Therapist- Hybrid- licensed or provisionally licensed low caseload, top-SC employer. (LPC, APC, LMFT, AMFT, LMSW, LCSW)
Position Summary
The Family Specialist I will provide in-home family counseling to individuals and families. The Family Specialist I will assess the identified individual to determine a diagnosis and treatment plan that will improve the overall functioning of the individual and family. Thornwell Family Specialists use an attachment-based approach with the foundation of Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) principles. The integration of telehealth services is also utilized, as deemed clinically appropriate. The Family Specialist I has a great deal of autonomy, and the position requires staff to be self-motivated and independent in their role. The Family Specialist I will typically work with four to five families at a time and is responsible for setting their own work schedule around the assigned families’ needs and available times. The Family Specialist I will also provide community based and/or virtual group workshops and the parenting class series utilizing Thornwell’s provided curriculums.
At this time, we are looking for candidates with the following credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Associate Professional Counselor (APC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Core Responsibilities
• The Family Specialist I will assess the identified individual to determine a diagnosis, in consultation with supervisor, and develop a treatment plan that will improve the overall functioning of the individual and family.
• The Family Specialist I will provide in-person and telehealth therapy to the individual and family. This includes providing appropriate strength-based interventions to include individual therapy, family therapy, and skill teaching, in a manner which is family driven, supportive of attachment, and culturally competent. The Family Specialist I will provide clinically appropriate services and document in the electronic health record (EHR) per state regulatory standards.
• The Family Specialist I will work with four to five families at a time for 1-2 hours per session and have 2 sessions per week. The Family Specialist I will provide supportive phone calls as needed while the family is engaged in the Building Families Program. The Family Specialist I will provide follow-up services for one year following discharge to each family.
• The Family Specialist I will provide crisis management and stabilization services as needed.
• The Family Specialist I will communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• The Family Specialist I will complete a written assessment, treatment plan, and discharge summary for each assigned case within specified time frames outlined in the manual. The Family Specialist I will complete other required paperwork such as pre and post tools, and other intervention related paperwork as requested. The Family Specialist I will complete a session note of each visit in the EHR within 48 hours of the visit. The Family Specialist I will document other duties such as: preparation for visit, travel, phone calls, staffing’s, meetings, presentations, and referral visits/contacts. This documentation will be provided in monthly reports and using the shared electronic calendar.
• The Family Specialist I will engage referral contacts (in person meetings, phone calls and follow-up emails) to develop and maintain an active and growing referral network and maintain a current referral source contact log. Depending upon the caseload, a Family Specialist I may spend 5-20 hours on community engagement per week.
• The Family Specialist I will provide a minimum of 5 group Workshops per year and a minimum of one Parenting Class per year for referrals from local community resources, parents waiting to participate in program, parents engaged in aftercare and host church site congregations.
• The Family Specialist I is expected to attend staff meetings, consultation/supervision meetings and treatment team meetings with Building Families staff in person and/or by video conference.
• The Family Specialist I will provide services from a team-based approach, including providing support to other staff members through treatment team meetings and collaborative team projects as assigned.
• The Family Specialist I will participate in as many host church activities, services, staff meetings and events as possible per year to increase awareness of the Building Families Program within their congregation. The Family Specialist I will attend church staff meetings to provide verbal reporting and an annual narrative report to the congregation.
• The Family Specialist I will collaborate with Mission Advancement to provide periodic material regarding the Building Families program, such as success stories, content for website and print material and program data. The Family Specialist I will assist Mission Advancement with local Mission Tours periodically.
• The Family Specialist I will maintain confidentiality regarding the families they are serving. The Family Specialist I will ensure verbal communications with the family by phone and treatment team calls/staffing are conducted in a private setting. The Family Specialist I will maintain the church office space in an orderly fashion and ensure that all personal identification information is secured according to the HIPAA standards.
• The Family Specialist I will follow Thornwell, COA, licensing, and applicable accreditation standards. The Family Specialist I will participate in ongoing training and staff development including travel to Thornwell’s campus.
• The Family Specialist I will accept other related work duties, training and administrative responsibilities as assigned by the Vice President, Director, and Supervisor.
Working Conditions
The Family Specialist I will work in an office setting provided by a local host church a minimum of 2 days per week and will travel daily in a geographic area defined as approximately a 15-mile radius from their host site. The Family Specialist I will travel using their personal car and will be reimbursed at Thornwell’s defined standard mileage rate. Additionally, the Family Specialist I will provide telehealth services based on family needs and location. The Family Specialist I will be provided with a Thornwell issued cell phone. Limited overnight travel for staff meetings and training is required. The Family Specialist I will be required to use computers with most frequent applications to include Word Processing, Excel Spreadsheets, Power Point, Video Conferencing and Electronic Note taking system (Best Notes). The Family Specialist I will be required to work a 40-hour work week and accommodate flexible scheduling to meet the needs of the families we serve. Most family sessions will be scheduled in the afternoon and early evening hours (2:00 pm – 7:30 pm). The Family Specialist I will maintain office hours at their host site unless they are completing a home visit or a work-related community event (referral visit, networking, or church event). Building Families staff are expected to work from their host church site on all business days (Monday through Friday) when the church office is open. If the host church is closed during a normal business day, then the Family Specialist I is authorized to work remotely from their home, or an alternate location in the community. Any remote work arrangement must be pre-approved by the Family Specialist I immediate Supervisor. Physical activity associated with the job will include sitting (travel & computer work) and ability to move around and engage in activities with the families and children. Activities could include sitting on floor in home playing board games, tossing a ball outside, walking in a park setting, kicking a soccer ball. The Family Specialist I will need to be able to work independently as well as together with the Building Families Team. The Family Specialist I will receive reflective supervision and treatment team processing.
Qualifications
• The Family Specialist I will be committed to a strength based, family focused model for positive changes in families.
• The Family Specialist I must have a minimum of a master's degree in social work, counseling, human services, or related field from an accredited institution and related experience.
• The Family Specialist I must be in process of obtaining a fully independent license.
• Thornwell’s HR department will verify licensure status through the appropriate state licensing board and will confirm academic degree status through an authorized third-party service.
• The Family Specialist I must provide a copy of their clinical license at the time of their HR onboarding meeting and must provide any updated licensure documents as they are received.
• The Family Specialist I must maintain an unrestricted provisional clinical license through the appropriate state licensing board until such time as a full independent clinical license is obtained.
• The Family Specialist I must secure a full, independent clinical license as soon as possible, and no later than three years after beginning employment.
• The Family Specialist I must maintain an unrestricted clinical license through the appropriate state licensing board for the duration of their employment with Thornwell.
• The Family Specialist I must have a valid state driver's license and proof of automobile insurance.
Skills
The Family Specialist I must have related experience working with youth and their families.
The Family Specialist I must possess the ability to engage individuals and families in a collaborative, strengths-based manner which promotes the development of individual and family skills and capacities, through use of appropriate interventions.
The Family Specialist I must possess strong organizational strategies to maintain their workflow and ensure clinical responsibilities and case work are completed in a manner that is timely and reflects quality work.
The Family Specialist I must have the capacity to work from a team-based approach and engage in a reflective supervision process.
Christian Commitment:
Thornwell is an independent non-profit religious organization affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and prefers to employ individuals who support Christian values and who possess a Christian commitment, as well as concern, for children and families in need.
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Health Care Provider
Part-time