SALARY RANGE: $65,055 - $95,180

Ad Valorem - 2.40 parish property (ad valorem) tax mills are dedicated to employee salaries. The annual receipts from this tax are distributed to employees twice a year, one-half in January and one-half in June. The amount of each employee’s supplement is the employee’s salary multiplied by the annual percentage (computed each year based on actual tax revenues).

Job Goal

To provide services related to the delivery of mental health care to assigned students at the designated school location and provide consultation services to the school staff to support the overall mental health goals of the school.

Qualifications (minimum education, licensure, skills and/or experience)

Required

• Master's degree in the field of Human Services from an accredited institution and licensed in the state of Louisiana to provide mental health services.
• Ancillary certified as a Mental Health Counselor, School Social Worker, Behavior Analyst or School Counselor.
• Must meet the requirements of a criminal background check, including fingerprinting, as outlined in Louisiana Revised Statute 17:15 and Bulletin 746.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred

• Experience developing and implementing school-based mental health programming.
• Prior experience working with children or adolescents, such as classroom teaching or youth counseling.

• Additional training in crisis intervention, special education or career and technical counseling.
• Familiarity with Louisiana education laws and policies.
• Working knowledge of Google Workspace.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Assessment and Intervention

• Provides direct mental health services to include intake assessment, individual / group therapy and crisis interventions to assigned students.
• Conducts comprehensive assessments and crisis interventions to support student mental health and well-being.
• Implements evidence-based practices and therapeutic strategies tailored to the developmental and emotional needs of students.
• Develops comprehensive master treatment plans, updates existing plans systematically and effectively secures managed care authorizations.
• Utilizes data-driven techniques to track progress, evaluate outcomes and adjust interventions accordingly to optimize student development and academic achievement.

Collaboration, Communication and Consultation

• Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members to assess and discuss student mental health needs, evaluations and progress.
• Consults with Teachers, administrators and parents on mental health concerns; provides guidance on learning strategies and interventions while maintaining ongoing, open communication with supervisors and colleagues.

Documentation and Record Keeping

• Maintains accurate, timely and confidential records of assessments, interventions, progress and communications, including all required data for students’ files, to be used for monitoring the overall performance and effectiveness of services provided.
• Prepares and submits required reports and documentation to supervisors in a timely manner, ensuring alignment with federal, state and district guidelines.

Advocacy and Equity

• Advocates for students and families to ensure equitable access to educational opportunities, resources and services.

Compliance

• Follows school, district, state and federal regulations to ensure compliance.
• Maintains the confidentiality of student, family, and staff information in accordance with federal, state, and district policies, including Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable regulations.

Safety and Security

• Ensures the safety and security of students and staff by adhering to school safety policies, supervising assigned areas, reporting potential hazards and responding promptly to emergencies in accordance with established protocols.

Professional Development

• Engages in ongoing professional development and training to stay current with best practices, industry standards and job-related knowledge.
• Remains informed of new developments in the profession via professional development.

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintains all certification and licensure requirements in accordance with Louisiana Revised Statute 17:7 and Bulletin 746 (Louisiana Standards for State Certification of School Personnel).
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned to meet the needs of the school and district.
• Contributes to district-wide projects and collaborates with other departments on cross-functional goals.
• Retains a valid driver’s license and a clear driving record, follows all district policies and state regulations for safe vehicle operation, reports any incidents affecting their ability to drive immediately to their supervisor and ensures proper care, maintenance and responsible use of district vehicles if required to use a district vehicle for assigned duties.

Act 311

In accordance with Act 311 of the Louisiana Legislature, the following duties have been added to this job description to ensure clarity regarding the responsibilities encompassed within this position. These duties are considered part of the employee’s standard job expectations and are compensated within the established salary structure.

Mental Health Professionals shall be expected to perform the following duties, along with the

completion of corresponding documents, forms and reports:

Non-instructional Components

• Attend department meetings.
• Attend and or host training sessions.
• Attend student and/or parent meetings generally associated with Mental Health Professional credential / certifications upon request.
• Attend school faculty and staff meetings upon request.
• Attend Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings as required, or upon request.
• Attend evaluation, observation, Individualized Accommodation Plan (IAP) and student discipline meetings / hearings.
• Attend parent / Teacher conferences upon request.
• Review and finalize reports or administrative tasks.
• Collaborate with community organizations, or partners to support district and department programs.
• Attend School Board / committee meetings upon request.
• Clean and organize personal areas.

Physical Demands

This role primarily operates in an indoor, climate-controlled environment, with exposure to minimal temperature variations. The usual methods of performing job functions require light lifting (ten to twenty [10-20] pounds), carrying, pushing and pulling with frequent engagement in activities such as standing, walking and sitting. Additional physical requirements include the ability to sit for prolonged periods; frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, data entry and computer-based tasks or other responsibilities; extended use of a computer for data analysis, report generation, communication and administrative duties; manual dexterity for various responsibilities; and adaptability to switch between multiple tasks and manage interruptions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Plaquemines Parish School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion or any other legally protected status in its educational programs, activities or employment practices. The district is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect.