School Based Therapist

Description

About Maryland Wellness

At Maryland Wellness, we foster hope, dignity, and growth by providing compassionate behavioral health and wellness services and the skills needed to strengthen lives, relationships, and communities. Our vision is a Maryland where every individual has access to behavioral health and wellness support that empowers them to heal, grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

In Havre de Grace, families know their kids’ teachers by name and know who they can count on. Trust like that is built over years, and it’s what our young clients and their parents deserve from the people supporting them. We’re looking for a School Based Mental Health Therapist who wants to be a steady, familiar presence for the kids we serve. That means working alongside parents and school staff, and sticking with clients when progress takes time. Our team is guided by values of Compassion, Commitment, Respect, Collaboration, Transparency, and Innovation, and we extend those same values inward, fostering a supportive workplace where staff feel valued, resourced, and able to do their best work.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The School Based Mental Health Therapist provides clinical counseling and mental health services to children and adolescents within school and community settings. This position is responsible for conducting assessments, developing and implementing treatment plans, providing individual and crisis counseling services, maintaining clinical documentation, collaborating with multidisciplinary treatment teams, and supporting the growth and development of school based behavioral health services. The School Based Mental Health Therapist promotes positive behavioral health outcomes while maintaining compliance with ethical, regulatory, and organizational standards.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical Services

• Work a full time schedule of 40 hours per week.
• Conduct client assessments and diagnose clients based on individual history, symptoms, and behaviors utilizing ICD codes.
• Develop individualized treatment plans and establish measurable goals and objectives based on identified behavioral health needs.
• Provide ongoing therapy using therapeutic techniques that promote positive behavioral change, emotional wellness, and achievement of treatment goals.
• Monitor client progress, regularly review and update treatment plans, and adjust interventions as clinically appropriate to ensure services remain effective and aligned with client needs.
• Provide crisis intervention and report any potential or actual critical incident immediately to direct supervisor.
• Coach and support clients in managing behavioral health and emotional challenges, identifying and recommending additional services or resources when appropriate.

Documentation and Compliance

• Maintain comprehensive clinical records and therapy documentation within the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system.
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of all documentation within 24 to 48 hours, including:
  1. Intakes/Assessments upon admission
  2. Treatment Plans (initial and ongoing), in accordance with COMAR regulations
  3. Group and one on one notes
  4. Referrals for various additional services
  5. Discharge Summaries as needed
• Ensure all documentation complies with COMAR regulations, licensing requirements, organizational policies and procedures, and established documentation standards.
• Participate in documentation reviews, audits, and quality assurance activities as required.

Collaboration and Team Participation

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary treatment teams, internal and external providers, families, physicians, school personnel, referral sources, and community partners to support coordinated and holistic client care.
• Participate in clinical supervision, treatment planning consultations, clinical team meetings, and staff meetings to ensure effective communication, continuity of care, and successful treatment outcomes.
• Meet regularly with supervisors, at a frequency determined by leadership, to support professional development, caseload growth, and achievement of job expectations.

Program Development and Community Engagement

• Assist in building and maintaining a healthy client caseload while supporting the growth of school based and outpatient counseling services.
• Support the development and facilitation of workshops, group therapy opportunities, and innovative programming initiatives that promote client wellness and community awareness of services.
• Communicate regularly and consistently with staff, affiliate organizations, schools, families, referral sources, community partners, and external providers regarding scheduling, documentation, and client care.
• Be a positive representative of the organization by upholding standard messaging and its brand to clients, internal and external providers, referring partners, community affiliates, and any other external third party.

Attendance and Professional Expectations

• Maintain scheduled client appointments and assist with mental health emergencies as needed.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance while effectively managing an active client caseload and scheduling fluctuations.
• Demonstrate professionalism in all client, family, school, and staff interactions.
• Attend scheduled meetings or trainings on time as assigned, or communicate any tardiness or absence. Such meetings include (but are not limited to):
  1. Company wide staff meetings
  2. Assigned trainings or forums
  3. Clinical supervisions
  4. Check ins with supervisors and management
  5. Appointments with clients, providers, or external partners

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have one of the following licenses: LMSW, LGPC, LCPC, LCSW & LCSW-C.
• Ability to deliver quality of care in line with the policies and expectations of accreditation bodies such as CARF.
• Ability to effectively build relationships with individuals of all ages, ethnicities, education levels, and work experience.
• Respect for individual differences and multicultural diversity.
• Maintains confidentiality and all regulations regarding HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
• Exhibits professionalism and a friendly demeanor, and is a positive representative of the company.
• Solid written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfort with computers and technology as needed to input clinical documentation.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple clients and scheduling.
• Utilizes professionally accepted interventions and evidence based practice.
• Excellent interpersonal and therapeutic skills.
• Establishes and maintains rapport with clients and is willing to continue services regardless of client engagement level.
• Reliable, ethical, and honest work ethic.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

• Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Social Work, Professional Counseling, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of clinical experience providing counseling and mental health services.
• Experience working with children, adolescents, and families in a school based or community based setting.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATION OR LICENSE:

Must have one of the following licenses: LMSW, LGPC, LCPC, LCSW & LCSW-C. Active Maryland license required.

• CPR and First Aid certified.
• Credentialed as an in network Medicaid provider, or able to become credentialed within six months of hire.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

• Ability to bend, stoop, reach, stand, walk, and move throughout office, school, and community environments on a regular basis.
• Ability to sit and use a computer for extended periods of time.
• Additional physical requirements may apply depending on the therapeutic modality used.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform essential job functions.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Generous Paid Time Off: 120 hours of PTO annually, plus 9 paid holidays each year
• Comprehensive Medical Coverage: ICHRA plan with employer reimbursement, giving you flexibility in choosing the coverage that fits you
• Life Insurance: Automatic enrollment into MDW’s Term Life Insurance Plan at no cost to you
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: Eligible the first of the month following 30 days of employment, with a discretionary company match available after one year of service
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free, confidential support available to you and your household for the professional and personal challenges that come up in life
• Annual Incentive Plan: Eligible employees have the opportunity to earn additional incentive compensation on top of base salary
• In office training and structured onboarding, including a supported 90 day introductory period as you settle into the role
• Ongoing clinical supervision and professional development support
• A collaborative, mission driven team environment, where staff are valued, resourced, and set up to do their best work