Summary:
The Mental Health Consultant provides therapeutic interventions, support, training, and care coordination across Early Head Start and Head Start programs. The role focuses on building the skills and capacity of teachers while supporting the social-emotional development and overall well-being of children and families.
Each week, the Mental Health Consultant provides 32 hours of classroom-based consultation, support, and skill-building, along with 5.5 hours of billable outpatient therapy services. These therapy services may be provided to children, adolescents, and adults, including but not limited to those connected to Head Start, as Family Services also operates an outpatient counseling program.
This role meets all applicable Head Start and Early Head Start performance standards and requirements.
Duties and Responsibilities: - Provides consultation and coaching in the classroom as the agency implements evidence-based programming to strengthen the children's social/emotional/behavioral and mental health concerns.
- Facilitates referral and/or provides therapeutic intervention for children and families.
- Delivers services by coaching, interviewing, developing, and implementing service plans, documenting and evaluating the service provided.
- Facilitates prevention activities that address social/emotional development.
- Provides outpatient psychotherapy sessions to a diverse caseload that may include children, teens, individual adults, and families (5.5 hours per week).
- Conducts intake assessments, diagnoses, develops and implements treatment plans, and provides high-quality documentation in accordance with agency and payer guidelines.
- Establishes supportive relationships with assigned classroom teams and administrative and support staff.
- Assures quality service by being knowledgeable of and enforcing rules, regulations, and legal requirements, and maintains records necessary for programming and accountability.
- Maintains professional competency by participating in continued education and personal growth experiences.
- Promotes a positive image of FSI by ensuring an understanding of program services available, publicizing activities and accomplishments, and conducting oneself according to a professional code of ethics.
- Maintains a harmonious working relationship with sponsoring and advisory groups and other related service agencies through amenable and cooperative contacts.
- Contributes to the profession's effectiveness by maintaining an active interest in the field, consulting, and advocating for change.
- Executes responsibilities as part of the agency-wide team.
- Participates in agency meetings, including staff meetings, committee assignments, and record audits.
- Maintains dignity, self-control in stressful situations, and self-awareness
- As assigned, accept responsibility for intern development and supervision
- Acts in such a way as to encourage and maintain high morale among staff members.
- Articulates ideas clearly (both written and orally) and establishes a professional rapport with people from various backgrounds.
- Performs such other duties as incumbent upon the position and as assigned.
Educational and Work Experience Requirements:
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in social work or mental health counseling from an accredited program.
- Current North Carolina licensure as a LMFT, LCSW(A), or LCMHC(A).
- Experience providing therapy to children, adolescents, and families using evidence-based approaches.
- A minimum of 1-5 years working with young children in the field of Early Childhood Education.
- Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
- Ability to meet federal and state background check and drug screening requirements.
- Physical examination and TB test.
Preferred:
- Fully licensed clinician (LMFT, LCSW, LCMHC).
- Experience providing Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in Head Start, child care, preschool, or other early childhood settings.
- Knowledge of infant and early childhood mental health, child development, and trauma-informed practices.
- Experience collaborating with teachers, families, and multidisciplinary teams to support young children's social-emotional development.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish.
Expected Hours of Work:
Primarily Monday-Friday. Occasional evening and weekend hours as needed.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements:
- Maintains physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following6 walking, bending, stretching, lifting, standing or sitting for extended periods, and operating assigned equipment.
- Ability to work flexible/overtime hours, as needed.
- Requires a valid NC driver’s license and the ability to travel between various agency sites and community resources.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Family Services provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals regardless of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or non-disqualifying physical or mental handicap or disability.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Applicants and employees who are or have become disabled must be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities either unaided or with reasonable accommodation. Family Services shall determine reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis, following applicable law.
Job Responsibilities
The above statements reflect the general duties, responsibilities, and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential responsibilities of the job. They should not be regarded as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. Family Services reserves the right to revise the job duties and responsibilities at any time with or without notice, based on the organization's needs.
Family Services, Inc. is committed to a diverse and drug-free workforce. EOE
Family Services, Inc. values flexibility and the willingness to take on new challenges. As opportunities arise and work responsibilities change, your job description will be adjusted to meet the organization’s needs.
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