiencing identifiable behavioral health concerns that have been referred for services through the school
- Maintains a caseload of 20 to 25 clients unless otherwise specified by school partnership or FTE equivalents.
- Provides social-emotional classroom work as directed by school, using school-based social-emotional curriculum or lessons approved by the school
- Performs basic assessment of students with suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors
- Develops and implements safety plans for students assessed to be at risk, in collaboration with school staff, families, and crisis teams as appropriate
- Provides follow-up services to students who engage with AHC mobile crisis response clinicians
- Monitors risk and adjusts level of care as clinically indicated
- Collaborates with school, family or other appropriate persons, relevant to the situation at hand
- Staffs cases, when necessary, with Aspen Hope Center's Program Director, clinical supervisor, or crisis team
- Contacts other agencies (EMS, child protective services, law enforcement, etc.) when necessary
- Works collaboratively with school staff to support student functioning while maintaining clear professional boundaries
- Documents all services provided in accordance with Aspen Hope Center policies, clinical standards, and documentation timelines (all documentation is required to be completed and in the system within 72 hours of session)
- Collects and contributes to program data, outcome tracking, and evaluation efforts to support quality improvement and funding sustainability
- Participates in required clinical supervision, case consultation, and professional development as required by Aspen Hope Center and licensure standards
- Provides services using trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive practices
- Acknowledges and adheres to all policies and procedures of Aspen Hope Center
- Provides services in alignment with respective school or school district (see addendum)
- Completes additional tasks as directed by the School Program Director
Meetings, Supervision, Workshops
- Attends all staff meetings and participates in scheduled supervision with the Hope Center team and director
- Attends social-emotional team meetings at their school on a regular basis
- Represents AHC at two internal and/or external events during the year, determined in collaboration with their supervisor
- Completes AHC's School-based clinician training plan and other required training based on program needs and availability
- Participates in four AHC workshops annually
- Serves on one AHC committee, encouraged
Work Environment
Clinicians provide clinical services in diverse school-based settings. There may be extended periods of standing, walking, and sitting. Work may involve exposure to high-stress and emotionally charged situations, to include interactions with high acuity individuals who may present as agitated, unpredictable, or combative. The clinician must demonstrate the ability to maintain therapeutic composure, exercise professional discretion, apply de-escalation techniques, and uphold safety for self and others in all environments. Capacity to maintain professional composure, make decisions in fast-paced or challenging environments, and adhere to process protocols is necessary in this role.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of DSM-5 TR diagnoses and symptoms
- Knowledge of local and agency resources for referrals
- Skilled at working with various types of individuals and knowing how to approach each one
- Skilled in basic computer operations including the use of the Internet, Microsoft Office, Google Suite and general data management
- Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives without supervision
- Ability to assess for suicidality
- Ability to maintain boundaries with clients, practitioners and other agencies
- Ability to maintain composure, professionalism, and structure in any given situation
- Ability to uphold confidentiality at all times and adhere to the minimum necessary rule whenever data is shared
- Ability to maintain communication with clinical and school-based staff on a regular basis
- Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems
Credentials and Experience
- Master's degree in counseling, psychology, social work or related field
- Colorado state license or license eligible (with desire to receive supervision so that license may be obtained within two years of hire date)
- Experience in counseling-related roles, crisis or trauma assessment experience preferred.
*Upon hire, clinicians are classified as School-based Clinician I, II, or III based on licensure and experience. Pay is commensurate with experience and licensure.
Benefits for Part-time Employees:
- Competitive pay based on experience and credentials
- Opportunities for continuing education, supervision, and professional development
- Supportive and collaborative team environment
- Employee Assistance Program
- Annual Lifestyle Spending Account reimbursement (part-time equivalent)
- Annual professional development reimbursement (part-time equivalent)
- Volunteer Time Off (part-time equivalent)
This job description is not an employment contract, nor is it intended to show every detail of the duties and requirements of the job.The job description is intended to provide a listing of primary responsibilities and tasks.The job description may be augmented by performance expectations and additional duties, which may be assigned either in writing or verbally at any time by management.
It is the established policy of Aspen Hope Center to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age, 40 and over, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and length, protective
hairstyles), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, genetic information, marital status, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law. Equal employment opportunity includes, but is not limited to, employment, training, promotion, demotion, transfer, leaves of absence, and termination.