Lead Therapist (MST-CAN) 9/18/24Full Time--Manhattan

Job ID: 007310

Description:

Manhattan Family Services Center (60 Lafayette St, 3rd Floor)

$66,400 - $68,400

Children’s Aid offers a continuum of short-term, evidence-based interventions of varying levels of intensity in four boroughs. The prevention services continuum consists of Family Support, Therapeutic Interventions and Family Assessment Program (FAP) services, as well as the Safe Way Forward Program for families impacted by Domestic Violence. Our prevention service interventions help families avert current, future or repeat involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

MST-CAN(Child Abuse and Neglect)**is a therapeutic program in our Prevention continuum of services. It is a home-based intensive therapeutic model for families in the five boroughs where abuse and/or neglect has put the family at risk of having their children placed outside the home. The model is parent focused and uses a multi systemic approach with clinical interventions designed to address abuse and neglect and reduce other risk factors. MST-CAN works with families with children ranging in age from 6-17. The model works with the family’s entire ecology to effect change and broaden support.

Position Summary:MST-CAN Lead Therapistis responsible for providing model adherent, culturally competent, clinically oriented, short-term treatment to Families on our Specialized Teen Multi Systemic Therapy- Child Abuse and Neglect (MST- CAN) program. They also provide supervisory support to the staff and assist the supervisor with program oversight. MST-CAN lead therapists report to the MST-CAN supervisor.

MST- CANis a clinical, evidence-based intensive family therapy model of approximately 6-9-months duration. This program works with the whole family with a focus on the parent and working with them to improve family functioning utilizing such tools as TF-CBT, prolonged exposure, drug treatment and family therapy techniques. Our MST-CAN program is exclusively home-based and works with the whole family unit. **

Essential Duties:General responsibilities for the position of anMST- CAN**Therapistwill include, but are not limited to:

• Understand and promote the organization’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.

• Carry caseload of approximately 4 MST-CAN cases.

• Fulfill all OCFS, and ACS accountability requirements including timely completion of FASPs, Progress Notes and Plan Amendments.

• Comply with all ACS timelines for outreach on new cases.

• Complete all home-based contacts and seek to maintain 10-12 case work contacts per month per family as specified by the model.

• Attend all MST-CAN trainings as required as well as all mandated ACS trainings.

• Participate in all weekly Group Supervision and Consultation sessions with MST-CAN Supervisor and MST-CAN consultant.

• Complete all MST-CAN documentation in a timely manner.

• Conduct MST assessment including review of referral information, identifying and engaging key participants, identifying systemic strengths and weaknesses, and developing an analysis of the fit of problem behaviors within the ecological context.

• Engage primary caregiver and other key participants in active change-oriented treatment by identifying and overcoming barriers to engagement.

• Implement a problem conceptualization, treatment planning, intervention implementation, outcome review and strategy revision procedure using the MST Analytic Process.

• Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts that promote peer and supervisory review and feedback, and that demonstrate compliance with the nine MST Principles and the MST Analytic Process.

• Collaborate with all relevant systems and key participants within each system to ensure their buy-in and cooperation throughout MST-CAN treatment.

• Provide direct clinical treatment using methods compatible with MST principles and practices.

• Build a relationship with community stakeholders (i.e., child protection services, Guardians, judges, schools, etc.) to ensure cooperation among service providers.

• Be available by phone 24/7 or as needed to respond to client crises. This includes ability to conduct sessions on weekends as needed, to accommodate client availability.

• Ability to work flexible hour, including working remotely in the field, community or various CA offices to meet the needs of families and improve efficiency and management of time and resources.

• Participate in all FTC’s as prescribed by ACS.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

General responsibilities for the position of anMST- CAN LeadTherapist**will include, but are not limited to:

• Conduct all duties as indicated in the job description of the MST Therapist above with a case load of four.

• Cover group supervision/ consultation for supervisors.

• Assist the supervisor with training and best practice. This may include but is not limited to: teaching staff how to complete weekly paperwork, and assisting in writing MST CAN paperwork, FASPS, treatment progress reports, teaching best practice to existing staff. This will be done individually and or through the scheduling onboarding classes.

• Provide shadowing experiences with feedback to newer or more seasoned workers.

• Support supervisors in attending/facilitating joint home visits with therapists.

• Cover supervisors in attending FTCs/ERCs/CSC.

• Work with supervisor to create relationships with stakeholders to help ensure a steady flow of cases. (outreach, training).

• Assist with assigning cases to therapists in the absence of the supervisor.

• Oversee on-call schedule for therapists.

• Provide emergency on-call coverage for the supervisor when needed.

• Opportunity to supervise 1 staff person/ with oversight by supervisor.

• Attends leadership meetings.

• Assist supervisors with compliance monitoring- promis/connections matching, case record review, and MSTI monitoring and input.

• Assist with managing CCW assignments.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

*The Lead Therapist will be required to take the MST-CAN supervisory course. *

* Minimum Qualifications:*

• At least 1-year of MST-CAN experience required; 2 years preferred with fidelity ratings that meet or exceed the standards set forth by the model.

• Meets or exceeds all compliance expectations.

• Master’s degree required in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or a related subject area- Progression towards license preferred.

Key Competencies:**

• Bilingual in English/Spanish is preferred but not required.

• Demonstrates an ability to lead.

• Ability and willingness to work with families and teens in the home, school and other appropriate settings in the community.

• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends as needed.

• Ability to work independently, as well as contribute to a team.

• Strong clinical skills and ability to work under pressure with high-risk, crisis-oriented cases.

• Very good interpersonal/communication skills, including ability to write well and meet copious amount of documentation in a timely manner.

• An evaluation with Overall Exceeds expectations.

• Computer literate.

• Direct use of pragmatic (i.e., structural, strategic and functional) family therapies.

• Individual therapy with children and adults using cognitive behavioral techniques.

• Marital therapy using behaviorally-based approaches.

• Substance abuse treatment for adults and children using behaviorally-based approaches.

• Behavioral therapy targeting behavioral change in children at home and school.

• Trauma treatment for adults and children using exposure, cognitive therapies, and stress inoculation training.

• Implementation of interventions within or between systems in the youth’s natural ecology that affect or influence the behavior of youth (i.e., family, peer, school, and neighborhood)

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children’s Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.

Requirements:

Job Type Full Time

Location --Manhattan

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