School-based Clinician

Status: Exempt
Salary range: $65,000-$75,000
Reports to: Program Manager
Location: Aspen, Colorado

Overview:
The school-based team provides onsite clinical services to schools from Aspen to Rifle.  We serve Aspen School District, Roaring Fork School District/Re-1, Garfield/Re-2 School District and private schools without our regional footprint. The contracts between Aspen Hope Center and our school partners require a clinical mental health clinician to be onsite to appropriately triage students, assess risk, provide care coordination and serve as a mental health resource for the school as a whole. All new school-based positions will begin in August of 2024 and follow the school schedule.

Job Summary: A school-based clinician’s role is to provide care and immediate clinical mental health services to students. The primary function is to assess and triage individuals who are seen as at-risk by administration or school staff and deemed to be in need of mental health services. The school-based clinician is responsible for ensuring continuity of care: collaboration with proper agencies, referral to appropriate type and level of service, attendance at school meetings if deemed appropriate and advocacy for any treatment deemed necessary beyond initial crisis. The school-based clinician also conducts follow-up visits with each child assessed and if ongoing therapy is required, the Hope Center clinician is able to provide that on school grounds at no charge to the student.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works school hours where on-site presence is used for assessments, follow-ups, groups, classes or meetings

• Assesses the student referred and initiates appropriate response, intervention and level of service

• Performs basic assessment of students with suicidal thoughts

• Collaborates with school, family or other appropriate persons, relevant to the situation at hand

• Staffs cases, when necessary, with Aspen Hope Center’s Program Director or crisis team

• Obtains proper paperwork and maintains strict adhesion to confidentiality

• Determines type and level of care for the individual assessed and documents accordingly

• Contacts other agencies (EMS, child protective services, law enforcement, etc.) when necessary

• Makes initial contact with any referring agency or private practitioner

• Provides individual who was assessed (and/or their family) with necessary written information for follow-up and education, as well as for any consent that may be done with the agency or therapist receiving the individual for treatment

• Provides follow-up “socio emotional check ins” with all students who were evaluated

• Can initiate individual therapy when appropriate and schedule to see students on campus

• Maintains communication with school counselors on risk level or plan for treatment

• Maintains communication with other school personnel as needed on collaborative care for student

• Attends all staff meetings and participates in scheduled supervision with the Hope Center team and director

• Attends the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) meetings at their school/place of work on a regular basis

• Documents all records in Salesforce (all documentation is required to be completed and in the system prior to ending a shift)

• Versed in and adheres to all policies and procedures of Aspen Hope Center

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of DSM-V diagnoses and symptoms

• Knowledge of local and agency resources for referrals

• Skilled at working with various types of individuals and knowing how to approach each one

• Skilled in basic computer operations including the use of the Internet, Microsoft Office, Google Suite and general data management

• Ability to assess for suicidality if needed

• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives without supervision

• Ability to maintain boundaries with clients, practitioners and other agencies

• Ability to maintain composure, professionalism, and structure in any given situation

• Ability to uphold confidentiality at all times and adhere to the minimum necessary rule whenever data is shared

• Ability to maintain communication with clinical and school based staff on a regular basis 

• Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems

Credentials and Experience: 

• Masters degree in counseling, psychology, social work or related field

• Colorado state license preferred (or at minimum, desire to receive supervision so that license can be obtained within one year of hire date)

• Three years experience in counseling-related role, crisis or trauma assessment experience preferred

Benefits for Full-time Employees:

• Paid time off

• Medical, dental and vision insurance available

• 403b contribution with discretionary employer match

• Employee wellness stipend

This job description is not an employment contract, nor is it intended to show every detail of the duties and requirements of the job. The job description is intended to provide a listing of primary responsibilities and tasks. The job description may be augmented by performance expectations and additional duties, which may be assigned either in writing or verbally at any time by management.

It is the established policy of Aspen Hope Center to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons and to administer all aspects and conditions of employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, severe or morbid obesity, marital status, ethnicity, alienage or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Aspen Hope Center takes allegations of discrimination, harassment and retaliation very seriously and will promptly conduct an investigation when warranted.Equal employment opportunity includes, but is not limited to, employment, training, promotion, demotion, transfer, leaves of absence, and termination.