THERAPIST – Boys Ranch

SUMMARY

The Therapist provides clinical and/or behavioral therapy for youth and/or families served by the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches as well as serving as the primary liaison to the Community Based Care representatives assigned to each child.  This position has access to and administers over-the-counter and controlled substances (prescription medication) to youth in the program.

The position is directly responsible to the Clinical Director and/or Director of Clinical Services (Statewide). 

This position will be assigned a caseload, based upon the needs of the program.

This position is not eligible for overtime pay.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties and responsibilities are the various types of work performed in this position.  Other duties and responsibilities may also be assigned.

1. Maintains an ongoing individual therapy relationship with assigned youth being alert to symptoms of social, behavioral, learning and emotional problems. Provides individual and group therapy as deemed appropriate in the youth individualized treatment plan.  May also provide family therapy specific to the family’s Case Plan.
2. Develops and maintains case record documentation including individual treatment plans and reviews, progress notes, discharge and aftercare planning, and reports.
3. Attends all clinical team meetings and case staffings for assigned youth and works as an integral part of the clinical team providing clinical findings and recommendations on an ongoing basis.
4. Attends treatment team meetings for assigned youth in cooperation with agency staff, i.e., Unit Directors, direct care staff and school personnel.
5. Completes required assessments of Independent Living Skills youth, maintains accurate records of behavioral baselines and clinical concerns, monitors the overall course of treatment services; and trains, observes and documents direct care staff’s implementation of the youth’s individualized treatment plan.
6. Maintains high productivity in providing billable service for Medicaid or other third party billing and flexibility adapting to billing charge requirements, and documents Medicaid billing on a weekly basis.
7. Acts as youth’s advocate at treatment team and other planning meetings and serves as liaison with CBC worker and/or youth’s family. May also transport and participate in court proceedings such as Judicial Reviews as well as other events as needed.
8. Provides services for cottage youth, including coverage in the cottage and observation of youth in the cottage setting as directed; as well as discharge planning, advocacy, and service planning, in cooperation with the youth’s CBC Case Manager, Guardian ad Litem, and other professionals directly involved in the case.
9. Informs Program Director, supervisor, Unit Director, and/or program Nurse of social, behavioral, learning and emotional problems involving assigned youth and family.
10. Makes appropriate referrals to service providers and establishes a link between providers and youth in all discharge planning.
11. Completes 40 hours of training on vocational professional development annually, participates in a minimum of 4 clinical supervision hours per month to develop and enhance clinical skills, and participates in COA and Medicaid mandated training for staff. Maintains current first aid, CPR and non-crisis intervention certification.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

A Master’s degree from an accredited university or college in the field of counseling, social work, psychology, nursing, rehabilitation, special education, health education, or in a related human services field and two years of experience working with children who are troubled and disadvantaged is required.

If hired after July 1, 2014 the employee must have completed graduate level coursework in at least four of the following thirteen content areas:  human growth and development, diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology, human sexuality, counseling theories and techniques, group theories and practice, dynamics of marriage and family systems, individual evaluation and assessment, career and lifestyle assessment, research and program evaluation, personality theories, social and cultural foundations, counseling in community settings, or substance abuse.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each area of responsibility satisfactorily.  The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required.

1. Must have knowledge of group process and family therapy practices.
2. Must have current knowledge of Florida laws and statutes, DCF/CBC policies and Medicaid standards to ensure the implementation of ethical practices.
3. Must have current knowledge of community providers to ensure appropriate referrals.
4. Must have the ability to: read and interpret documents such as procedural manuals and operating instructions; to write routine reports and correspondence; and to speak effectively with groups.
5. Must have the ability to write legibly and document necessary information accurately.
6. Must have the ability to: define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; interpret extensive variety of instructions; and deal with problems involving variety of situations.
7. Must have the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, decimals, compute rate, ratio, and percentage.
8. Must have the ability to use sound judgment in assessing a youth’s physical and emotional needs.
9. Must have the ability to provide sound, supportive and productive individual, group and family therapy.
10. Will provide consultation to direct care staff as it relates to the youth’s Individualized Treatment Plan and clinical needs.
11. Must have a valid Florida Driver License and be able to maintain a safe driving record consistent with agency policy.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

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

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, hear, and reach with hands and arms.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception and the ability to focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work schedule must be flexible to provide services when youth and families are available.  The schedule will include evening and occasional weekend hours and will be worked out with the supervisor so that the maximum service to the Youth Ranches is obtained.

The employee is occasionally required to work in outdoor weather conditions.

BASE SALARY

$43,680 / Annually

DEADLINE TO APPLY

Open until filled.

CONTACT

For more information, please contact:

Callie Buchanan, Director of Clinical Services – Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch – 1813 Cecil Webb Place, Live Oak, FL 32060, (386) 842-5555, cbuchanan@youthranches.org