Child Advocacy Center for the 23^rd Judicial District:   JOB DESCRIPTION

Title:   Therapist

Salary: $57,000

Reports to:      Executive Director

SUMMARY:

This is a highly responsible professional position providing counseling services for primary and secondary child victims of physical and sexual abuse and severe neglect. Duty locations are primarily focused in Dickson and Humphreys counties in Middle TN with additional travel required to Cheatham, Houston, and Stewart counties as needed.  Duties include child victim assessment; diagnosis; development of individual treatment plans consistent with professional standards and clinical pathway; provision of individual, crisis, and group play therapy appropriate for child victims; maintenance of case files; and participation in multi­disciplinary team work.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Works on own initiative or in conjunction with the Center’s Executive Director to meet program goals.
2. Assists in writing program narratives, objectives, outcomes, etc. for contracts and grants as needed.
3. Provide counseling activities including but not limited to: promoting communication and social interaction, play therapy, behavioral modification, behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, mental health, counseling sexual abuse victims
4. Attend trainings, conferences, client meetings and other meetings as assigned or scheduled
5. Provides services for primary and secondary victims of child abuse.
6. Attends CPIT and multidisciplinary meetings as needed in all counties monthly.
7. Provides reports to Executive Director on cases and demographics.
8. Conduct client intake; assess client’s presenting problems
9. Maintain client records according to the grant requirements and follow all procedures on client documentation and care.
10. Maintain high level of ethical conduct regarding confidentiality, dual-relationships and professional stature as well as ethical boundaries with clients, families, and others.
11. Communicate consistently and effectively with family.
12. Assists Senior Therapist/Intern Program Director with interns in the therapy program as needed.
13. Makes appearances and delivers public addresses on the Center and child abuse awareness as needed.
14. Writes protocols for therapy.
15. Regularly meet with other staff therapists and team members (as needed) to review cases.
16. Performs other related work as required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Completed or nearing completion of Master’s degree with an emphasis on child psychology (subject to Exec Dir review of program progress).  Licensed mental health therapist or currently working towards licensure with a minimum of 6 months of experience working with child abuse victims.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze and interpret general periodicals, professional journals, agency procedure manuals and contracting source regulations. Ability to write progress notes, reports and program specific procedures. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, associates and the general public. Verbal and communicative skills are extremely valuable, as facilitating groups and implementing other creative modes are essential tools of this job for educating youths.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. Ability to use a computer for word processing and basic data collection is necessary.

CLINICAL LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, REGISTRATIONS:

Clinical license preferred but proof of significant progress towards obtaining license will be considered.  Valid driver’s license and proof of current insurance required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds of materials and at times lift and/or move up to 25 pounds of equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Mental Health Therapist is a full-time position working 40 hours per week. The position is grant funded and the employee will work flexible hours to meet the needs of the clients; this includes mandatory and necessary evening hours to accommodate client schedules. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to at-risk youths. Assignment of work sites may vary depending on overall program need(s). Local travel may be required as a part of this job.

Position Type:  Exempt – Professional

Requirements:  Master’s in relevant field required.  See clinical license requirements above for additional info.  A valid driver’s license, background check, and drug test is a requisite of employment with the 23^rd CAC.

Duty Location:  Teletherapy and on site at 23^rd CAC Waverly, TN office, the Charlotte, TN office, other ancillary spaces as needed, and schools.

Schedule:   *schedule subject to change due to required client hours in the evenings

JOB OVERVIEW:
Are you a compassionate listener with a strong knowledge of Hamilton County’s social services? Join our dedicated team at the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC)! The Family Advocate role involves providing crucial advocacy, crisis support, and case management services to child victims of abuse and neglect, as well as their families and caregivers. Day-to-day responsibilities include guiding caregivers through the process of working with CAC, law enforcement, and the Department of Children’s Services during investigations. Advocates also facilitate connections to community resources tailored to each family’s needs. Administrative duties include preparing client intake reports and entering data into our database.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
• BA/BS in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, or related field; or four (4) or more years of relevant work experience.
• At least two (2) years of practical experience working with children and families.
• Experience in child abuse, sexual assault, child protective services, law enforcement, or domestic violence is advantageous.
• Ability to think quickly and adapt to meet client needs.
• Candidates must demonstrate empathy for families experiencing trauma, exceptional interpersonal skills, meticulous organizational abilities, and proficiency in technology.
• Proficiency in Spanish is highly desired.
CAC is an equal-opportunity employer.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE JOB:
• Full-time position.
• Salary range: $42,000-45,000.
• Required trainings provided by CAC.
• Background check and fingerprinting required.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
• 15 days Paid Time Off and 11 paid holidays upon hire.
• Benefits after three months include medical, dental, and vision insurance (90% coverage by CAC), life insurance, and short-term disability insurance (100% covered by CAC).
• Retirement plan eligibility after three years of employment.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED:
Please submit a resume and cover letter to Mkelly@cachc.org by Friday, July 5th, 2024

Position Title: Full-Time Therapist
Position Location: Columbia, TN as well as travel to Giles, Lawrence and Wayne Counties
Supervisor: Lead Therapist
Kid’s Place – A Child Advocacy Center
Kid’s Place is the Child Advocacy Center serving the 22nd Judicial District including Giles, Lawrence, Maury, and Wayne Counties in Tennessee. The mission of Kid’s Place is to provide hope, help, and healing to children and families impacted by sexual and severe child abuse.
Position Description:
The full-time Therapist is responsible for utilizing evidence-based therapy modalities to deliver individualized therapeutic services to children and caregivers who have experienced trauma related to allegations of severe child abuse. The therapist is expected to stay current on the literature of best practices and seek training that would best accommodate the needs of our clients, building a robust repertoire of therapeutic modalities. This position is for the Maury County location of Kid’s Place, but will travel to other locations as needed.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Position:
Duties and responsibilities include, but may not be limited to the following:
•
Monitor compliance to legal guidelines, internal policies and quality standards
•
Maintain strict standards of confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and ACA standards
•
Provide evidence-based treatment to clients
•
Maintain accurate client records in electronic health records and the client tracking database
•
Complete annual training specific to victim compensation
•
Complete annual Title VI training online
•
Maintain current continuing educational requirements as mandated by clinical discipline
•
Stay current in research of best practices of child sexual and/or physical abuse
•
Provide crisis counseling to child clients and protective caregivers as needed regardless of therapy status
•
Follow up via telephone or letter when 30 days has lapsed since a client’s last therapy appointment
•
Refer protective caregiver to Family advocate and/or outside resources as needed
•
Travel to and from the main location in Lawrenceburg and other satellite locations
Education and experience:
A minimum of a master’s degree in social work or mental health counseling required with licensure or working toward licensure. Three years of experience working directly with children is required. TF-CBT required, EMDR and RPT preferred.
Knowledge, skill, and abilities:
Knowledge, skill, and abilities for this position include but are not limited to the following:
•
Ability to work as team player with CAC staff members
• Ability to work in a professional manner with members of many other agencies
• Beginning (basic) knowledge of the dynamics of families where abuse and/or neglect is
occurring
• Knowledge of the stages of child development
• Knowledge of community resources
• Skills in providing crisis intervention services to families
• Must demonstrate professional oral and written communication skills
• Must have working knowledge of computers and the ability to manage up-to-date caseload
Information in agency’s database
• Ability to analyze and evaluate the community’s resources for families and barriers that
prevent families receiving prompt and/or immediate service
• Sensitivity to diversity issues.
Specialized and on-going training will be provided.
Other requirements for employment:
Persons in this position must have a working cell phone, reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, provide proof of automobile insurance, acceptable driving record, and must pass an extensive criminal background check.
Work schedule:
The person in this position will be required to work a minimum of 37.5 hours each week. The schedule will be set by the Executive Director.
Benefits:
Full-time employees are awarded annual leave within the first year of employment; paid holidays and sick time. Additionally, Kid’s Place offers health benefits to all full-time employees.
Diversity/EEO Statement: Kid’s Place Child Advocacy Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
To Apply:
Interested Applicants should email Cover Letter and Résumé to:
Charlsi Legendre, Executive Director
clegendre@kpcac.org
Subject line: Full-time Therapist
No phone calls please.

The Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center is seeking a Forensic Interviewer in West Tennessee.  If you or someone you know of might be interested, please call Lisa Schmidt at 731-697-5509.

Responsibilities and Expectations:
Conducts developmentally and culturally sensitive forensic interviews of children in a legally sound manner.

Assists with facilitation, coordination, and scheduling of the forensic interview process.
Provides forensic interviews in accordance with all CAC and National Accreditation standards.
Communicates effectively on behalf of the agency.
Functions collaboratively within all levels of the organization including partner agencies and within the community.
Testifies in court proceedings when a subpoena is issued.
Participates in peer review.
Attends local, statewide, and national trainings as required and deemed appropriate.
Ensures timely and accurate data entry into the tracking system (NCA Trak).
Submits statistical reporting on a monthly basis. Assists in semi- and annual grant reporting in both statistical and narrative format.
Submits narrative summation of forensic interviews in the form of a Disclosure Information Guide.

Skills and Abilities:

Demonstrates the ability to relate to children and adults of all ages, culture, race, socio-economic, psychological, and developmental backgrounds.
Must be able to cope in highly tense situations and conduct self in a professional manner.
Requires knowledge of dynamics of child sexual abuse, and physical abuse, crisis management skills, and ability to function within a multi-disciplinary setting.
Requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof of automobile insurance.
Frequent travel within West Tennessee is required.
Must demonstrate the ability to communicate in oral and written forms.
Requires an ability to utilize appropriate office technology.
Performs all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in a field related to social service, education, criminal justice, nursing, psychology, or other similar profession.
Experience equivalent to three years of full-time professional work in one or more of the following areas:
Child Protective Services
Criminal Justice
Clinical Evaluation
Counseling
Forensic Interviewing or other comparable work with children.

