Domestic Violence Shelter - Clinical Therapist

The Clinical Therapist provides counseling and case management services in a trauma informed care environment for women fleeing domestic violence and child witnesses of partner abuse. Provides clinical assessments for both adult and child, focused individual and group counseling with oversight of all residents case management needs, trauma recovery, and safety and discharge planning. The work schedule is flexible to include some evening hours to accommodate resident schedules.

Responsibilities:

• Provides clinical assessment of new clients, including an initial safety plan to establish short term therapeutic goals with the client, within three business days of admission to the Center.
• Work collaboratively with the client and clinical team, develop a plan of actin that includes safety planning, legal options, financial remedies, housing options, mental health and other individual goals as directed by the client’s needs.
• Working collaboratively with the client and clinical team, develops a plan of action that includes safety planning, legal options, financial remedies, housing options, mental health and other individual goals as directed by the client’s needs.
• The therapist will utilize the services of the case managers to aid them in implementing the case management plans for the residents. Provide child and family therapy services as part of the clinical staffing component to address issues of the impact of abuse on children who have witnessed domestic violence.
• Conducts and documents a full professional psychosocial assessment of each new adult client within one week of admission. Meet with the adult resident a minimum of two times per week during their stay at the Center to provide appropriate crisis intervention and counseling, engage the resident in services and integrate and coordinate all services with the resident. Identify and addresses concerns including mental health diagnosis and trauma reaction symptoms, such as sleeping or eating changes.
• Gathers information (with client signed permission) from previous treatment. Coordinate providers and make referrals to address current symptoms and future follow up, (e.g. substance abuse, psychiatrist) as needed. Work closely with Case managers to ensure that women develop life skills as identified in their plan of action; coordinates discharge and safety planning to ensure continuing services through APP or other community providers.
• Offers weekly support and parenting groups (In English and Spanish) on domestic violence education, victim recovery and empowerment in conjunction with other clinical programs and services.
• Attend weekly case consultation meetings, individual supervision and required trainings on both trauma informed care and domestic violence. Conduct care presentations as assigned.
• Ensure that clinical notes and critical incident reports are complete, timely and accurate. Maintain strict confidentiality of survivor records and information.
• Other duties as assigned. This position description may be altered to comply with the needs of the program.
• Attends weekly case consultation meetings, individual supervision and required trainings on both trauma informed care and domestic violence. Conducts care presentations as assigned.

Position Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology or closely related field, with a minimum of two years of relevant clinical experience, a portion of which should be in partner abuse or domestic violence.
• Must have a demonstrated commitment to serve a diverse community.
• Must possess a current Maryland license at the independent clinical practitioner level. (LGPC, LCPC, LMSW or LCSW).
• Must have expertise in Child and Family Therapy.

Starting pay 78K

The Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) has been helping people across the Washington metropolitan area meet emotional, social, and physical challenges for more than 120 years. A nonsectarian provider, we serve people of all religious backgrounds, races and ethnicities, helping the youngest child to the most fragile senior, from individuals to entire families. JSSA provides services and support to nearly 31,000 individuals a year through our wide range of counseling, educational, specialized employment, in-home support, hospice and nursing care, and social services. We are a growing Agency and strive to be an Employer of Choice. As such we offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a healthy work-life balance, collaborative team environment and many opportunities for personal growth and professional development. We pride ourselves on our mission to be the first place for the Jewish community, as well as the community at large, to turn for clinical and social services of the highest quality that sustain and nurture all who seek assistance. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. AA/M/F/D