About the Job
Join the team at Alliance for Community Empowerment as a Therapist II, where you'll play a vital role in delivering high-quality counseling and psychotherapy services to our participants. Working closely with the Director, you'll ensure that all services meet the highest standards of care and ethical compliance. This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve while upholding the integrity of our programs.
Behavioral Health: ACE employs a team of professional counselors to provide high quality care management and therapy services in support of its prevention, intervention, and workforce development programs. The staff of this department provides training in human services specialties across programs. and participates in monitoring and evaluating program and individual staff performance.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Diagnose and treat mental health disorders.
- Provide individual, group, and family counseling/psychotherapy, including services to those participants with more complex cases.
- Establish positive, trusting rapport with a caseload of participants.
- Conduct initial and ongoing assessments of therapy participants to develop, implement, and adjust individualized treatment plans based on their evolving needs and circumstances.
- Safely manage participants in instances of mental health crisis.
- Involve and advise family members in treatment planning when appropriate (e.g. when working with participants who are minors).
- Collaborate with participants to develop post-treatment activity plans.
- Organize, coordinate, prepare, and deliver groups and workshops for participants and their families.
- Refer participants to outside specialists or agencies for further treatment as appropriate.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation of clinical services, including session notes, progress evaluations, treatment recommendations, and data entry into participant databases.
- Supervise and provide field instruction to MSW interns, including weekly supervision, case consultation, performance feedback, participation in university meetings, completion of required documentation, and ongoing training to support clinical development and licensure compliance.
- Serve as a Preceptor for the MSW internship program (if need arises).
- Facilitate monthly Care Club meetings, engaging staff in case consultation as well as providing training on mental health related topics.
- Conduct regular clinical consultations with staff, offering expertise on treatment planning, crisis intervention, and best therapeutic practices.
- Assist the Director of Clinical Services in coordinating referral assignments for phone screenings and matching clients with the appropriate therapists.
- Serve as the alternate supervisor for DBH therapists when the Director of Clinical Services is absent.
- Develop and facilitate training (e.g. continuing education, professional development) for ACE staff and volunteers.
- Lead special projects to develop new and/or revise existing programs, policies, and procedures and support implementation.
- Assist in preparing and advocating for a program, unit/team, or budget.
- Assist in writing periodic program reports and submitting program data for funder reports.
- Attend and participate in all mandatory meetings, including group and individual supervision meetings.
- Foster positive relationships with community members, families, and partner organizations.
- Participate in cultural and community building activities/events.
- Incorporate best practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion, restorative justice, and trauma-informed care into organizational culture.
- Adhere to all safety protocols, maintain confidentiality of Protected Health Information (PHI), and ensure compliance with the appropriate Code of Ethics and applicable legal and professional standards.
- Other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Proficient at utilizing a range of evidence-based therapeutic modalities/interventions.
- Professional-level understanding of current human development and stages of change theory.
- Possesses knowledge of programs, regulations, and procedures regarding human services, social services, justice, and workforce development.
- Is familiar with standard approaches to accurate participant record keeping, including timely charting, notation formats, content limitations, and confidentiality practices.
- Is sensitive to community, cultural and personal dignity of program participants and is able to successfully engage, assess, and plan services for participants typical of the program’s target population. Recognizes appropriate boundaries and limitations on interactions with program participants and their families and the need to maintain professional standards and practices.
- Demonstrates cultural competence/cultural humility in community relations and service delivery.
- Possesses the interpersonal skills needed to promote a safe, positive, and inclusive professional work environment conducive to effective service delivery; communicates effectively both orally and in writing.
- Operates as a reliable, flexible team player who works well with minimal supervision; has a good work ethic; is able to work effectively with team members demonstrating creativity, initiative, adaptability, and the ability to accept accountability and critical feedback. Is receptive to learning and responsive to supervision. Follows established procedures and is able to contribute to their improvement with a solution-oriented approach. Willing to take direction and learn from others.
- General proficiency in navigating and using technology.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Prolonged periods standing and walking throughout facilities.
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
- Must be able to bend, lift, stretch, climb, and crawl to provide services.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Masters or Doctorate degree in social work, counseling, psychology or social science.
- Licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Services as an LCSW, LMFT or LPCC.
- Current registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
- Possess a current California Driver’s License, clean DMV record & adequate auto insurance.
- Must submit to a Department of Justice Criminal background check.
- Initial TB employment clearance required.
BENEFITS:
- Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance (at no cost to you starting after 60 days).
- Retirement Plan with employer contributions at 2% of your annual salary.
- $100,000 life insurance (at no cost to you).
- Short and Long-Term Disability insurance (at no cost to you).
- 5 days of vacation time (at one-year anniversary).
- Vacation will then accrue to 10 days vacation after completion of 2 years working at ACE and 15 days of vacation time after 5+ years of employment.
- 6 sick days a year.
- 15 paid holidays.
The anticipated pay range for candidates who will work in California is $38.46 to $48.07 hourly. The offered pay to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to years of experience within the job, years of experience within the required industry, education, etc.
Alliance for Community Empowerment provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
