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Description
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Duval Head Start
Located in Jacksonville, FL
Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong and communities are vibrant.
Since 1982, Lutheran Services Florida has been providing and sharing solutions to protect Florida’s most vulnerable. Today, we are one of the largest nonprofits in Florida touching 1 in 50 Floridians with a wide range of services, including:
- early childhood education
- refugee and immigration
- mental health and substance abuse
- juvenile justice
- child welfare
LSF is looking for a talented Licensed Mental Health Counselor who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.
Purpose & Impact
The purpose of the Licensed Mental Health Counselor is to be responsible for providing early childhood mental health consultation support to Head Start staff, children and families. Provides a broad range of services, including mental health consultation in classrooms and through home visits; training and coaching staff; screening, assessment and referral services; promotion and marketing of group services; and providing parent training. This individual will also collect data, maintain records and support compliance in all facets of Head Start Performance Standards and state regulations. Participate in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.
A Day in the Life of a Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Essential Functions:
- Visit each classroom at least twice a year to conduct classroom observations, document/report recommendations, and develop and implement a service plan.
- Conduct child observations and review screenings/assessments of the social, emotional and development of children birth to five years old or referred for services with parents, teaching staff, site supervisors and other mental health professionals.
- Meet with classroom teams to review classroom observations and develop and implement service plans as needed.
- Provide child development information related to social-emotional development and mental health.
- Provide program-specific consultation and coaching with teaching staff and management to address system program-related issues impacting the implementation of social-development practices in early care and education settings.
- Develop service plans which consist of goals, objectives, treatment modalities for children receiving mental health or behavior health support services.
- Provide direct counseling services as needed to the children and families enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start.
- Provide guidance and model developmentally appropriate activities for children and effective ways to work with and support young children.
- Recruit parents for parent training, coordinating and providing parent and staff training on mental health issues.
- Coordinate and deliver staff training related to mental health issues at least once per quarter.
- Supervise and monitor Mental Health Intern students.
- Attend and facilitate meetings to support classroom staff’s ability to provide inclusive care to children with developmental, behavioral or emotional challenges.
- Participate in the development and implementation of mental health programs and policy.
- Assist in the development and monitoring of Mental Health partnership agreements and contracts.
- Conduct standardized developmental, behavioral, and/or social-emotional screens and assessments for individual children as assigned or referred for consultation providing child and family referral and follow-up to community services.
- Participate in the referral and tracking process of children and families to therapeutic and other services within the community.
- Conduct home visits as needed to support the mental health needs of families and children.
- Maintain and update client charts, data and other required documentation in Child Plus.
- Utilize electronic databases and files to document, track and report mental health outcomes.
- Comply with HIPPA standards and program confidentiality standards.
- Responsible for maintaining state licensure requirements through the Florida Board.
- Report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect in accordance with regulations and policy.
- Participates in management meetings as required; works closely with members of the management team to plan, problem-solve and implement continuous improvement plans as needed.
- Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the supervisor
- Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education: Master’s Degree in Social Work, Mental Health, Marriage and Family Counseling, Human Services or related field from an accredited college or university.
License/Certification: A current State of Florida clinical license in Social Work or Mental Health Counseling or Marriage and Family Counseling (LCSW, LMHC, LMFT) required.
Experience: At least three years of experience providing mental health services in a social services environment. Experience working with community partners and utilizing comprehensive record-keeping systems. Clinical experience working with young children age 0-5 and their families. Must have the ability to identify special needs children. Experience formulating and writing assessments, support plans and service plans, preferable for young children. Experience with evidence-based practices and curricula to promote early childhood mental health is desirable.
Bilingual preferred:English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area. Also required: Certification in First Aid and CPR within six months of the date assigned to this position; and successful completion of a Level II background screening, local criminal record check, and drug screening prior to hiring.
Physical Requirements: Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.
Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) requires those hired into this position to provide proof that they have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (including any booster shots, if required) or must become fully vaccinated within the first 30 days of employment. Failure to provide timely proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status will result in the termination of your employment with LSF.
Any individuals subject to this requirement may submit for consideration a request to be exempted from the requirement (based on a valid religious or medical reason) on forms to be provided by LSF. Such requests will be subject to review and approval by the Company, and exemptions will be granted only if the Company can provide a reasonable accommodation in relation to the requested exemption. Note that approvals for reasonable accommodations are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis and availability of a reasonable accommodation is not guaranteed. This vaccination requirement is based, in part, on recently established government requirements. The requirement is also based on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in protecting against COVID-19, and our shared responsibility for the health and safety of members, clients, and community.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Demonstrated understanding of infant and early childhood mental health. Knowledge of human development and health.
- Demonstrated understanding of differences in mental health services and concepts across cultures.
- Demonstrated experience with clinical documentation.
- Strong cultural sensitivity with significant experience working within diverse communities.
- Knowledge of social services and health services available in the area.
- Knowledge of human behavior, child development, social problems, family dynamics, infant mental health, trauma and community resources.
- Ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with service providers and families.
- Knowledge of computer data entry processes.
- Knowledge of family-centered practices.
- Knowledge of Head Start is desirable.
- Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing.
- Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
- Ability to speak before groups of individuals, such as Committees and Staff meetings.
- Ability to calculate amounts by adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and figuring percentages.
- Ability to plan, organize, and supervise work of others in areas of Social Work, Mental Health, Marriage and Family Counseling, and Human Services.
- Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions.
- Ability to interpret laws, regulations, and policies particular in regards to the state and federal requirements.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to make recommendations and develop implementation strategies.
- Computer skills, including MS Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, etc).
Why work for LSF?
Ability to Make an Impact in Multiple Areas
LSF offers several programs, spanning across a wide range of populations in need. This gives our team members an opportunity to learn and potentially work in programs outside of their direct area. Either way, members of the LSF family will play a part in transforming the lives of those in need.
Community
A career at LSF means working and learning alongside talented professionals in a dynamic and inclusive environment. The values of our organization – OPEN-MINDED, COMPASSIONATE, GENEROUS, VISIONARY and HONESTY – drives each one of us.
People working at Lutheran Services Florida treat each other like family. Whether you work on the front lines or work in an office, you share a common bond that is felt throughout the organization.
Growth Opportunities
Because of the variety of programs we offer throughout Florida, team members have the option to explore areas of interest in other programs or grow within their existing program/department.
Amazing benefits package including:
- Medical, dental and vision
- Teledoc (24/7 access to doctors via phone and video)
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Long-term disability
- Employer paid life insurance (1X salary), AD&D
- Health and dependent care FSA
- Paid holidays
- Generous PTO policy
- 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match
- Tuition reimbursement
- LifeMart Employee Discount Program
Additional Voluntary Benefits
- Short-term disability
- Group life insurance
- Accident, critical illness/Cancer and hospital policy
- Legal Shield coverage
Lutheran Services Florida is an equal opportunity employer and a drug free workplace.
Lutheran Services Florida Children & Head Start Services
3027 San Diego Road Jacksonville, FL 32207
EOE/DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE
