Therapist

Child Welfare is seeking a general therapist to join our unique and highly-skilled team. Agency provides trauma-informed, person-centered care to children and adolescents as well as biological, adoptive, and foster parents. May work in an office, school, or home-based setting. Experience with evidence-based, trauma-informed therapeutic treatments and knowledge of child development and attachment theory preferred. Multiple training opportunities provided as well as no-cost post-graduate supervision for licensure as an LPC or MSW. Requires excellent organizational and communication skills. Master's degree in behavioral or mental health is required. 
Essential functions may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks. Reasonable accommodations, as defined under the American with Disabilities Act, will be made when possible. Provides child psychotherapy, using play therapy, to children traumatized through family violence, physical abuse or neglect, emotional abuse or sexual abuse so they can be maintained in their own home, be reunited with their family after placement in foster care or be placed in an adoptive home successfully; explains process to affected parties and enlists their participation at appropriate stages; and maintains appropriate documentation throughout therapy.
Provides home, school, or office based family, individual and marriage therapy for clients referred from child protection workers and community sources; provides safe, therapeutic environment so clients can learn more appropriate communication, anger management, crisis management and problem solving skills with an emphasis on child safety and welfare; and maintains appropriate documentation throughout therapy.
Provides casework and therapeutic services to clients with underage children who are placed by the Court; develops plans for timely permanency for children; and maintains appropriate documentation throughout process.
Provides ongoing case management and support services to children and youth in long term foster care or independent living situations; develops and monitors plans for situations; makes arrangements for needed services; provides family counseling services to preserve placements and prevent moves, if possible; and maintains appropriate documentation throughout process.
Provides therapeutic services to female adolescent victims of sexual abuse; meets with prospective group members to assess their ability and readiness to participate in a therapeutic group; provides individual services for those that need to meet outside a group format; meets with non-offending parents of victims to provide information about sexual abuse issues and treatment; and maintains appropriate documentation throughout process.
Provides pre and post adoption services; provides relinquishing counseling to biological parents; assesses viability of and offers services/referrals to adoptive homes; facilitates preparation and filing of paperwork related to adoption process; makes recommendations about finalization of adoption; and provides necessary services or referrals after finalization to preserve the intact family.
Manages a specialized caseload of difficult/complex child abuse or neglect cases; screens and investigates child abuse or neglect referrals; determines child safety and initiates child safety decision making and action steps; determines whether child needs to be temporarily removed from the immediate circumstances; makes necessary arrangements for foster care or other types of assistance as needed; contacts appropriate reporting channel if abuse or neglect is suspected.
Coordinates child abuse or neglect investigations with law enforcement personnel; determines proper jurisdiction; conducts forensic interviews and shares relevant information with pertinent parties related to the reported incident; completes required documentation regarding investigations; initiates court petitions for civil charges and child protection orders; participates in court proceedings as required. 
Conducts meetings with clients to assess needs, develop treatment plans, monitor progress toward goals and determine current status of clients; and schedules and coordinates case management meetings between family members, other service agencies or facilities as needed.
Completes in-depth assessments of clients; develops comprehensive strength-based treatment plans, which includes goal statements, standards of performance, areas of service provision/responsibilities, and measures of success; reviews and revises treatment plans as needed.
Participates in clinical and psychiatric consultation.
Networks with community partners and resources to ensure appropriate referrals and use of community resources; prepares referral packages when referring clients to service providers; monitors progress of clients with service providers selected for referral; and participates in development of new methods/programs for community agencies to assist clients.
Performs ongoing case management for assigned area(s); prepares required caseload documentation; compiles periodic status reports of work performed; and maintains lists of current participants.
Writes court reports regarding treatment plan compliance/case status; prepares case files for court hearings; prepares for and gives expert testimony in court as required.
Provides emergency services on an on-call basis.
Reviews invoices for a variety of services for accuracy; submits legitimate invoices through appropriate channels for payment.
Consults with Department staff members, other professionals, outside agencies, or others concerning area of expertise.
Maintains and upgrades advanced professional knowledge, skills, and development by attending seminars and training programs and reading trade and professional journals and publications in the area of expertise.
Conducts training sessions about specialty area and/or Department of Human Services responsibilities and resources. 
Provides on-the-job training as directed by management for other department employees and interns.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Regular and predictable attendance is required. MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT USED: General Office Equipment, Camera, Vehicle, Computer, Video Recorder Evidence Collection Material, Video Camera, Cell Phone
Education and Experience: Master's degree from an accredited program in counseling, social work, or related field; and,
Four to five years of professional social casework experience related to the position. Licenses and Certifications: Valid State Driver's License
Knowledge of: Thorough, advanced knowledge of established theories, principles and concepts of social casework practice.
Addiction, domestic/family violence, developmental disabilities and mental health issues and signs/symptoms.
Child and adult protection issues, investigative procedures and laws.
Therapeutic theories and practices relating to families and children.
Child development, life stage development, attachment and bonding theories and appropriate parenting practices.
Policies, procedures, philosophies, rules, ethics and regulations governing the services to clients. 
Applicable state, federal and local ordinances, laws, rules and regulations and how they apply to child and adult protection.
Community resources available to assist clients.
Formal mediation process and family group decision making process.
All computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job.
Recordkeeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques.
Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
Skill in: Conducting comprehensive family assessments and selecting/implementing therapeutic interventions based on accurate assessments.
Using forensic interviewing techniques.
Assessing evidence, to include determining if a client's injuries are consistent with reported abuse.
Implementing formal mediations.
Organizing and facilitating family group decision making meetings.
Using tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines.
Preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials.
Researching, compiling, and summarizing a variety of informational and statistical data and materials. 
Testifying in court, including testifying as an expert witness.
Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up on assignments with a minimum of direction.
Applying logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish tasks; to understand, interpret and communicate complicated policies, procedures and protocols.
Using mathematics.
Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
Mental and Physical Abilities: Ability to respond to each client with empathy and respect.
Ability to deescalate chaotic and/or potentially violent situations and set limits when appropriate.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals.
Ability to make critical decisions in high risk and high stress situations.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to collect, process and utilize incoming information, define problems, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to speak effectively before groups and respond to questions. 
While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is frequently required to sit, reach with hands and arms, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, ascend and descend stairs and maintain body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking on weather affected surfaces and in rural environments, and speak and hear.
While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is occasionally required to walk, stand, and lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is occasionally required to use color, sound, texture, shape and odor perception and discrimination, and to drive in inclement weather and to remote areas of the county.
Non-Discrimination and Affirmative Action Statement La Plata County prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with La Plata County on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, disability, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or genetic information.
La Plata County is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. La Plata County takes affirmative action to assure equal employment opportunity for protected classes, persons with disabilities and for covered veterans. Covered veterans include: special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, Vietnam era veterans, or any other veterans who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge was authorized.
Inquiries regarding La Plata County's equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to:
Director of Human Resources
1101 E 2nd Avenue
Durango, CO 81301
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