POSITION: Mental Health Specialist

REPORTS TO: Director of School Improvement

PURPOSE: The job of “Mental Health Specialist” is done for the purpose/s of

providing services related to the delivery of mental health support to assigned students at the designated school location and will provide consultation services to the school staff to support the overall mental health goals of the school.

Job Title: School Based Mental Health Therapist

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Administer mental health support for the purpose of addressing serious antisocial behavior
• Assist students for the purpose of transitioning from alternative programs to District programs
• Collaborate with public and private agencies to offer programs that foster pro-social skills and for the purpose of providing services to strengthen families as well as students
• Provide individual and group counseling supports to students who are eligible
• Collect data and prepare a variety of reports for the purpose of documenting case history assessments and services provided
• Participate/advise in the team approach in providing mental health services to qualifying students for the purpose of ensuring that services are available
• Provide a variety of mental health services such as case consultation and advice concerning student status, diagnosis, and treatment for the purpose of ensuring mental health providers are being provided the information needed to provide the most effective mental health services possible
• Provide continuous student evaluation consistent with established teacher, school and district objectives, goals and policies for the purpose of advising consistent and effective mental health services to reach set goals
• Maintain confidentiality of records relating to students’ treatment
• Travel from site to site and/or perform necessary home visits for the purpose of providing direct services, consultation, and collaboration for students
• Ability to provide crisis counseling during critical incidents or other situations
• Provide prevention and intervention services for students, such as conflict resolution and crisis intervention individually in the classroom setting
• Refer students and their parents to appropriate resources, special programs, or outside agencies, and refer to community-based resources as needed
• Work in collaboration with school counseling and family resource staff at each school staff to provide appropriate services for students to meet their identified needs
• Coordinate and participate as a member of the District Crisis Team to give support and counseling to students and staff
• Attend and facilitate IEP team meetings as needed
• Counsel with students in groups and/or individually regarding personal and/or social issues, such as anger management, bullying, peer relationships and academic or life skills as appropriate
• Receive referrals and background information for the purpose of conducting assessments and implementing appropriate behavior intervention plans
• Serve as Student Support Services team member and attend professional learning community meetings and trainings
• Performs related duties as assigned

Job Requirements – Qualifications:

Knowledge of

Behavior intervention strategies

Applied behavioral analysis

Developmental, emotional, and behavioral disabilities

Conduct parent training

Work with diverse groups of students in various socioeconomic and multi-cultural areas

First Aid and CPR procedures

Record keeping and report preparation techniques

Applicable counseling theory

Oral and written communication skills

Ability to

Analyze situations accurately and adopt as effective course of action

Meet schedules and deadlines

Read, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, and policies

Promote student adjustment to schools and utilization of district community services

Participate in the development of school and District programs

Maintain professional competence through in-service education activities provided by the District, County, or other professional organizations

Work independently with little direction

Education

An individual currently certified and/or licensed as a:

• School Social Worker
• Professional School Counselor
• Licensed psychologist;
• Licensed psychological practitioner;
• Certified psychologist with autonomous functioning;
• Certified psychologist; or
• Licensed psychological associate;
• A licensed clinical social worker currently licensed by the Kentucky Board of Social Work;
• A licensed social worker currently licensed by the Kentucky Board of Social Work;
• A certified social worker currently licensed by the Kentucky Board of Social Work; or an advanced registered nurse practitioner who has a specialty area in accordance with the American Nurses’ Association Statement on Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nursing Practice and Standards of Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nursing Practice in accordance with 201 KAR 20:057.

Experience

Job-related experience within specialized field is recommended

197 Day Contract

*This position will be paid on a certified salary schedule.