GROUP: Classified                     

SALARY: Special Services Salary Schedule

FLSA STATUS:  Non-exempt

WORK DAYS PER FISCAL YEAR:  180 [10-Month]     

HOLIDAYS: 10

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SUMMARY:  The School-Based Mental Health Therapist provides quality mental health therapy to children, youth, adults and families within the school district. They focus on the full spectrum of care, from promoting healthy development and preventing problems to long-term intervention and support for students unable to obtain adequate mental health care from other organizations or in a non-school context.  Emphasis is on asset and strengths-building symptom reduction; increasing, stabilizing, and maintain functioning; and on individual, family, and group modalities.  School-based Mental Health Therapist provide services with a variety of therapeutic techniques, including evidence-based practices.

ABOUT CHIEF LESCHI SCHOOLS:  Formerly known as the Puyallup Tribal School, Chief Leschi Schools was founded in 1976 to address the high dropout rate of the youth of the Puyallup tribe. It is the largest of seven tribal schools in the state of Washington and one of approximately 200+ tribal schools in the United States. It is also one of the largest tribal schools to be funded by the Bureau of Indian Education.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

• Provide counseling services to students related to mental, emotional, or behavioral health.
• Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for effectively managing symptoms
• Implement research-based interventions aligned with the three tiers of the MTSS pyramid, including individual, group and family therapy and case management for identified students
• Provide coaching and professional development to support school staff in experiencing success with all students
• Assist in the design and implementation of prevention strategies
• Act as a crisis intervention therapist
• Foster positive relationships with teachers, counselors, special education staff and administrators
• Participate as a member of the student assistance team at the school and assists in developing, maintaining, and/or enhancing an internal identification, intervention, and referral process for school staff
• Collaborates and makes referral with community agencies
• Document interventions and provide necessary reports on student progress
• Engage caregivers in the educational process, providing frequent opportunities to discuss student growth and needs
• Provide consultation to school staff on safety assessments, mental health crisis, and accessing social services
• Professionally interact with students, staff and public
• Perform related duties as assigned 

This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed, while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions,

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or related field

Licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMHT), Licensed Independent clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Psychologist

Appropriate WA-state licensure required: must be active Washington License

• One of the following licenses is required for this position (must apply for within one week of hire if the license is not current):
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), or Associate;
• Agency Affiliated Counselor

Valid State of Washington Driver’s License and evidence of mobility

Minimum 2 years’ experience providing mental health diagnosis and treatment for children and adolescents

Current or recent experience working with Native American or other similar diverse populations.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:

Successful criminal background clearance

Successful and/or clear drug screening

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Case management/record keeping skills

Knowledge of federal confidentiality laws: FERPA, HIPPA, and Mandated Reporter Regulations

Strong written and verbal communication skills

ABILITY TO:

Ability to work successfully with school staff, including teachers and administrators

Ability to work successfully with students, parents, and community

Ability to travel, reliable transportation

Ability to work independently

Ability to maintain accurate records.

Communicate effectively verbally and in writing

Maintain effective working relationships with individuals and groups in a multicultural and diverse community

Work collaboratively with school and central office administrators, parents, and community members

Demonstrate understanding of and experience with cultural competence

Comply with school board policies and follow administrative procedures

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:        Director of Special Services or designee

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  The physical demands described here 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 for long periods of time.  The employee must frequently reach with hands and arms and is frequently required to talk or hear; stand and/or walk; bend, stoop, twist, squat, and kneel; and use hands to finger, handle, feel and perform fine motor manipulation.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.  Anything over the weight limits should be done as a two-person lift or with a mechanical lift. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing 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 regularly works indoors, occasionally near visual displays. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Chief Leschi Schools is an Equal Opportunity /Male/Female/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer, except as provided under the Indian Preference Act.