Child Welfare Therapist

at DCCCA in Wichita, Kansas, United States

Job Description

Essential Functions

• Responds promptly to crisis situations, documents critical incidents and is available, as needed, to clients
• Provides at least 60 hours of in-home therapy per calendar month or a number of hours as determined by contract needs
• Facilitates an initial meeting with the client and the referral source, as appropriate, within the required time frames
• Engages and works in partnership with the client to complete the initial comprehensive assessment, including a mental status exam, resulting diagnosis based on the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• Develops treatment plan goals and objectives in conjunction with the client
• Provides individual, family and/or group counseling as appropriate to client need
• Functions as a client advocate and liaison with other community services
• Monitors client progress and service provision using the established tools, and updates treatment plans based on those assessments
• Maintains the client case record, documenting all client and collateral contacts in a timely manner in the electronic medical record
• Completes discharge summaries and aftercare contacts according to agency policy
• Provides written and verbal progress reports to referring entities within required time frames
• Works cooperatively with other program staff to ensure seamless, effective services
• Participates in regular clinical supervision
• Travel to home-based therapy may require the employee to be able to regularly drive to various DCCCA locations and other business locations throughout the day including early morning or evening hours
• Decisions are made on guidelines provided by the supervisor, program standard procedures and policies, evidence-based practice model and DCCCA organizational policies
• Meets DCF timelines to connect with the family within 24 hours of referral; facilitates initial family meeting within 48 hours of referral; completes assessment-based case plan within in 20 days of referral and case closure within 4-6 weeks of referral
• Completes and analyzes initial and on-going family assessments related to safety, stability and well-being, including mental health, substance abuse, education, emotional, social and physical well-being, parenting and parent-child relationships
• Utilizes assessments to develop the case plan in partnership with child/ren and family; makes community referrals as necessary
• Builds therapeutic relationships for conflictual relationships, including domestic violence and parent child conflicts, crisis intervention and stabilization
• Provides education, and/or intervention, related to sexual abuse, domestic violence, and substance abuse prevention
• Assesses child safety and risk, initially and ongoing, assisting the family in developing a behaviorally specific safety plan and monitoring for child safety
• Meets with the family, in the home, at least two to three times per week
• Meets monthly with each child individually
• Available to assigned families 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to mitigate immediate child safety concerns and stabilize family crisis and assess the family's needs
• Documents case information, including court reports, emails and activities weekly
• Completes and submits timely court reports
• Appears and testifies in court as required
• Promotes and practices teamwork in all activities
• Fosters and maintains professional relationships with families, community partners and peers
• Completes evidence-based practices activities as appropriate

Please note this description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Candidates must successfully complete pre-employment drug screening, background screening, a fingerprint-based records search, and reference checks. Continued employment is contingent upon annual background screening and participation in an ongoing random drug and alcohol testing program.

DCCCA is a drug-free and smoke-free workplace. This position is considered a safety-sensitive position.

DCCCA, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, gender, disability, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of DCCCA to comply with all federal, state, and local laws concerning the employment of women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans, and to act in accordance with regulations and guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), in every location in which DCCCA has facilities. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, training, and any other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.