General Description

Under the supervision and direction of the SELPA Director and the SELPA Mental Health Services Program Manager, the Behavioral Health Clinician (BHC) provides assessment and school based counseling services for students referred for Educationally Related Mental Health Services. The BHC provides supportive and direct services to students with problem behaviors that interfere with academic performance and developmental progress, cause conflict with peers, community or family, and/or put the student at risk for placement in a more restrictive educational setting, higher levels of mental health care and/or out of home placement. The BHC provides consultation and training to teachers, paraprofessionals and parents; supports the implementation of positive behavioral interventions conforming to all IDEA-related requirements. Mental health services may be provided at counseling centers, in student homes, at school sites and/or in the community.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possession of a valid California license as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or a Marriage, Family Therapist (MFT) or Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Psychology.
• Experience working in children’s mental health and/or early intervention.
• Demonstrate competence in communicating effectively with children and parents, staff members and representatives of other agencies.
• Experience working with a SELPA including experience participating in IEP team meetings is desirable.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides direct mental health services that include: assessment; consultation; evaluation; treatment plan development; treatment coordination; individual, group and family therapy services; and case management.
• Assists IEP teams in developing positive behavior support systems, educational goals and objectives related to behavior and mental health needs and written instructional plans for students with behavioral plans to meet student needs.
• Acts as a liaison between clients, families, school personnel and community agencies; plans and conducts in-service training for parents, students, district personnel and others including positive behavior supports and implementation of behavioral plans.
• Attends and/or conducts program related meetings, trainings and workshops; participates in inter/intra agency planning and staff meetings as appropriate.
• Makes recommendations to LEA through the IEP team for educationally-related mental health services.
• Provides crisis intervention at schools or student’s home regarding sudden emergencies (deaths, suicides, etc.)
• Prepares LEA Medi-Cal billing logs and/or MAA billing forms for all appropriate services.
• Takes extensive data and performs a variety of related clerical tasks.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills (oral and written) characterized by active listening and respectful interactions.
• Plans and organizes workload and adapt to changing work demands and work under varying degrees of stress.
• Assists in transition of students from program to program in keeping with goals identified by IEP Team.
• Supports the policies and programs of the Humboldt County Office of Education and performs assigned duties consistent with school, district or office policies, regulations and procedures.
• Maintains professional competency by actively engaging in employer directed service activities and other similar opportunities provided to staff.
• Cooperatively engages in the professional evaluation process with supervisor to ensure ongoing professional growth and competence.
• Attends regular and special staff meetings and actively participates as a member of the educational team.
• Responds effectively to the input from and coordinates tasks with district/school personnel as required by assignment.
• Provides crisis intervention assistance to students and staff.
• Performs other related duties.

Special note regarding the physical demands of position:

There is some degree of physical ability and exertion required. Over time, the physical demands of any position are subject to change. Depending upon the particular day, the BHC could be expected to:

• Stand, sit and/or move about for sustained periods.
• Move about in non-traditional instructional environments; i.e., areas of the community.
• Report to multiple worksites in a given day or during the work week.
• Communicate effectively in-person and via telephone and other electronic media to individuals and groups of varying sizes.
• Exercise physical control over students who are acting out and/or offer physical assistance to students who might be themselves physically impaired.
• Maintain an appropriate personal demeanor during periods of heightened stress created by outside factors not always within the ability of the staff member to control at the time.

The Humboldt County Office of Education is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. Consistent with that philosophy is the receptivity to consider requests to modify the traditional modes of delivering instructional services to reasonably accommodate an individual’s disabilities as long as the quality of the program offered remains consistent with the standards established by the office.

NOTE: An employee in this position must have a valid California driver’s license and be able to operate a vehicle to drive to the necessary schools throughout the county or be able to otherwise move about to multiple work sites on any given day.

For further information concerning the specific requirements of any particular assignment,please contact the Personnel Office.

GTE:gb 4/18/14