Therapist-Mental Health Mercer Middle School (.6FTE)

Purpose

School Based Mental Health Therapists provide mental health services to children and teens within the school-based health center setting and in accordance with the Mental Health Scope of Services. They focus on the full spectrum of care, from promoting healthy development and preventing problems, to long-term intervention and support for students unable to obtain adequate mental health care from other organizations or in a non-school context. Emphasis is on asset and strengths-building; symptom reduction; increasing, stabilizing, and maintaining functioning; and on individual, family, and group modalities. School-based Mental Health Therapists provide services with a variety of therapeutic techniques, including evidence-based practices.  

Neighborcare Health offers a robust benefit package including Health, Wellness & Retirement benefits: Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, 18+ days of Paid Time Off, 9-Paid Holidays, Retirement with Matching, Life & AD&D, Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, & More! This position is eligible for the Staff Referral Program

Responsibilities  

• Provide high quality, strengths-based services to clients in alignment with the Scope of Services and productivity expectations.  
• Assist students, parents and school personnel in efforts to remove psychosocial and mental/emotional health obstacles to students’ healthy functioning and academic performance.  
• Provide individual, family, and group therapy; case management; classroom presentations; and psycho-educational services in accordance with the needs of the specific school population and as specified by applicable funding contract(s).  
• Participate in school-wide interventions as appropriate.  
• Assess mental health needs and develop individualized treatment goals for each caseload client.  
• Review and revise treatment goals as clinically appropriate, and at least as frequently as required by applicable funding contract(s).  
• Exchange information within legal and ethical guidelines, with the goal of providing the best individual and team care.  
• Participate actively in multidisciplinary team care provision, including but not limited to, coordinating and integrating client care with other providers within and outside of Neighborcare Health.  
• Work with school staff, Neighborcare Health staff, and community providers to maximize students’ access to health services, within Neighborcare Health and/or with other organizations.  
• Complete required documentation in a timely manner, and in accordance with requirements specified by the State of Washington, Neighborcare Health, and funders.  
• Report all known and suspected abuse or neglect per Washington State Law.  
• Uphold Neighborcare Health service commitments: (a warm welcome; respect; caring; working together and trusting relationship) with internal and external customers   

Other Job Function  

• Maintain professionalism and confidentiality in administration and patient care areas  
• May provide supervision of or training for students who are assigned to Neighborcare Health as part of their professional education  
• Attend site, SBHC Program, and Neighborcare Health meetings as directed by supervisor.  
• Attend Neighborcare Health Behavioral Health Team meetings as directed by supervisor or Behavioral Health Program Manager.  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities    

• Represents Neighborcare core values with integrity:  Social Justice, Cultural Sensitivity, Community, and Excellence  
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully with students of varying ethnicities, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and gender/sexuality identities.   
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development, group dynamics, and family systems  
• Knowledge of mental health diagnoses  
• Knowledge of school systems and local resources  
• Knowledge of and ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries  
• Knowledge of and ability to maintain legal and ethical professional standards  
• Skill in oral and written interpersonal communication  
• Ability to identify factors putting students at risk for mental health and/or substance issues  
• Ability to make assessments, and to make and carry out a plan of care for individuals with mental health and psychosocial issues  
• Ability to apply evidence-based and other therapeutic methods to provide effective individualized care  
• Ability to provide presentations on mental health and substance abuse topics  
• Ability to work effectively as a team member, including as part of a multidisciplinary team  
• Ability to work independently and take initiative  
• Ability to work effectively under