Lead Clinician

Position Purpose/Summary:

The Unaccompanied Children (UC) Lead Clinician for Unaccompanied Children will coordinate clinical services, train new clinicians, and supervise the clinical staff. This position provides clinical support to ensure fidelity to treatment model, development, and implementation of treatment strategies, assessing for needed services, helps in accessing community based mental health services for clients, and assessing the appropriateness of sponsor families. In collaboration with the case management team, these services will be provided on an intensive, short-term basis and will require fluency with the policies of the.

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). They may provide mental health assessments and ongoing clinical services and support to Unaccompanied Children (UC) referred to the Transitional Foster Care Program.

Essential Functions Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with

disabilities to perform the essential functions:

1. Provide weekly supervision to staff clinicians to review best practices, conduct case

consultations, identify areas of growth, and meet development needs.

2. Conduct clinical intake assessment and provide ongoing clinical and crisis interventions for clients.

3. Guide staff clinicians to assess clients for Human Trafficking.

4. Collaborate regularly with case management team to provide the clinical perspective in the assessment, service provision, and discharge of UC’s within the ORR-mandated timeframes

5. Carry a caseload of up to 12 clients.

6. Assist Case Managers with sponsor assessments and provide clinical expertise in sponsor reunification cases when needed.

7. Apply a working knowledge of child welfare best practices to protect all clients in care and mitigate risk factors where possible.

8. Provide assistance to program staff and foster parents regarding youth with behavioral or emotional needs.

9. Maintain documentation of all clinical activities in the client files in accordance with regulatory bodies including LSC, state, federal standards and COA requirements to include the review and follow up of critical incident reports.

10.Attend Weekly Staffing and Team Meetings.

11.Participate in the On Call Schedule to provide full coverage for emergencies.

12.Participate and document on-going training to meet ORR and LSC requirements.

13.Represent Lutheran Services Carolinas professionally in the local community.

14.Other duties as assigned by Clinical Supervisor or Program Director.

Supervisory Responsibilities, if any (The scope of the person’s authority, including the

positions that report to the incumbent.):

• UC Staff Clinicians

Qualifications (Minimum Job Requirements): Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Education: Master’s degree in social work and 2 years of postgraduate direct service delivery experience or Master’s degree or Ph.D. in psychology, counseling, or other relevant behavioral science in which clinical experience is a program requirement, and 2 years of postgraduate direct service delivery experience.

Experience: Must have supervisory experience and be licensed to provide clinical services in the State where the care provider is located. Two years of postgraduate direct service delivery experience is required.

Specific skills/abilities: Bilingual in English/Spanish. Must have good communication skills, skills in group and team facilitation, completing assessments and writing behavioral treatment plans. Must be self-motivated, have good time management skills and have the ability to work independently and as a team. Must have excellent writing skills and computer skills sufficient toperform essential functions (using the UC Portal, Microsoft Office, and any internal e-case management software). Must be flexible and be able to work irregular hours and participate in on-call schedule.

Specialized knowledge, licenses, etc: Licensure is required (LPC, LISW-CP or LMFT). Must have working knowledge of family systems, childhood developmental and attachment theory, psychopathology, knowledge of trauma informed care and the effects of trauma, behavior management, understanding of the Latino/Hispanic culture, and psychotropic medications. Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a valid driver’s license.

Preferences (Optional): (Preferred attributes for the position, which are not absolutely required in the minimum qualification - e.g. masters degree, bilingual). N/A

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Usual office conditions apply; sitting at desk in front of computer for extended periods.

2. Ability to bend, stoop (to floor), reach overhead.

3. Ability to lift and carry minimum of 10 pounds.

4. Driving to various locations may be required. Travel will be within LSC geographic footprint and will not exceed 20% of time.

5. Ambulatory throughout all locations