Program Therapist (Social Work/Counselor) Full Time/Part-time - $3,000 Hiring Incentive

JOB SUMMARY

Program Therapists (Therapists) at The Foundation Schools employ appropriate therapeutic strategies and techniques to promote social, emotional, and academic growth with the goal of improving the students’ ability to access curriculum and be available for learning.  Therapists must provide related services in accordance with the students’ IEPs.  They provide case management for students by collaborating with parents, guardians, and outside agencies. Therapists effectively manage student behavior through implementation of behavior management systems, school rules, policies, and procedures.  

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Employ clinical strategies and techniques to provide appropriate therapeutic interventions to encourage students to be school ready Ensure counseling and behavioral support service requirements are met to maintain 100% compliance with students’ IEPs and requirements are rendered as prescribed on the IEP

Demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to adapt a variety of therapeutic interventions and behavior management practices to meet the needs of individual students; evaluate therapeutic effectiveness, document, and make modifications based on data, reflection and feedback

Assess the need for emergency petitions; ensure procedures are followed and documentation is completed accurately Conduct student functional behavioral assessments (FBAs)

Provide case management for students by collaborating with parents, guardians, and outside agencies; make appropriate referrals for needed services and look for new resources that support students’ social and emotional growth

Maintain a safe and therapeutic area that is conducive to counseling

Participate in the development and monitoring of students’ IEPs, BIPs, and FBAs including completion of required documentation within set guidelines

Complete required related service notes and billing documentation accurately and within assigned deadlines; ensure Medicaid forms are completed by parents/guardians

Provide clinical supervision to the dedicated aides assigned to the students on their caseloads to help the dedicated aides understand the students’ social, emotional, and academic profile; collaborate with these dedicated aides to develop and implement specialized interventions and incentive plans as needed

Monitor students’ attendance and truancy; develop incentive plans to address issues as needed; assess the need for and make appropriate referrals to the Links program

Demonstrate an understanding of how our students’ disabilities impact their behavior and ability to learn; display knowledge of students’ diagnoses and adapt intervention strategies accordingly to meet the requirements of the students’ IEPs and BIPs Education,

Experience and Certification Requirements

Master’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, psychiatric nursing or other related field is required

Current Maryland clinical license is required; LCPC and LCSW-C are preferred MSDE School Social Worker certification or eligibility for MSDE School Social Worker certification (LGSW or LCSW-C only)

Three or more years of successful clinical experience working with children and/or adolescents in a school setting is preferred Knowledge of DSM and IDEA and their specific applications to educating students with special education needs and emotional and other disabilities preferred

Bilingual (Spanish/English) abilities are a plus