Purpose:
The Day Treatment Therapist (DTT) is accountable to and reports to the Our Little Academy Day Treatment Program Manager (OLA PM) for administrative and clinical issues. The DTT is responsible for providing mental health interventions and educational instruction to a group of four children, ages 3-5 years, with significant emotional, social and/or behavioral delays or disorders. The DTT is responsible for providing an educationally sound and therapeutically healthy environment for children who have experienced abuse, neglect or trauma, who have neurological disorders such as ADHD, depression or anxiety, who have behavioral disorders, or who have emotional disorders. The DDT helps develop and implements social/emotional and pre-academic treatment goals for each child. The DDT will also assist in the implementation of Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) activities necessary to ensure quality of care within the day treatment program.
Qualifications:
- A Master’s degree in social work, counseling or psychology, and strong clinical skills with children and families.
- One year of previous experience with a preschool population.
- Previous experience writing, setting, and implementing mental health treatment plan goals.
- Experience working collaboratively on a multidisciplinary treatment team.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as organizational and time management skills.
- Knowledge of and experience in crisis intervention and conflict resolution techniques.
- Must be able to go up and down stairs, bend and lift at least 50lbs., and perform ESPIs (emergency safety physical interventions) and escorts on a regular basis.
Principle Responsibilities:
- Establish and maintain a safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environment for a group of up to eight children, ages 3-5.
- Implement daily educational, social skills, and developmentally appropriate activities, as well as provide ongoing emotional support and mental health interventions.
- Complete regular psychological assessments for each client.
- Complete certification as Safe Crisis Management Instructor yearly. Train and certify all full-time OLA staff in Safe Crisis Management.
- Assist in developing policies around crisis intervention and prevention at OLA.
- Monitor usage of Safe Crisis Management and in conjunction with the OLA PM address concerns as needed.
- Provide coverage for absent team members as needed including primary DTT and OLA PM.
- Complete required trainings (including but not limited to, Office of Childhood trainings, CPR/First Aid, mandated reporting of abuse of neglect, and disaster/emergency response, as well as other OLH trainings as assigned annually).
- Meets and collaborates with parents/families and with support workers (speech therapists, occupational therapists) as necessary, to support the child’s development and progress.
- Collaborates weekly with all OLA team members, concerning each child’s admission, treatment needs, family issues, academic and emotional/social progress, transitions, and discharge from the program.
- Attends twice monthly clinical supervision with the OLA PM.
- Monitor and update all clinical documentation in a timely manner, including case notes and treatment plans, in accordance with internal and external reporting requirements as outlined by OLH, state, federal, and professional guidelines and standards of best practice.
- Assess and respond to crises or conflicts following OLH’s general philosophy of care (specified in Behavior Management Consent) utilizing OLH’s approved behavior management techniques only when appropriate (specified in the Behavior Management Policy) and as stated in child’s treatment plan.
- Participate in OLH committees including but not limited to program PQIs, celebration committee, diversity committee, etc.
- *Other duties as necessary
Interested applicants may send a resume to:
Sarah A. Thomas, MSW LCSW
Day Treatment Program Manager
sarah.thomas@ourlittlehaven.org
