Job Title: Clinician – West Bend Immediate Supervisor: CM – River’s Edge Campus
FLSA Status: Exempt/Salaried Next Level Supervisor: Director of Group Care
Department: Group Care Services – WB
Job Grade: 04 – Unlicensed/05 – Licensed
Job Summary
Under the supervision and direction of the Clinical Manager, the Clinician is responsible to provide individual, group, and family involved care and therapies as well as case management services. All functions and services provided by the Clinician promote the Norris mission and philosophy for providing services utilizing a trauma-informed approach. The Clinician acts in collaboration with other members of the Norris program team, placing agencies and all other community partners. Clinical services provided are according to personalized treatment plans that the Clinician is responsible for developing based on a thorough initial assessment upon a youth’s admission to the program and updating throughout a youth’s time at Norris. Additionally, the Clinician is responsible for aftercare planning as well as continued services to the youth and family following the youth transitioning from Norris. The Clinician has primary Leader on Duty (LOD) and medication administration responsibilities on a routine basis.
Clinical services should be sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity of each individual youth. The Clinician position requires the individual to work a flexible schedule that is subject to change in order to meet the needs of the youth, family and/or program at any time, including evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
Leadership
Understands and articulates the Norris vision that works to promote safety, permanency and well-being for youth.
- Understands, implements, and models CPI philosophy, Risking Connection trauma-informed care interventions, and DBT and TF-CBT strategies at a high level; is effective in maintaining a calm, pleasant, and enriching environment.
- Ensures consistent and effective collaboration and teaming among clinicians, case managers, program leaders, employees and youth to create and develop integrated treatment and educational plans.
- Provides program assistance and support for special projects, audits/reviews, and mandated initiatives, as requested.
- Assists program leadership in reviewing and decision-making of all new potential youths as requested.
- Demonstrates the ability to be resilient by overcoming perceived setbacks, discussing lessons learned and using those lessons to help leadership become stronger.
- Works with other group care leadership employees in identifying qualified potential employees members and hiring them for needed positions.
- Routinely serves in the role of Leader on Duty on a rotating basis.
- Facilitates employee training as needed to include orientation for new employees and ongoing training requirements for existing employees.
- Is an active member of the program extended leadership team, provides excellent role modeling as a leader, is flexible, supportive, takes initiative and is a good team player.
- Leads innovative program development within the group care programs with a goal of bringing more trauma-informed strategies and evidence based programming to the daily environment as well as when meeting health or program related needs.
- Willing to work a flexible schedule to meet program needs including ability to regularly work nights and weekends and holidays is required.
- Provides other work related duties as assigned.
Clinical Assessment & Treatment Planning
Initiates and develops an Initial Assessment of a youth’s treatment and service needs.
- Conducts necessary screening/assessments (e.g., UCLA PTSD Reaction Index, Urban ACES, etc.)
- Outreaches and engages with the youth’s family to ensure coordination, collaboration and communication during development of a Personalized Treatment Plan.
- Develops a Personalized Treatment Plan within the first 30 days of care to include the youth’s target needs and measurable goals that will address these needs.
- As part of regularly scheduled treatment plan reviews, conducts an ongoing assessment of target needs and adjusts the treatment plan as indicated based on progress or changes in a youth’s functioning.
- Reassesses target needs of the youth and adjusts the treatment plan accordingly when significant incidents occur or new information is learned that alters the youth’s current course of treatment.
- Ensures there is thoughtful and effective therapeutic and recreational programming designed to support the youths’ personalized treatment plans.
- Understands the needs of individual youth as well as the group, and ensures the program structure and interventions are sufficiently flexible to adequately meet those needs.
- Coordinates consultation services offered by outside providers for psychiatry, psychology, and other medical or health related services to ensure that youth receive a high level of quality assessment and services.
- Assures there is a strong community-based approach to planning and delivering services.
Therapy/Family Engagement
Provides individual, group and family therapy based on the target needs identified in the Initial Assessment and Personalized Treatment Plan.
- Utilizes engagement techniques that support family involvement in the treatment process, demonstrating the ability to use a variety of treatment techniques and strategies that allow for individual and family growth.
- Provides flexibility in scheduling and offers options to provide treatment services; in-home, Noris/placing agency buildings, or in the community to accommodate the needs of families and team members.
- At least 30 days prior to a planned discharge, develops and documents an appropriate and agreed upon Aftercare Plan with the youth, family, case manager and placing agency.
- Completes a Discharge Summary within 30 days after scheduled or unplanned discharge and provides copies to the placing agency.
Service Coordination & After Care Services
Collaborates, coordinates, advises, recommends and consults with all program and treatment team members on an ongoing basis regarding the personalized needs of the youth and/or family.
- Participates in all necessary clinical staffings, team meetings, court hearings, etc. as a Norris representative.
- Provides ongoing communication with the youth, family members and the placing agency regarding the progress of the youth.
- Facilitates/co-facilitates with program team members psycho-educational groups based on the needs and treatment plans of the youth.
- Provides consultation to co-facilitators as needed to prepare for the group facilitation process.
