Mental Health Specialist

Position Summary: The Mental Health Specialist will provide behavioral health services to elementary and/or secondary students in a school setting and will provide consultation services to the school staff to support the overall mental health goals of the school. This is a 221 day per year position. Qualifications Required: Master's Degree in social work, psychology, counselor education, PDE certified School Psychologist or related clinical discipline. Experience in providing Counseling and/or psychotherapy services in a school setting. Desired Qualifications: Licensed in the state of Pennsylvania to provide mental health services (Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, etc.). SAP Trained. Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Provides individual, group, and family therapy services as needed and indicated Participates in consultation with other providers involved in care or services including teachers, administrators, school district representatives and community based providers Provides complete and timely documentation to fulfill grant requirements Will assess and increase the capacity for school safety through a guided look at prevention efforts tied to student mental health needs Provides and/or oversees crisis response during critical incidents or other situations Provides consultation for school staff regarding mental health issues of clients and classroom behavior management (as appropriate) Collaborates with outside agencies with outreach to school districts Performs other duties as assigned by the Executive Director or designee Serve as a resource to school staff and families for referral to appropriate community resources and assists these individuals to access the services Deliver presentations and training to groups of students, school staff, and families on topics pertaining to education setting such as crisis prevention, home-school relationships, mental health related issues, and others Other duties as assigned Performance Factors/Job Competencies: Strong Knowledge of child/adolescent development and psychiatric/emotional/behavioral disorders and possess the skills necessary to facilitate positive change in a school environment Knowledge of evidence based clinical psychotherapeutic practices and modalities Knowledge of documentation standards and demonstrated skills to meet documentation expectations Knowledge of pertinent law and regulations regarding mental health service delivery and Pennsylvania Special Education Ability to work with diverse groups of students in various socioeconomic and multicultural areas Ability to work cooperatively and effectively in a team environment Work Environment: Mental Health Specialists travel through the three counties that the IU oversees providing services in the home, school, and clinic based setting. They work closely with children to determine treatment approaches that will best meet the need of the individual. Due to travel outside of the home office, candidates are required to have a vehicle and valid driver's license to attend job related duties, meetings, seminars, and trainings. Physical Demands: (% of time) Sitting: Often (30-60%) Standing: Often (30-60%) Lifting: 0-20lbs. Occasionally ( Travel: Often (30-60%) Pushing/Pulling: Rarely ( Manual Keying/Data Entry: Often (30-60%) Note: Position will remain open for applications until it has been filled.