Description Residential Therapist - $10,000 Sign-On Bonus Job
Under general supervision, this role is responsible for providing therapeutic treatment and case management as indicated for adolescents aged 13-17, with as needed support for the children’s program aged 6-12, as well as their families in a residential setting to support optimal emotional, interpersonal, and social functioning. The position facilitates successful reintegration into the community or the environment most appropriate to each resident's well-being.
As a member of a collaborative multidisciplinary team, this role contributes to an evolving program focused on innovation, quality improvement, and continued growth.
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Core Competencies Demonstrates the ability to form a therapeutic relationship with the residents and families. Demonstrates the ability to provide direct clinical care to residents in order to promote change according to the patient’s treatment plan. Individual Psychotherapy: Develops and executes treatment plan, provides individual therapy to assigned residents for 60 minutes/week to address clinical and psychosocial issues relevant to the resident’s diagnosis and promote change according to treatment goals.
Family Therapy: Provides family therapy as indicated for assigned residents and their families for 60-90 minutes per week to support healthy family communication and promote positive relationship dynamics Supportive therapy: Meets with resident as necessary to provide support and resolve specific task-oriented problems that may have an impact on treatment. Maintains frequency designated in the treatment plan. Group therapy: Meets with residents in didactic or psychotherapeutic group sessions to promote, through the group process, individual growth according to treatment goals.
The Administrative Team and supervisor determine assignment to groups and frequency of meetings (approximately 4-5 hours/week). Meets with the resident and reviews all assessments within 24 hours of admission to obtain an initial social service assessment. Provides resident/family assessments and participates in the multidisciplinary treatment team for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment planning, following Retreat policy and or Social Work standard.
Contacts the resident’s family, as well as outpatient providers and referral sources, within 72 hours of admission to obtain social history and collateral information, assess family functioning, collaborate on treatment planning, and begin formulating continuing care needs and plans. The assessment is documented within 72 hours of admission. Attends and participates in treatment planning sessions of assigned residents on a regular basis.
Reports consistently to the treatment team with regard to assessments and the content and focus of therapy. Documents all interactions with residents(s) in social work progress notes in the electronic medical record. Documentation will follow Brattleboro Retreat and Social Work Service policies.
Demonstrates the ability to integrate theoretical knowledge of clinical practice, group dynamics and psychopathology effectively and ethically in treatment. Within three months of hire, must exhibit competency in facilitation of evidence-based practices utilized by the Retreat, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team that includes psychiatry, psychology, nursing, teacher, and direct care staff.
Synthesizes and conveys relevant information orally and in writing. Familiar with community support systems, health care and human service resources, courts and police, etc. Demonstrates understanding of substance use disorders and recovery.
Provides psychoeducation, models skills and participates in the program’s therapeutic milieu in order to promote integrity of the milieu and the quality of care. Maintains effective working relationships with program staff as indicated by direct observation of supervisor. Supports program policy relating to resident care Attends and participates in scheduled program meetings Assures maintenance of treatment outcome as follows: Assesses the resident’s aftercare needs as part of the initial social service assessment or pre-admission evaluation.
Assesses family’s needs with regard to discharge plan as part of the initial family assessment. Maintains an ongoing assessment of resident’s and family’s needs to re-evaluate discharge plans as treatment progresses. Assumes the responsibility of coordinating and implementing all aspects of the resident’s discharge plan.
Maintains contact with referral sources and involved community agencies according to the aftercare needs of the resident, using professional judgment and according to the resident’s treatment plan, as coordinated with other treatment team members. Communicates treatment plans, progress to Utilization Review or directly to managed Care reviewer. Meets with residents within 24-hour window prior to discharge to assist in completing all resident outcome assessments.
Responsible (along with physician) for making decisions regarding level of care needed. Demonstrates good organizational and time management skills and ability to work in a fast-paced setting. Adheres to the Brattleboro Retreat’s code of ethics, standards for service delivery, policies and procedures as well as the State of Vermont mental health code.
Demonstrates adherence to professional standards and values according to NASW Code of Ethics or other professional Codes of Ethics to assure the provision of ethical care. Requirements
Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from an accredited graduate school of Social Work or a Master’s degree in counseling or other mental health discipline. One to two years of clinical experience in an inpatient psychiatric or mental health setting preferred. Must hold an active independent clinical license in Vermont (LICSW, LMFT, or LCMHC), or, for candidates not independently licensed (e.g., MSW-level clinicians), must maintain registration on the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation’s Roster of Non-Licensed and Non-Certified Psychotherapists prior to employment.
Must accept a flexible 40-hour workweek scheduled to meet the needs of residents and families within the guidelines of the bargaining agreement. Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively in a dynamic treatment environment. Proficient in basic computer applications, including Microsoft Office Suite (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.) and electronic documentation systems.
Comfortable scheduling, facilitating, and participating in virtual meetings and telehealth sessions using video conferencing platforms.