Job Summary:

The Clinical Therapist will provide individual and group therapy to our students.

Responsible for providing clinical services to students to support social, emotional, behavioral, and academic growth.

Responsible for providing training, support, and coordination of activities within the school related to the implementation of the approved Valley Day School Clinical model, to include, but not limited to, the Sanctuary Model, CASEL Framework, as well as other Trauma informed care models.

Responsible for strengthening community engagement and communication with the school's diverse populations.

Responsible for working closely with the other members of the Clinical Team, the Behavioral Team, Teaching Staff, and Administration to produce positive outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Student Oriented:

• Meet with students on a regularly scheduled basis, typically weekly or biweekly Meet with students that have "individual counseling" listed as a Related Service on their IEP
• Provides situational therapeutic support with students who are having academic problems and experiencing social, emotional, and/or behavioral problems Completes training in the Valley Day School Model of Trauma Care which includes portions of the Sanctuary Model, CASEL Framework, as well as other Trauma Informed Care Models; may coordinate/lead training for other staff members
• Maintains open lines of communication between home and school through modalities such as, but not limited to,: newsletters, brochures, and other communication techniques
• Participates in a variety of meetings, workshops, and committees for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions and remain knowledgeable about program guidelines

Approved by Valley Day School Board of Directors 04/19/2023

• Participates as a member of the program's interdisciplinary treatment team and contributes information regarding student progress in relation to the student's general well-being
• Assists in developing and implementing individual student behavioral programs in collaboration with other IEP team members, including teachers, staff, parents/guardians, and outside agencies
• Conducts crisis intervention screenings and implements crisis stabilization procedures in collaboration with other members of the Clinical and Behavioral Teams and in accordance with established Valley Day School policies and procedures; conducts threat assessments as needed
• In the event of an emergency, communicates pertinent information to the appropriate team members (administrators/families); accompanies students in crisis situations until parent/guardian arrives
• Conducts small group meetings and leads extracurricular student activities to support student social and emotional learning, encourage awareness of social responsibility, and contribute to student's connection with the greater community

Building Oriented:

• Responsible for the development and facilitation of Valley Day School's Clinical Professional Development (clinical program, trauma-informed concepts, staff onboarding, monthly boosters, etc.)
• Cooperates with building administration as they plan and conduct student orientation programs
• Establishes and maintains effective liaison relationships with community agency resources and district representatives
• Supervises additional areas of programming, as needed and as directed by the Education Director, to ensure appropriate supervision of students
• Completes all required paperwork in accordance with Valley Day School policies and procedures, in a timely manner
• Models positive behavior and interactions; adheres to all Valley Day School policies and procedures
• Attends and participates in team meetings and faculty meetings as requested and/or scheduled
• Attends and participates in training in Valley Day School practices and procedures, as well as ongoing professional development, and applies training to professional duties Participates in training in Safe Crisis Management and applies training to respond to urgent student situations to deescalate behavioral problems
• Serves as a mandated reporter of child abuse/neglect under PA state law, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the students
• Maintains the confidentiality of students and their families/guardians Approved by Valley Day School Board of Directors 04/19/2023
• Performs other duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the building and teaching team

Minimum Qualifications/Experience:

• Possession of a Pennsylvania Dept. of State License in Social Work, Counseling or Family Therapy
• Possession of a Master's degree in counseling, psychology or social work, and a minimum of 5 years of experience in the field
• Responsible for maintaining state license and developing professional skills by participating in appropriate training sessions and/or courses
• Knowledge of psychiatric, mental health, educational, and physical disorders/disabilities and capable of applying this knowledge proactively
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions Possesses the knowledge required to create student support materials, and/or speak positively and persuasively with students to encourage desired actions; analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions
• Demonstrates the flexibility and problem solving skills required to work with staff, students, and families in a variety of circumstances. Displays adaptability/flexibility and ability to communicate with persons of diverse backgrounds/knowledge/skills
• Confident in decision making and the ability to provide direction to others Demonstrated ability in written and oral communication, with particular regard to writing educational reports and documents

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

• Possession of a Pennsylvania Educational Specialist Certificate
• Knowledge of and experience with the Sanctuary Model and the CASEL Framework Current CPR/First Aid certification
• High level of organization
• An appreciation and understanding of instructional technology
• Awareness of Trauma informed programming
• Ability to maintain a positive and constructive attitude under stressful situations Working Conditions:

Physical Demands/Requirements:

• Must be able to physically respond to student behaviors, including but not limited to: bend, squat, stretch, reach, follow students, or other approved physical interventions Must be able to implement and perform Safe Crisis Management techniques to respond to student behaviors

Approved by Valley Day School Board of Directors 04/19/2023

Expected Hours/ Shift Type: This is a 10 month, full time position with a fixed schedule Monday through Friday. Occasional evening, weekend, or on-call hours may be required. The ability to maintain punctual and reliable attendance is critical to this position.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Clinical staff may be required to supervise the Clinical Paraprofessional.

Salary:

• All salaries subject to approval by the Valley Day Board of Directors.

All employees of Valley Day School must obtain and submit to the school the appropriate clearances before their first day of employment. These documents include, but are not limited to: PA Criminal Record Clearance, FBI Fingerprint Registration Information, DPW Child Abuse Clearance, Act 168 form for present and past employment history, etc.

Applicants may apply through PA REAP or www.valleyday/isolvedhire.com. VDS is an equal opportunity employer with very competitive salaries.