Function: 

The School-based Therapist provides direct clinical services within The Beacon Learning Center, a short-term, intensive behavioral health and educational program serving elementary-aged students with moderate to severe behavioral health needs. This role delivers trauma-informed, evidence-based interventions within a structured therapeutic school environment and supports students in stabilizing symptoms, improving emotional regulation, and successfully transitioning back to their school setting. 

Organizational duties & responsibilities: 

1. The primary responsibility of all staff is to ensure the safety and well-being of all Ramey-Estep/Re-group (RE) clients. 

2. Supports the mission, vision, and values of RE.  Facilitates and adheres to the agency’s code of ethics, policies, and procedures. 

3. Supports all functions that attain and maintain accreditation and compliance with regulatory agencies. 

4. Supports and facilitates positive interaction with clients and staff by exhibiting both in-office and in-public when carrying out job duties: individual maturity, respect for others, a team-centered approach, maintenance of confidential information, and awareness and sensitivity to cultural and other differences in clients and staff. 

5. Exhibits effective communication skills, including proper use of agency communication systems. 

6. Participate in appropriate professional development programs to attain and maintain competency. 

7. Effectively manages financial and physical resources to achieve the mission of RE. 

8. Reports incidents of abuse or potential abuse involving clients to the appropriate authorities and RE. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

1. Provide group therapy, individual therapy, family therapy, case coordination, and other clinically appropriate services to students participating in the program. 

2. Facilitate daily group therapy sessions focused on emotional regulation, coping skills, social skills, and behavioral strategies. 

3. Deliver evidence-based, trauma-informed interventions appropriate for elementary-aged students. 

4. Support students in developing skills to improve functioning in school and home environments. 

5. Support implementation of behavioral interventions and social-emotional learning activities 

6. Complete comprehensive clinical assessments to support PHP level of care. 

7. Develop, implement, and regularly update individualized treatment plans based on student needs and progress. 

8. Participate in weekly treatment team reviews to assess progress and adjust interventions as needed. 

9. Collaborate closely with educational staff to integrate behavioral health supports within academic instruction. 

10. Participate as an active member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, including clinicians, educators, case managers, and psychiatric providers. 

11. Communicate regularly with school district partners regarding student progress and needs. 

12. Provide family therapy and parent support sessions to reinforce treatment goals. 

13. Engage caregivers in treatment planning and ongoing progress updates. 

14. Collaborate with families in their natural environment to reinforce treatment interventions and improve outcomes. 

15. Maintain active certification in Safe Crisis Management (SCM) and utilize de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques as needed. 

16. Respond effectively to behavioral crises to ensure safety of students and staff. 

17. Participate in post-incident debriefings and contribute to continuous improvement efforts. 

18. Complete timely, accurate, and clinically appropriate documentation, including assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries. 

19. Ensure documentation meets Medicaid, regulatory, and accreditation standards (e.g., PHP, CARF, CCBHC as applicable). 

20. Actively engage with students throughout the therapeutic school day to support behavior, reinforce skills, and maintain a structured environment. 

21. Ensure services align with PHP level of care requirements and best practices for child behavioral health. 

22. Maintain a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment for students. 

23. Promote evidence-based practices, trauma-informed care, and strengths-based approaches. 

24. Collaborate with school district partners regarding student progress and transition planning. 

25. Ensure effective communication between program staff, families, and referral sources. 

26. Ensure proper maintenance of clinical records and adherence to confidentiality standards. 

27. Ensure timely, accurate, and clinically appropriate documentation for all services. 

28. Ensure trauma-informed, evidence-based, and developmentally appropriate practices are implemented consistently while promoting culturally responsive, equitable, and family-centered care. 

29. Support crisis response, safety planning, and coordination of emergency services in school settings as well as assisting with after-hours and weekends on-call schedule. 

30. Promotes a positive view of RE to the public and outside agencies.  

31. Maintain current licensure and stay within ethical guidelines provided by your licensure board.  

32. Participates in supervision and consultation regularly.  

33. Collaborate effectively with other assigned RE services and community partners.  

34. Perform other duties as assigned. 

Working conditions/environment: 

1. The shift is generally Monday – Friday, but hours will vary based on the client's needs. 

2. Holidays, weekends, and extra hours may be required. 

3. Intense, unpredictable population with the possibility of verbal and physical aggression.  

4. A fast-paced environment with the need for quick decisions to deal with any crisis that may arise.  

5. Traveling throughout the week to meet with clients, families, and/or community partners in home and/or school settings as well as out-of-town meetings.   

6. Primary work setting is within the assigned program. OP Clinical Services Coordinators will be in community settings, including the client's home and school.  

7. Maintains a positive, professional attitude, contributing to a supportive work environment. 

minimum job requirements: 

Education: 

A Master’s Degree from an accredited university in a clinical field, i.e., social work, counseling, or psychology, is required.   

Experience: 

Supervisory experience is preferred.  

Experience in a community-based program is preferred. 

Experience in addressing trauma and promoting the recovery of children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance (SED) and adults with serious mental illness (SMI) is preferred. 

Experience providing trauma-informed, recovery-oriented services in behavioral health or related settings is preferred. 

Specific Skills and 

requirements: 

Must be at least 21 years of age. 

Must have strong leadership and organizational skills. 

Must maintain a valid Driver’s License and insurability. 

Must have excellent communication and conflict-resolution skills. 

Technical requirements include proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and any other applications the organization or regulatory agencies uses. 

Ability to understand and relate to the needs of clients from diverse backgrounds. 

Ability to read, write, and converse in English. 

Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen. 

Successful completion of a background screening. 

Successful completion of a TB skin test or proof of a negative chest x-ray or other documentation. 

Specialized Licenses or training: 

Licensed or licensure eligible under the appropriate board.  

Maintain 40 hours of Annual Training through Relias or other appropriate sources. 

Maintain at least the minimum training for licensure. 

Maintain SCM training certification. 

Attend all assigned training specific to job assignment. 

Physical Requirements: 

The physical requirements 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. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk, hear, and smell.  The employee frequently is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb stairs.  The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance or run.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision.   

Supervisory REquirements: 

None.