School Based Therapist

Job Title

School Based Therapist

Salary Scale

RBHS

Location

PSC Code

012003

Reports To

Lead School Based Therapist

Shift Type

Full Time/Exempt

General Statement of Job

Under limited supervision intervenes with students in crises to manage behavior problems and to facilitate emotionally handicapped students academic and social progress. Assists teachers and school administrators in preventing or controlling classroom disturbances caused by students noncompliance with school and class rules of behavior. Counsels and assists individual students as appropriate.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with the removal of students from the classroom setting when their behavior is potentially dangerous to self or others. Attempts to calm students; monitors students in remote settings and documents behavior.
• Discusses student incidents with principals and student support teams as deemed necessary.
• Conduct crisis assessments for suicidal or threatening behaviors
• Provides individual therapy for students; provides instructions for reversing inappropriate behavior and rewards positive behavior within the therapeutic setting.
• Provides group therapy as deemed appropriate in the school setting.
• Plans and implements therapeutic activities during sessions.
• Assists colleagues and parents in devising strategies to enhance students performance and positive behavior.
• Keeps abreast of developments and innovations in the profession.
• Uses a computer to record and retrieve data and to prepare reports and correspondence.
• Receives reviews prepares and/or submits various records and reports including monthly reports incident reports session documentation assessments correspondence etc.
• Operates and maintains a variety of equipment such as a computer copier telephone audiovisual equipment etc.
• Interacts and communicates with various groups and individuals such as the immediate supervisor District and school administrators consultants teachers psychologists medical/mental health professionals social workers students parents and the general public.

Physical Requirements:

Must be physically able to operate a variety of machines and equipment including a computer telephone basic office equipment vehicle hand and power tools wheelchairs etc. Must be able to exert up to twenty pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift carry push pull or otherwise move persons and objects. Physical demands are in excess of those for sedentary work; work involves walking or standing for periods of time stooping kneeling pushing pulling and performing light manual tasks. Must be able to lift and/or carry weights of up to thirty pounds.

Data Conception:

Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data people or things.

Interpersonal Communications:

Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to assistants and receiving assignments and/or direction from supervisor.

Language Ability:

Requires the ability to read a variety of laws policies and procedures evaluation materials professional studies medical reference materials etc. Requires the ability to prepare complex reports student goals and objectives evaluation reports records correspondence etc. with proper format punctuation spelling and grammar using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise voice control and confidence.

Intelligence:

Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems collect data establish facts and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of instructions in oral written mathematical or schedule form and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Requires the ability to use influence systems in supervising assistants; to learn and understand complex principles and techniques to make independent judgments in absence of supervision and to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Must have the ability to comprehend and interpret received information.

Verbal Aptitude:

Requires the ability to record and deliver information to explain procedures to follow and give verbal and written instructions and to counsel and teach students colleagues and assistants. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with persons of varying educational backgrounds and in a variety of technical and/or professional languages including special education medical physical and occupational therapy assistive technology language sign language etc.

Numerical Aptitude:

Requires the ability to add and subtract totals to multiply and divide to utilize mathematical formulas to determine percentages and decimals and to determine time. Must be able to use practical applications of statistics.

Form/Spatial Aptitude:

Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length width and shape and visually read various information.

Motor Coordination:

Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes using office and specialized machinery and to operate motor vehicles.

Manual Dexterity:

Requires the ability to handle a variety of items keyboards office equipment control knobs buttons switches catches small tools etc. Must have moderate levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Interpersonal Temperament:

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines. The worker may be subject to danger or risk to a slight degree or to tension as a regular consistent part of the job.

Physical Communications:

Requires the ability to talk and/or hear (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

Training and Education

Requires a Masters Degree in Counseling or a Masters Degree in Social Work field with eligibility to obtain licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate or Licensed Social Worker. Must have a minimum of 2 years experience providing counseling and/or behavioral based therapeutic services to clients. Current licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Masters of Social Work preferred.

Performance Evaluation Criteria

Job Knowledge:

Has thorough knowledge of the methods procedures and policies of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders. Experience in diagnosing and developing individualized plan of care to be followed within the guidelines of the school district. Knowledgeable in the laws ordinances standards and ethical regulations pertaining to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Has considerable knowledge of the functions and interrelationships of Florence 1 Schools and other governmental and contractual agencies. Is able to develop rapport with students with behavior problems. Is able to instruct student family and faculty members in methods and techniques to aid in the progress of students within the classroom and home setting. Is able to make sound educated decisions. Has the ability to offer assistance to employees of other departments as required. Has the ability to use independent judgment as needed in performing routine and nonroutine tasks. Is able to take the initiative to complete the duties of the position without the need of direct supervision. Is able to read and interpret complex professional and mental health reports student records and related materials pertaining to the responsibilities of the job. Knows how to prepare complex reports student progress reports correspondence etc. Has comprehensive knowledge of the terminology and various professional languages used within the department. Knows how to maintain a caseload and meet program quotas on a weekly basis. Has the ability to work well with school related and departmental teams in a professional manner. Knows how to maintain effective relationships with personnel of other departments professionals and members of the public through contact and cooperation. Is able to perform duties professionally in stressful situations. Knows how to react calmly and quickly in emergency situations. Knows how to make public presentations. Has the mathematical ability to handle required calculations. Has the ability to plan organize and prioritize daily assignments and work activities. Has good organizational technical and human relations skills. Has the ability to learn and utilize new skills and information to improve job performance and efficiency. Has skill in the use of computers. Will attend monthly workshops with team members to collaborate and improve service delivery.

Quality of Work:

Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interaction with all District departments and divisions coworkers and the public.

Quantity of Work:

Performs described Specific Duties and Responsibilities and related assignments efficiently and effectively in order to produce quantity of work which consistently meets standards and expectations of the District

Dependability:

Assumes responsibility for completing assigned work. Completes assigned work within deadlines in accordance with directives District policy standards and prescribed procedures. Remains accountable to assigned responsibilities in the technical human and conceptual areas.

Attendance:

Attends and remains at work regularly and adheres to District policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and timeoff requests.

Initiative and Enthusiasm:

Maintains an enthusiastic selfreliant and selfstarting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountability. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Judgment:

Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice where appropriate and researches problems situations and alternatives before exercising judgment. Monitors the activities/behavior of the student body to ensure student safety and wellbeing.

Cooperation:

Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of the same. Questions such as instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified (i.e. poor communications variance with District policy or procedures etc.. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons and departments within the District.

Relationships:

Shares knowledge with managers supervisors and staff for mutual and district benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all District employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees staff and managers in other departments representatives from organizations and the public so as to maintain good will toward the District and to project a good district image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the District. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the District. Interacts effectively with higher management professionals and the public.

Coordination of Work:

Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound timemanagement methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends required meetings planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules.

Safety:

Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the District and various regulatory agencies. Sees that standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

DISCLAIMER: This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

Terms of Employment

190 day work agreement. Salary and work year to be established by the district.

Florence 1 Schools does not discriminate in the selection employment or promotion of employees on the basis of race color sex national origin age religion disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal or S.C. law.