Job Type: Full-time                     Salary: $36,000.00 – $38,000.00 per year

Benefits:
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Retirement plan
Vision insurance

Organizational Overview:

Nashville Children’s Alliance (NCA) is the child advocacy center for Nashville and Davidson County. NCA serves all children in Davidson County aged 3 – 17 when sexual or severe physical abuse allegations are reported, with the majority of referrals coming from the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). NCA is a child-focused, trauma-informed therapeutic environment designed to meet the needs of child abuse victims and their non-offending family members. NCA is involved in child sexual and severe physical abuse cases from the first allegation of abuse until after the case is resolved in court, at absolutely no cost to families. Since 1992, NCA has worked to deliver and coordinate the services required for children to feel safe, begin the healing process, and look forward to bright futures.

NCA’s mission is to provide healing and justice for children who have been abused or exposed violence. NCA is located in the Family Safety Center (FSC), a groundbreaking co-working space that facilitates services between Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), the Department of Children’s Services (DCS), the District Attorney General’s Office (DA), and various nonprofit organizations. In collaboration with these partners, NCA works with children and non-offending caregivers using three evidence-based approaches: forensic interviews, Child Protective Investigative Team (CPIT) coordination, and trauma-informed therapy.

Objectives:

The primary responsibility of the Clinical Therapist/Crisis Counselor is to provide immediate support to children who have been sexually and/or severely physically abused, witnessed domestic violence or witnessed a violent crime and their non-offending caregivers.

Major Responsibilities:

1. To provide immediate safety risk assessment and intervention to children and non-offending caregivers
2. Provide trauma therapy for a caseload of 4-5 children
3. Maintain proper record keeping for each client.
4. To attend supervision with supervisor
5. Work a minimum of two days with later evening appointments per week
6. Adhere to the center’s policies

Qualifications:

1. Master’s level degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or in a clinically-based program in a field related to the above.
2. Experience working with children and families who have experienced trauma, preferably child sexual abuse.
3. Experience in acute care safety risk assessment, suicide/self harm assessment, safety planning and coordination of care

Special Knowledge and Abilities:

• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team preferred.
• Professional licensure and/or two years post masters experience desired
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Art therapy, Sand tray therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and/or Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency Framework (ARC) desirable.
• Training and experience with family based/ attachment therapies

• Responsibilities:
• Provide daily crisis assessment and intervention to children and non-offending caregivers
• Provide safety assessment and safety planning for children
• Provide follow up phone call to client/caregiver the day after assessment
• Attend child protective investigation team case review meetings weekly to provide mental health perspective as needed
• Help lead weekly support group
• Provide weekly individual/family therapy sessions to children and siblings dealing with traumatic stress symptoms using evidenced based/evidenced informed Trauma-Focused Therapy.
• Provide individual/family therapy sessions two late evenings per week.
• Provide skill building and psycho-education to non-offending caregivers in conjunction with their children’s therapy.
• Complete intakes with caregivers including crisis counseling when necessary.
• Write clinical case notes following every client therapy session, phone conversations with caregivers, and phone conversations with other agencies (for example DCS) regarding the client.
• Call caregivers of clients to (1) schedule intake sessions (2) schedule therapy sessions, and (3) to follow up and reschedule missed appointments.
• Administer and score assessments required of all clients.
• Communicate with caregivers regarding lapse in children’s attendance at therapy sessions.
• Help clients complete and submit Victim’s Compensation applications. Provide follow- up on applications as necessary.
• Provide support for clients by being present in court when their cases are prosecuted.
• Maintain client records.
• Maintain NCAtrak records for all clients.
• Attend clinical meetings regarding administrative matters and review of client cases.
• Advocate for clients by making phone calls or writing letters to help them receive appropriate services.
• Conduct research for use in grant writing.
• Record and disseminate data for grants.
• Attend regular clinical trainings provided within the professional community in Nashville.
• Actively participate in marketing the NCA’s services and program to the community.
• Other responsibilities as determined by the Director of Clinical Programs and/or CEO.

On the Job Supervision:

1. Attend regular supervision with Director of Clinical Programs
2. Attend regular clinical meeting with NCA Director of Clinical Programs and Staff

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send a resume and cover letter to ellie.teeter@nashvillechildrensalliance.org with the subject line “Clinical Therapist/Crisis Counselor”.

Nashville Children’s Alliance is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.  NCA does not discriminate in regards to gender, race, sexual preference, sexual identity, national origin, religion, disability, age or marital status in the recruitment, selection, or placement of employees.

Nashville Children’s Alliance offers excellent paid time off and recognizes 20 holidays throughout the year. NCA provides insurance options including medical, vision, dental and life.