Bilinigual Mental Health Therapist

AGENCY OVERVIEW:

Westside Children’s Center (WCC) exists to give at-risk children and children living in poverty the foundation they need to increase their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For over 25 years, WCC has been providing thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality early education programs (including comprehensive Early Head Start services), family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including educational assessments, disabilities screenings, nutrition, dental and vision screenings, and pediatric health consultations.

JOB SUMMARY:

WCC is dedicated to providing trauma-informed, culturally sensitive mental health treatment to children and families. The Mental Health Therapist is responsible for enhancing depth and breadth of mental health resources available agency wide. This role will be responsible for supporting the expansion of WCC’s infant & early childhood mental health work (direct service, trainings, groups, etc.) to reach a broader population, including providing bilingual dyadic and family therapy to 0-5; providing mental health services to high-needs, complex cases; support the expansion of WCC’s internship training program including providing individual and group supervision to graduate level trainees; and support the expansion of mental health consultation to community child development settings. Services are provided at the location most convenient to the client including home, community, office or mobile clinic.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Provide trauma-informed early intervention mental health services to children and families, including individual, family and dyadic therapy
• Conduct comprehensive clinical assessments of children and families, formulate strengths-based, needs-driven, trauma-informed and culturally sensitive service plans, document services, and track outcomes
• Provide individual and group supervision to mental health therapist trainees enrolled in WCC’s internship program
• Provide therapy groups including but not limited to address substance use, parenting, co-parenting, and domestic violence.
• Identify and develop mental health programming to meet changing needs of children and families served at WCC
• Support capacity building in early childhood mental health consultation for WCC in all program settings as well as in community partner programs in collaboration with the ECMH specialist.
• Provide psychoeducation about developmental trauma and parenting strategies that support emotion regulation to parents of families served.

SECONDARY JOB DUTIES:

• Attend staff meetings, individual and group supervision, case reviews, and trainings as needed
• Provide trauma-informed care trainings to identified department and community partners to improve understanding of at-risk children’s emotional needs and behavioral interventions
• Collaborate with key partner agencies for referrals, and parental support; ensure successful partnership and documentation of outcomes
• Maintain confidentiality of clients and obtain and maintain on file legal releases of information when needed
• Comply with all applicable federal, state and county regulations, policies and procedures
• Staff must believe in and act in accordance with both the agency’s and the program’s mission statements
• In accordance with our “team” philosophy, the person filling this position may occasionally be required to carry out or assist with other tasks in addition to the duties listed on this job description.

QUALIFICATIONS & EDUCATION:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work
• Bilingual – English/Spanish required
• Current license in the state of California, LCSW desired
• Two years' post licensure and ability to provide clinical supervision to clinicians working towards licensure, and sign off on BBS licensing hours a plus
• 3 years' working with Children and Families, or equivalent experience
• At least 2 years’ experience working with 0-5 population, specialty training with that population preferred
• Ability to work in a supportive team environment
• Requires a high level of creativity, resourcefulness and flexibility
• Ability to work and communicate with a diverse groups of families
• Experience with community outreach, event organizing, working with families and children in a community setting preferred
• Knowledge of child abuse/neglect prevention
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Home visitation experience desired
• Knowledge of community resources and experience with interagency collaboration preferred
• Ability to work independently, flexible, strong organizational skills, and commitment to teamwork
• Basic computer skills required – Word, Excel, Software applications
• Passionate about learning and possesses curiosity about issues affecting children and families
• All employees, regardless of position, serve as role models for children and families who are served by our agency.
• Fingerprint background clearance (DOJ, FBI & Child Abuse Clearance Index), or approved exemption
• Successful completion of pre-employment physical, PPD risk assessment, proof of immunizations for pertussis, measles and influenza
• Class “C” driver’s license, proof of insurance, a safety record acceptable to CAA, and reliable transportation required

FOR CONSIDERATION: COVER LETTER MUST ACCOMPANY RESUME

Full benefits package offered including employer contribution to: Health, Dental, Vision; 401k with employer match; Employee Assistance Program, Professional Development, sick leave, vacation, personal days for anniversary of employment and birthday.

Westside Children’s Center is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all applicants and seeks to hire qualified staff who reflect the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We define diversity in broad terms to include race, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, geography, socio-economic status and other unique attributes that make us who we are.

Westside Children’s Center has achieved accreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA). This means our programs, services, administration, and management have been rigorously evaluated and meet best practice standards.