SUMMARY:

The Child and Family Specialist (CFS) provides skills-based services to children and adolescents within our community-based programs aimed at improving anger management, social, communication, and/or daily living skills. The CFS actively engages clients in planned activities, community outings, social settings, and interpersonal interactions designed to practice these skills, problem-solve areas of challenge, and identify solutions towards improved overall functioning.

JOB DUTIES:

• Meets face-to-face with each assigned client to provide Mental Health Rehabilitation services that are individualized and within the scope of practice
• Develops, organizes, leads, and engages clients in activity-based opportunities to develop, practice, and apply effective anger management, social, communication, and daily living skills
• Engages family members/caregivers/identified support persons in regular collateral contacts/sessions/CFT meetings
• May provide Targeted Case Management services to link clients to community resources
• Works collaboratively with the client, family, therapist, treatment team members, identified DCFS and/or Department of Probation personnel, school staff, and all other inter and intra-agency personnel
• Attends and participates in regularly scheduled Child and Family Team (CFT) Meetings and contributes to Treatment Team Meetings (TTM) in an effort to coordinate the client’s services and care with treatment team members
• Completes all documentation in accordance with deadlines and performance standards established by Policy and Procedures and/or the Director of Mental Health
• Attends individual and/or group supervision

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

In the course of performing this job, the incumbent typically spends time standing, walking on sloped/hilly areas of campus, carrying, driving, lifting (up to 40 pounds), listening, speaking, reaching, writing, and participating in restraint procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s of Arts/Science (M.A./M.S.) Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or related field plus two (2) years of experience in a mental health setting as a specialist in the fields of physical restoration, social adjustment, or vocational adjustment OR
• Bachelor’s of Arts/Science (B.A./B.S.) Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or related field plus four (4) years of experience in a mental health setting as a specialist in the fields of physical restoration, social adjustment, or vocational adjustment OR
• Associates of Applied Science’s Degree (A.A.) plus six (6) years of experience in a mental health setting as a specialist in the fields of physical restoration, social adjustment, or vocational adjustment required.
• Experience working high-risk children, adolescents, adults and/or families within the, Mental Health, Educational, Child Welfare and/or Juvenile Probation systems required.
• Availability to be on-call for crisis related services required.
• Bi-lingual/Bi-literate in Spanish highly preferred.
• Valid California Driver’s License and proof of Auto Insurance required.
• Must fulfill all requirements of employment, including clearance of all required background records (e.g. Department of Justice, Child Abuse, California Community Care Licensing, County Sanction List, etc.), professional reference checks, physical examination, and drug testing.