Therapist - Council Bluffs Outpatient Services

PURPOSE OF POSITION: 
 
Provide trauma-informed therapeutic services to children ages 4-18 and their caregivers who are experiencing effects of trauma and attachment difficulties. 
 
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 

1. Service Delivery

• Maintain direct service unit expectations consistent with that of a full-time employee.
• The ideal candidate will be able to provide evidenced-based treatment models in at least one of the following models. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) or Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP).
• Take personal responsibility for insuring that trauma-informed practices are implemented in all aspects of care.
• Provide counseling and therapy services to individuals and families, individuals, and couples in order to effect change for growth and healing.
• (Establish and Lead) Develop and facilitate therapeutic groups for specific problem areas.
• Provide follow-up to re-engage clients who fail to appear for appointments or drop out of treatment.
• Administer baseline and follow-up outcome measures necessary for program standards.
• Design and deliver educational/therapeutic workshops, classes, or programs to meet identified needs of groups.
• Assist in the promotion of agency services, workshops, and classes.
• Assume responsibility for building and maintaining a referral base and caseload.
• Collaborate with other community professionals to provide maximum positive results with clients.
• Provide consultation for churches, schools, organizations, and communities in areas related to behavioral health and family life.
• Follow agency policies and procedures. 
•  Provide on-call services on a rotational basis as required by program.
• Integrate cultural considerations within service delivery. 

2. Communication

• Displays excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated the ability to write in a clear, concise and easily understood style.
• Efficient verbal communicator. Able to explain thoughts and concepts in easily understood manner. Is able to communicate clearly using verbal skills.
• Accurately communicates information to all the necessary parties in order to coordinate services to the client and/or family. 

3. Leadership

• Acts as a resource to give input to other professionals about the best course of action in difficult client situations.
• Takes initiative to implement good practice and meeting licensing and accreditation standards.
• Assumes a leadership role in handling a crisis.
• Assesses needs in crisis situations quickly, calmly, and accurately.
• Interacts and collaborates professionally and cooperatively with other parts of the agency (i.e. Human Resources, Academic Center, Operations, etc.).
• Conducts team meetings with other professionals as the need arises. 

4. Record Keeping

• Maintains accurate, written clinical records of services provided per established agency/COA standards.
• Timely completion of any provider enrollment forms and reports needed for third party payers or other outside entities.
• Participates in peer review process as assigned by supervisor.
• Collects client fees and ensure services have prior authorization.
• Ensures services provided are billable and coded properly.
• Maintains documentation of supervision with clinical supervision/supervising practitioner when applicable. 

5. Professionalism

• Participates in regular supervision sessions for the purpose of reviewing cases, discussing treatment strategy, and monitoring client progress.
• Continues personal and professional growth and development through reading, research, workshops, seminars and other strategies that will broaden knowledge on therapeutic approaches and techniques. 
• Keep all client names, information and other agency business confidential.
• Ensures that all office and record security procedures are followed.
• Reports to meetings and training on time.
• Actively participates in a constructive manner.
• Follows agency procedures in use of leave time.
• Represents themselves and the agency in a positive way.
• Uses good telephone skills.
• Uses direct communication.
• Demonstrates good problem-solving/conflict resolution skills.
• Works toward team and agency goals.
• Participates in agency required training.
• Dresses appropriately for the activity being performed. 

6. Networking

• Regularly contacts parents and referring workers at least twice each month.
• Builds relationships with referring workers.
• Demonstrates teamwork when collaborating with other professionals.
• Builds contacts that facilitate appropriate referrals to other or additional services.
• Receives positive responses from clients, caregivers, and referring entity on at least 90% of satisfaction surveys. 
• The ideal candidate will be trained and certified or certified-ready in at least one of the following Evidenced-based Treatment Models, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), ParentChild Interaction Therapy (PCIT) or Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP).
• Must be able to demonstrate overall knowledge of families and youth, the child welfare system, family dynamics and the change process. Knowledge of counseling/therapy models and techniques including the use of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is essential.
• Demonstrates ability to express concepts and ideas orally and in writing.
• Possess a desire to grow, learn and change, and to serve as a role model for children in care, families, and other team members.
• Demonstrates ability (Ability) and willingness to travel and to utilize flexible scheduling is required.
• Demonstrates good interpersonal skills, strong listening skills, and the ability to establish relationships with a wide range of individuals.
• Demonstrates ability to appropriately handle confidential information.
• Requires valid driver’s license, own vehicle and automobile insurance that meet agency policy.
• Demonstrates ability to interact with clients and children with sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural and socioeconomic characteristics in the service population. 

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:  

• Willing to be flexible in work schedule, including some evening and weekend work; on call responsibilities.
• Able to consistently function effectively in a busy work environment, medium to high stress level; may have competing demands and time lines. ? Bending, lifting, carrying ability to move from building to building and travel to other sites for service delivery are requirements of this position. 

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES: 
 
1. Other duties as directed by the supervisor.

• Completes assignments in a timely and accurate manner.
• Is willing to take on additional responsibility in a positive manner. 

2. Completes training necessary to perform position consistent with program and agency staff development plans.

• Identifies training appropriate to this position.
• Takes responsibility for scheduling and attending appropriate training (minimum of 40 hours per year). 

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Knowledge of the stages of grown and development.
• Masters Degree in Social Work or other related Mental Health or Human Services.
• Currently licensed or ability to gain license in Iowa to facilitate individual and family therapy (preferred licensed).
• Experience working with trauma and attachment difficulties is required.