Mental Health Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title:                Mental Health Specialist 

Reports to:     Associate Director of Special Services

FLSA:               Exempt 

Location:        Multiple locations(Bergen County, Hudson County, Passaic County)

Job Responsibilities: 

• Learns and adheres to the philosophy and mandates of Head Start/Early Head Start as outlined in the Performance Standards, licensing requirements, and the Policies and Procedures of Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc.
• Responsible for the coordination of mental health services while building collaborative relationships among children, families, staff, and mental health professionals, as well as the larger community.
• Ensures that the Head Start Program is in compliance with the Head Start/Early Head Start Performance Standards in the area of mental health.
• Observes, screens, identifies, and develops plans for children and families with mental health needs, including difficulty adjusting to the classroom and behavioral problems.
• Provides therapeutic play interventions in the classroom with identified children.
• Provides psychotherapeutic family counseling to primarily address relationship problems as a part of the child’s mental health assessment and plan.
• Conducts psychotherapeutic support groups to provide information and help participants increase their ability to manage psychosocial stressors, relationship problems, and improve overall coping skills.
• Facilitates referrals to community mental health providers, as needed.
• Participates in multidiscipline team meetings to provide clinical consultation.
• Provides in-service staff training.
• Completes monthly report of services provided.
• Takes part in Head Start Administrative meeting, if requested.
• Assists with revision of mental health program plan.
• Networks and advocates for clients and develops community partnerships with mental health and social service providers. 
• May provide clinical supervision to staff members pursuant to standards set forth by N.J.A.C 13:44G-8.1.  
• According to the New Jersey mandated reporting guidelines, any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or acts of abuse. Should immediately report this information to the State Central Registry (SCR). If the child is in immediate danger, call 911 as well as 1-877 NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873).

Qualifications:

Tier I:

• Master’s degree in Social Work or Counseling or related field
• Current New Jersey state license in respective discipline: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or licensed in related field.
• 1-3 years of clinical experience working with children and families
• Experience working with a culturally diverse community
• Basic computer skills
• Spanish speaking skills a plus

Tier II:

• Master’s degree in Social Work or Counseling
• Current New Jersey state license in respective discipline: Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC). 
• 1-3 years of clinical experience working with children and families
• Experience working with a culturally diverse community
• Basic computer skills
• Spanish speaking skills a plus

Tier III:

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in Social Work, Counseling , or related mental health field
• Current New Jersey state license in respective discipline: Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC). 
• 1-3 years of clinical experience working with children and families
•  Experience working with a culturally diverse community
• Basic computer skills
• Spanish speaking skills a plus

Knowledge of:

• Social work theory and principles, including clinical assessment, clinical consultation, and psychotherapeutic counseling.
• Current trends in the field of social work
• Relevant medical terms and diagnosis
• Principles of interviewing for the purpose of providing clinical counseling and completing mental health assessments
• Public social service programs on the federal, state, and local level
• Applicable federal, state, local and agency laws, policies, regulations, and program related contact guidelines within the area of responsibility
• Local community and mental health resources
• Various social, economic, cultural, and ethnic trends, conditions, and expectations
• Public relation principles and practices

Ability to:

• Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of assigned responsibility
• Interpret, apply, explain and reach sound decisions in accordance with regulations, policies and procedures
• Organize and maintain specialized documentation
• Comprehend and apply laws, regulations, policies and procedures relative to the provision of social services
• Appropriately identify, assess, diagnose and effect appropriate treatment plans utilizing community resources meeting the needs of families
• Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, strategy and judgment in dealing with a variety of people in a variety of situations
• Communicate effectively with people of various educations, social, economic and cultural backgrounds
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, community agencies, staff and others encountered in the course of work

Physical & Mental Demands:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit or stand for long periods; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment, reach with hands and arms; and lift or move up to fifty pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems, observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform work on multiple, concurrent tasks; and interact with program management staff, volunteers, representatives of public agencies and community organization and others encountered in the course of work.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee may have occasional contact with abusive and/or physically violent clients.  If the employee works in typical office conditions, the noise level is generally quiet.  If the employee works in a classroom setting, the noise level could be above a standard noise level.

AAP/EEO Statement

Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.