Child & Adolescent Psychologist

The Pediatric psychologist is mental health provider who adheres to the highest standards of evidence-based medical practice, ethics, and professionalism at all times. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in providing psychological services to children and adolescents, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. They should have a deep understanding of child development, childhood disorders, and family systems. The Child Psychologist will work closely with other healthcare professionals and educators to provide comprehensive psychological services to children and their families, helping children to manage mental and emotional health issues, navigate social and behavioral problems, and promote overall mental well-being.

The pediatric psychologist will coordinate care with schools for minors as well as complete diagnostic testing for children to clarify diagnosis and make treatment recommendations. The Pediatric psychologist provides direct behavioral health integration and provides evidence-based therapies with the DSM to children, adolescents, adults and families in order to improve psychosocial function in a primary care setting focused on the pediatric population. The Pediatric psychologist will aim to improve mental health and wellness for patients in group and individual settings. The pediatric psychologist will be versed in assessments, diagnosis treatment and care coordination when appropriate within a therapeutic frame

Essential Functions:

• Provide comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of behavioral health clients.
• Conduct psychological assessments and evaluations to diagnose disorders
• Provide psychotherapy services to children, adolescents, and their families
• Communicate with parents and educators regarding treatment plans and progress
• Maintain confidential and accurate records
• Conduct workshops and training sessions for parents and educators
• Establishes positive, trusting rapport with patients.
• Complete initial assessments for therapy and treatment recommendations for children and adolescents with diagnosis in the DSM, with occasional adult cross coverage as needed.
• Diagnoses mental health disorders according to DSM criteria and treat according to evidence-based recommendations.
• Provide assessment, diagnosis according to DSM consultation, and brief intervention for psychological/psychiatric problems and/or disorders.
• Creates individualized treatment plans according to patient needs and circumstances.
• Meets with patients regularly to provide counseling, treatment and adjust treatment plans as necessary.
• Conducts ongoing assessments of patient progress.
• Involves and advises family members when appropriate.
• Communicate effectively with other members of the care team across all disciplines when appropriate to coordinate care. Serve as a therapeutic consultant to other specialties across programs.
• Assist the primary care team in developing care management processes such as the use of guidelines, disease management techniques, case management, and patient education to improve self-management of medical and psychiatric chronic disease.
• Teach patients, families, and staff care, prevention, and treatment enhancement techniques.
• Identify at risk patients appropriately in crisis situations and apply appropriate interventions.
• Refers patients to outside specialists or agencies when necessary.
• Maintains thorough records of patient meetings and progress.
• Follows all safety protocols and maintains client confidentiality.
• Contributes to practice by accomplishing related tasks as needed.
• Actively participate in meetings that support Community health care centers to provide comprehensive care for patients
• Cross train in other credential specific functions to learn the other jobs and potentially cover when appropriate and needed (i.e. BHC, A-BHC, Crisis Counselor etc)
• Stay current on standards of care in the field and participate in CME to increase skill set and knowledge base.
• Monitor the site’s behavioral health program, identifying problems related to patient services and making recommendations for improvement while complying with all accrediting bodies applicable (DCF, state, federal regulations as well as standard of care).
• Assist in running treatment team meetings for pediatric behavioral health to have clinical case discussion
• Other duties as assigned.