Advanced Clinical Therapist (Child Protection Center)

Responsible for independent clinical practice, providing individual, family, and/or group psychotherapy with children, youths, and their parents; crisis counseling to maltreated children and youth or those exposed to domestic violence or maltreated children and youth, and provides trauma-specific therapeutic services to children exposed to domestic violence and their non-offending parent survivor of domestic violence, and youth with problematic sexual behaviors and adolescents with histories of sexual offending behavior, as part of the multidisciplinary child protection team. Provides evaluation and assessment of children/adolescents mental health needs including psychiatric diagnoses and treatment recommendations. Provides referrals for services as indicated. Provides collaborative consultation to the attending psychologist regarding the child/adolescent functioning and progress.

• 40 hr. work week, including weekends and evenings
• Free modality training
• Paid Licensure
• CEU Reimbursement

Please include a cover letter.

Minimum Education
Master's Degree or doctoral degree in Social Work, Clinical Psychology, or Counseling (PhD or PsyD) or a related field (Required)

Minimum Work Experience
3 years (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge
Ability to diagnose and provide evidence based interventions to children, adolescents, and parents.
Must demonstrate clinical skill in individual, family, and group work.
Must have a high energy level and commitment to social welfare and child health advocacy issues.
Must be available to law enforcement agencies for consultation and expert testimony.
Must be able to demonstrate appropriate use of hospital and community resources on behalf of children and their families.
Time and attendance are vital for this position.
Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills. (Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.)
Ability to relate to diverse patient populations.
Ability to work in highly emotionally charged situations.
Experience with and ability to interact and collaborate in a multi-systems network including law enforcement, judicial, social services, mental health and medical.
Requires skill, knowledge and experience in crisis intervention as well as child and adult treatment modalities.
Must have knowledge of acute psychiatric intervention, domestic violence, trauma, child maltreatment and protective services.
Must be able to assess the mental health status of the child, growth and development issues of the child, identify criteria for clinical judgment or decision making to protect the child, strengthen the family, and reduce impact of abusive behavior.
Must be able to demonstrate the ability to diagnose and treat families who have experienced interfamilial violence and trauma.
Ability to diagnose and provide evidence based interventions to children, adolescents, and parents

Required Licenses and Certifications
Psychologist Psychologist Licensed in Washington, DC Upon Hire (Required) Or
Ind. Clinical Social Worker Ind Clinical Social Worker licensed in Washington, DC Upon Hire (Required) Or
Licensed Professional Counselor licensed in Washington, DC Upon Hire (Required)

Functional Accountabilities
Diagnostic Assessment

• Provides crisis stabilization and crisis management.

• Form therapeutic alliance with patients from a variety of diverse backgrounds.

• Uses a variety of therapeutic tools and evidence based treatment modalities.

• Monitors and provides feedback to treatment team psychiatrist on any reported impacts of psychotropic medication on patient's functioning and mental status.

• Completes required electronic documentation in a clear, concise, and timely manner.

• Continuously updates professional knowledge of current treatment techniques and research through attendance at seminars, continuing education courses, workshops, etc.

• Educates staff about psychosocial issues impacting patient.

• Utilizes a theoretical framework for the focus of the family intervention.

• Encourage positive communication among family members.

• Recognizes progress and obstacles towards treatment goals and appropriately intervenes.

• Completes required documents of the assessment in a clear, concise, and timely manner.

• Remains knowledgeable about community resources/ placements for children and families to assist in the attainment of treatment goals.

• Communicates with outside agencies on the behalf of the patient to ensure continuity of care and treatment progress.

Multidisciplinary Interventions

• Provides crisis intervention skills to highly distressed children and families.

• Utilizes a theoretical framework for the workings of the group.

• Screens potential group members for appropriateness of group therapy.

• Assesses for safety.

• Expresses the goals of the group.

• Recognizes individual's progress and obstacles towards treatment goals in the group setting and appropriately intervenes.

• Maintains knowledge of and shares information on community resources/supports for children and families that assists in the attainment of the treatment goals.

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others' ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance