Treatment Foster Care Family Therapist

Summary/Objective:

As a CHJC employee, Treatment Foster Care Family Therapist is committed to creating opportunities to enhance lives one relationship at a time. Additionally, Treatment Foster Care Family Therapist will put a focus and emphasis on the following values: safety and permanency for each client served, respect and compassion at the forefront of every interaction, integrity threaded through every decision made, excellence as an expectation and standard that will never be lowered, and stewardship carried out for the benefit of our clients and community.

Essential Functions:

1. Provides weekly family therapy to program youth’s family using the TFCO treatment model. This includes introducing new behavioral, coping and parenting skills and practicing these in sessions using strategic positive reinforcement and coaching interventions.

2. Attends weekly Clinical Team Meetings.

3. In accordance with the assessment of need, meet and provide supportive counseling to the child and family, as needed.

4. Provides record keeping and documentation for all clinical activities (case documentation)

5. Assists in the development of behavioral treatment for approximately 10 youth

6. To work collaboratively with certification, treatment Foster Parent, probation officers, Youth Aftercare Resource, and stakeholders

7. Adheres to all TFCO fidelity standards

8. Participates in weekly supervision with the TFCO Program Manager

9. Participates in 24 hour on-call availability for program parents. The Family Therapist may serve as back-up to the Team Leader for 24/7 on-call availability. Provide 24-hour on-call telephone support for participating treatment Foster Parents and program youth. Including but not limited to the management of behavioral crises. May occasionally require in-person response outside of regular business hours.

10. To prepare for discharge, collaborate and participate in discharge planning meetings.

11. Work with other agency team members in on-going agency-level quality improvement activities.

12. Assists in the creative recruiting techniques of Foster Parents to keep the program at the highest level of quality and competitive at all times.

13. Attends and participates in meetings with DSS and other outside agencies.

14. Participates in and attends Agency fundraising and training events as requested by CHJC (These events may not be during normal business hours)

15. Works in partnership with the Quality Assurance Manager to ensure all requirements are being met

16. Notifies the Treatment Foster Care Team Lead of any urgent or important issues with respect to Foster Parents and youth in the TFCO Program

17. Solves crisis situations in an efficient and effective manner.

18. Aid in facilitation of GPSII/MAPP and on-going trainings. Training expectations may include times outside of normal business hours.

19. Handles other duties as assigned by the Director of Clinical Operations.

20. May provide clinical services in other programs based on agency needs (CCJC, CFTSS etc)

21. Ability to work with culturally diverse families.

22. Understanding of and experience with Strength-Based and Individualized Care Approach to working with children and families.

23. Must demonstrate effective and excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to work cooperatively with others.

24. Must be detail-oriented and possess excellent time-management skills.

25. Requires self-direction, tact, diplomacy, and the ability to be clear, courteous, and professional.

26. Able to react to change productively and handles other duties as assigned.

Work Environment:

Works in a regular office environment as well as field work. (multiple counties)

Must be able to work a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the programs. May be required to work remotely.

Physical Demands:

Standing, walking, memory, concentration, sitting for long periods of time, hearing, carrying, speaking, writing, bending, pulling, problem solving, lifting, reaching, kneeling, running, seeing, reading, climbing, and pushing, driving.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Full-Time/normal business hours, however after-hour requirements will be requested based on the needs of the program and on call duties.

Travel:

Travel required. (multiple counties)

Some occasional travel throughout the state will also be required to maintain current as well as assess new partnership opportunities.

Required Education and Experience:

Requirements: Current licensure in New York State as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Experience working with youth and families involved with the Foster Care System. Experience working with adolescents is a plus. Strong experience and familiarity with the Connections Database system. Familiarity with the OCFS Child Welfare System to include OCFS/DSS requirements and regulations as well as with electronic medical records.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications: Completion/compliance and/or recertification is the responsibility of the TFCO Family Therapist:

Accumedic/Connections and GPSII/MAPP Certification Training, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, First Aid/CPR, Columbia Suicide Assessment and Safetyville

Qualifications for every CHJC Employee:

Successful completion of routine pre-employment requirements as mandated by the New York State Department of Health, Office of Mental Health and Office of Children and Family Services along with ongoing clearances and exclusion checks. These requirements are to include employment health requirements, Covid-19 vaccination or exemption, reference checks, criminal background checks/fingerprinting, State Central Registry clearance and your eligibility to work in the United States. Valid NYS Driver’s License with a good driving record.