JOB INFORMATION

POSITION TYPE

Certified

DAYS WORKED

10 Months/195 days

DEPARTMENT/LOCATION

Student Services

GRADE (SALARY RANGE)

In accordance with the RCBOE Salary Schedules ** This is a grant funded position and is contingents upon available funds

JOB TITLE

Mental Health Support Counselor

CONTRACTED STATUS

Contract

JOB CODE

FLSA Status

Exempt

Reports To

Coordinator for Support Services

Supervises

N/A

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education:  Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university. Prior experience and competencies working with school aged youth and families with mental health related issues and/or disabilities. 

Certification or Licensure:  Certification or licensure (MSW, LPC, PCSW, LMFT, School Psychology), or a human service field; Experience in a school-based setting preferred.

Skills Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with the School System, community agencies, staff and parents. Establish and maintain effective relationships. Excellent written and oral communication and computer skills; good human relations skills.  Knowledge of therapy methods appropriate to meeting the needs of students and their families, and of federal and state laws concerning family rights and behavioral and mental health services. Ability to identify the behavioral and mental health needs of students.  Ability to work independently, maintain accurate records and meet established time frames and deadlines. Provide behavioral and mental health services to students and their families; conduct individual, group, and family sessions.

Work Experience:  Must have experience providing interventions and counseling to groups and individuals of school aged youth and their families. Working knowledge of community resources and service organizations.

PRIMARY DUTY

The Mental Health Support Counselor will work with System level Support Staff to coordinate consistent support services across the School System. Mental Health Support Counselor will provide emotional support and foster a safe and successful learning environment for students, providing assistance and stabilization in the interim before needed continuous outside agency support can be established. The Mental Health Support Counselor may also assist students and families that are unable to access outside support services. The primary focus will be on building students’ capacity for academic success and positive social and emotional well-being through collaborative efforts, working with the building-level Mental Health Team to coordinate, facilitate, and implement mental health support services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.     Diagnose/Treat mental health disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety) and acute mental health problems (e.g., suicidal ideation) in students; refer students and parents to specialists when needed;

2.     Provide counseling and treatment services to individual students, groups, or families based on need (e.g., grief, divorce); adhere to established mental health standards and ethics; 

3.     Maintain and track documentation of mental health support for students to include setting goals, developing treatment plans, measuring and documenting progress; 

4.     Measure effectiveness of mental health interventions and make changes as needed;

5.     Participate in meetings as necessary (e.g., MHT, IEPs, RTI, community meetings, trainings);

6.     Provide appropriate professional development and training to staff members and families as needed;

7.     Strive to maintain a schedule of providing direct services to students for seventy percent (70%) of each work week;

8.     Work directly in collaboration with school-based Mental Health Teams;

9.     Provide mental health resources to students and their families, as well as to other members of the school community;

10.  Serve as a liaison to community resources, including next steps involving short-term and/or long-term therapy or intervention.

11.  Carry out such other and further duties, whether specifically listed above or not, as are assigned or required by such employee’s supervisor, other appropriate school personnel, applicable law, Local  Board policy, administrative regulation, department handbook, or other duties as are reasonably necessary to the efficient operation of the School System and its mission.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, stand, and sit. Must be available to work some nights, weekends, and overtime, as may be necessary from time to time. 

OTHER DETAILS

CREATION DATE: 07/2021

REVISION DATE: