About Job

Position Summary:

The Mental Health Counselor is responsible for providing assessment and developmentally appropriate, trauma informed mental health therapy to children, up to the age of 18 years old, who have been identified as victims of severe child maltreatment or witness to severe violence, as well as their non-offending caregivers. The Mental Health Counselor and Victim-Family Advocate will work in direct conjunction to ensure client’s schedules are established/maintained and any other needs are being addressed. This individual works with the Executive Director and other personnel to fulfill the day-to-day functions, goals and objectives of the Children’s Advocacy Center for the 31st Judicial District (CAC31).

Classification: Contract Exempt Personnel – part-time schedule with some non-traditional hours, as required.

Reports to: CAC31 Executive Director and Contract Agency Supervisors

Education:

Master’s degree in mental health or related field;
Licensed or licensed eligible certified mental health professional;
Or student intern in an accredited mental health graduate program, when supervised by a licensed or certified mental health professional.
Completed 40 (forty) contact hour CEU’s in accordance with the provider’s mental health related license requirements and CEUs from evidence-based treatment for trauma training.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Conduct thorough mental health screenings and assessments of child-victims of trauma, as referred.
Provide evidence-based trauma focused mental health services to clients on-site at CAC31.
Develop comprehensive treatment plans.
Make referrals to long term mental health therapy/resources, as required.
Provide individual, family and group therapy to clients.
Ensure that all documentation related to provision of client services is completed in accordance with policies and procedures.
Provide consultation services to CPIT members directly working on clients’ cases, as requested.
Participate in staff meetings, multidisciplinary (CPIT) case review meetings, in-service trainings and other meetings, as required.

Monitor the inventory of relevant supplies, education materials and facilitate a reorder.
Participate in needed administrative and housekeeping responsibilities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or trauma-informed care (possession of a trauma-informed care and counseling certificate preferred).
Direct experience working with children exposed to trauma.
Knowledge of child sexual abuse dynamics.
Knowledge of normal sexual and child developmental phases.
Ability to professionally handle highly confidential information.
Possess exceptional written, oral, and public communication skills with the capacity to engage multiple and diverse constituencies.
Ability and willingness to build and maintain collaborative relationships internally and externally and work as part of a team with maturity and professionalism.
Possess independent, ethical and sound decision making, and strong organizational skills to manage workload, related responsibilities and undertake self-initiated program enhancement; follow through on commitments, and accept responsibilities for own actions.
Exhibit relaxed, competent professionalism and dependability in working with diverse populations; contribute in respectful positive manner; give and welcome feedback.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requires normal range of hearing, eyesight, coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to record, prepare and communicate reports and operate office equipment.
May be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
May be required to sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Mandated Requirements:

Must have no criminal history and the ability to pass a comprehensive background screening.

Must accept status as Mandated Child Abuse and Neglect Reporter.
Must have ability to read, write and speak English proficiently, secondary in Spanish an asset.
Must have above average computer knowledge and Microsoft Office proficiency.
Must have own transportation, a current Tennessee Driver’s License, auto insurance, and safe driving record.
Able to work a flexible schedule during non-traditional business hours, as deemed necessary.

Continuing Education:

Employees must attend and complete the following mandatory trainings:
- Stewards of Children
- Title VI training (must participate annually)
- Safety (must participate annually)
- Sexual Harassment (must participate annually)
- 15-hours of continuing education annually
- Regular Peer-Review

Evaluation Criteria:

The CAC31 Executive Director will not conduct an employee annual evaluation on the contracted Mental Health Counselor. Pertinent information will be shared with the contracting agency regarding performance, team interaction and client feedback.