- Collaborates frequently with schools, to assess and understand the educational needs of the youth to include, but not limited to, IEPs, wellness and other individualized plans.
- Coordinates with team members to provide services to support youth of the residential services program and their families after a youth has transitioned home (up to 6 months) including, but not limited to, home visits, individual and family therapy, ensuring connections with community supports and services, and participating in team staffings and events.
Quality Assurance & Documentation
Develops personalized treatment goals that are measurable and through the use of data collection are reviewed at required intervals to determine goal progress and achievement for each youth.
- Is active in program enhancement, utilizing data driven techniques, for desired outcomes.
- Assists in the development and maintenance of an updated program description, including refined philosophy, goals, and outcomes for clinical services.
- Is active in learning about new developments in the clinical field by reading professional literature, attending workshops and seminars, or establishing and maintaining contact with other social services agencies.
- Meets all established documentation deadlines and criteria for Quality Assurance purposes and CARF
- May engage in research and follow-up activities including the development of outcome-based data (i.e. 30-day and six-months after discharge), to evaluate treatment services.
- Completes all documents within the required timeframes to include, but not limited to, the Initial Assessment, Personalized Treatment Plan, Treatment Plan Reviews, Aftercare Plans, Discharge Summaries, incident reports and session notes.
- Prepares, distributes and accounts for the necessary timely reports, e-mails and letters to meet the requirements established by Norris, the placing agency, licensing requirements and best practices.
Training & Professional Development
- Works closely with direct supervisor to create and maintain a Professional Development plan as a means to actively and continuously engage in improving one’s knowledge, skills and professional practice.
- Seeks self understanding and has the ability to access and evaluate information related to cultural and human development.
- Completes all required Initial and Orientation trainings as required by licensing, CARFNorris protocol.
- Completes all required Continuing training as required by licensing, CARF and Norris protocol.
- Attends all agency-wide trainings and meetings as required.
- Actively engages in professional and personal development which includes self care and establishing healthy and safe boundaries with youth.
- Consistently tracks and monitors individual training record including, but not limited to, continuing education hours for any licensure.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
A Master’s Degree and coursework in clinical psychology, psychology, school psychology, social work or counseling with at least two (2) years of training and experience working with children involved with the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems and can demonstrate knowledge in trauma-informed and family-focused care in mental health is required.
State of Wisconsin Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or similar licensure preferred.
Experience/Skill:
- Completion of Norris approved crisis prevention/intervention training within 6 months of hire and annual training thereafter.
- A working knowledge of State licensing standards for Group Care.
- The ability to identify and appropriately work through one’s own vicarious trauma.
- Successfully complete 24 hours of training in caring for children or complete such training within one year of employment; Complete 24 hours of training annually.
- Demonstrated strong written, verbal, analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills.
- Possess excellent listening and speaking skills and be able to communicate with a broad spectrum of people with varying educational levels. Compassion must inform their desire to work in this field, as the youths can be challenging, resistive, and respond confrontationally.
- This position requires the transportation of youth and on occasion, their families, must qualify under Norris policy as an approved driver.
- Ability to read, write, speak and understand English well; ability to analyze and interpret various professional reports; ability to write reports and correspondence; and ability to effectively present information.
- Demonstrated general computer skills and proficient writing skills sufficient to use an electronic health record and Google Documents.
- A fundamentally optimistic nature that the youth can create a different life-style as the road tends to be a long and hard one with many setbacks.
Valid Driver:
- Valid Wisconsin driver license required;
- Eligible to operate Norris vehicles preferred;
- Eligible to transport individuals served by Norris in personal vehicle required.
Other Work Requirements:
The demands/requirements described below are representative of those that must be met by the employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work Environment:
- The service population of Norris includes children and families who may demonstrate high risk behaviors. The specific service population of the West Bend campus is, ages 12 through 17 years old who may demonstrate high risk behaviors. Employees and interns should expect to experience these types of behaviors throughout their work environment.
- Position responsibilities require some physical activity, which may include physical holds according to Norris approved methods and training.
- Position responsibilities require active participation in various recreational activities and events with both youth and other employees. These physical activities occur on and off-grounds and frequently occur outside.
- The noise level may be moderate to high.
- As a 24/7 program, flexibility with scheduling is an essential function of the job and employees must be willing to provide additional coverage and support when program needs require.
Reasoning Ability:
- Ability to solve practical problems in a variant of situations
- Ability to interpret and apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
Physical Demands:
- In order to perform the essential functions and meet the requirements of this position the employee is expected to physically be at the WBC for the majority of their job functions and responsibilities. At times, the employee is also expected to be physically present in the community or at the Mukwonago campus for other essential job functions and responsibilities, which may include but are not limited to transportation of youth, team meetings, court hearings, trainings, etc.
- Regular and punctual attendance is required.
- While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to talk and/or hear.
- The employee is occasionally required to physically intervene with youth according to Norris approved methods and training.
- The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with arms.
- The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
- Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
- The employee is frequently required to engage in physical activity during various recreational activities with both youth and employees.