Out-of-Home Care Therapist

Function

The OOHC Therapist is primarily responsible for assessing, planning, and implementing the treatment of youth in out-of-home care. The therapist provides direct services and mobilizes the resources of the total treatment milieu in specialized short-term residential placement and foster care programs. This includes but is not limited to screening, assessment, care planning, individual, group, family, and crisis therapy utilizing Evidence-based Practices and other treatment modalities to meet individual client needs.

Organizational duties & responsibilities

• All staff have the primary responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of all Ramey-Estep/Re-group (RE) clients.
• Supports the mission, vision, and values of RE. Facilitates and adheres to the agency’s code of ethics, policies, and procedures.
• Supports all functions that attain and maintain accreditation and compliance with regulatory agencies.
• Supports and facilitates positive interaction with clients and staff by exhibiting both in-office and in-public when carrying out job duties: individual maturity, respect for others, a team-centered approach, maintenance of confidential information, and awareness and sensitivity to cultural and other differences in clients and staff.
• Exhibits effective communication skills, including proper use of agency communication systems.
• Participates in appropriate professional development programs to attain and maintain competency.
• Effectively manages financial and physical resources to achieve the mission of RE.
• Reports incidents of abuse or potential abuse involving clients to the appropriate authorities and RE.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conducts and documents mental status evaluation, conducts and documents an initial and cultural assessment, and develops initial treatment goals within the required time frame.
• Completes comprehensive assessments and integrative summaries on new intakes within the required time frame.
• Chairs a meeting within 21 days for RESTEP youth and 30 days for Foster Care youth to complete a comprehensive treatment plan, behavior plan, and/or supervision plan, as applicable.
• Provides screening, assessment, care planning, crisis services, and individual, group, and family treatment, as appropriate, to youth based on clinical issues and individualized treatment needs.
• Oversees case management and assumes overall responsibility for coordinating with all service providers.
• Maintains current progress notes, treatment reports, and other written documentation and correspondence according to agency policy.
• Attends all treatment team meetings and assists in developing appropriate intervention techniques.
• Responsible for the treatment component of the RESTEP and Foster Care clients.
• Enhances professional growth by attending conferences, reading, and in-service training, including occasional presentations for in-service training. Prioritizes training opportunities to increase skills and knowledge to provide evidence-based treatment.
• Serves as a role model, demonstrating appropriate skills and behavior to staff and youth, including hygiene, grooming, dress, language, and social skills.
• Ensures all necessary records are maintained and kept confidential.
• Ensures entries in all logbooks, treatment plans, and monthly progress reports for placing agency workers are done professionally, concisely, and timely.
• Provide crisis intervention when needed and document incidents.
• Ensures RE's licensing standards, certification standards, and other regulatory standards are met or exceeded.
• Participates in an on-call schedule.
• Attends and participates in supervision and staff meetings as scheduled.
• Ensures the mission of the RE by providing quality services to the youth served.
• Adheres to the highest ethical standards to fulfill the mission of the RE.
• Completes initial and ongoing Safe Crisis Management training as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Working conditions/environment

• Shifts may vary depending on staffing needs. RESTEP and Foster Care provide support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for youth, foster parents, and programs.
• Holidays, weekends, and extra hours may be required.
• Meals are provided for staff when on campus.
• Intense, unpredictable population with the possibility of verbal and physical aggression.
• Fast-paced environment with a need for quick decisions to deal with any crisis that may arise.
• Environment is both indoor and outdoor. The environment is, at times, loud and stressful.

minimum job requirements

Education

Master’s degree from an accredited university in a clinical field, i.e., social work, counseling, psychology.

Experience

Prior experience in therapeutic foster care or residential treatment is preferred.

Specific Skills and

requirements

Must be at least 21 years of age.

Must have strong leadership and organizational skills.

Must have excellent communication and conflict-resolution skills.

Some positions may require a valid Driver’s License and insurability.

Technical requirements include proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and any other applications the organization or regulatory agencies uses.

Ability to understand and relate to the needs of clients from diverse backgrounds.

Ability to read, write, and converse in English.

Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.

Successful completion of a background screening.

Successful completion of a TB skin test or proof of a negative chest x-ray or other documentation.

Specialized Licenses or training

Must have a current professional clinical license in good standing or be license eligible.

Successful completion of Excellent Foundations.

Maintain 20 hours of annual training.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk, hear, and smell. The employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb stairs. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, or run. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.

Supervisory REquirements

N/A

This position is eligible for our full-time employee benefits package, which includes a generous 401(k) plan with immediate vesting and dollar-for-dollar matching up to 6%, paid leave, health/dental/vision, and other competitive benefits!

The pay range for this position starts at $62,000 annually.

Additional Benefits for Licensed Clinicians

• Professional development assistance
• Company-paid clinical supervision
• Company-paid licensure fees
• Company-paid licensure exam fees
• Company-paid licensure exam preparation
• Licensure application submission assistance