Family Therapist, Families SHINE (Strengthen, Hope, Inspire, Nurture & Engage) Program

Job Description

Job Description

Family Therapist, Youth Development

About Lifeline Community Services

Lifeline Community Services is a premier nonprofit organization in San Diego County, dedicated to empowering individuals and families to achieve self-reliance and long-term stability. Our diverse service portfolio spans housing, behavioral health, youth development, and anti-human trafficking initiatives, operating across multiple locations.

General Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Youth Development Director, working in a team effort coordinated by the Youth Development Clinical Program Manager to provide comprehensive case management, counseling and educational services to at-risk 12 to 17 year old youth and their families participating in the Family Functional Therapy (FFT) program. Services include, but are not limited to, in-home support, parent training, crisis intervention, counseling, case management, and community education and development. Clinician will participate in multi-disciplinary team assessments with Probation, the Juvenile Court, Juvenile Recovery Specialists, social workers, parents, parent advocates and others to help determine eligibility for potential youth participants.

Requirements & Qualifications

Minimum qualifications of MA level education in the areas of Psychology, Social Work, or related field; two years experience providing services to youth and families or equivalent; and current registration with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) of California. Bilingual preferred. Candidate must possess the ability to make sound clinical decisions independently. Must be able to apply clinical judgment, ethics and accountability to formulate and implement treatment plans and other clinical documentation. Experience in Family Functional Therapy model preferred. Demonstrates the ability to handle stressful and crisis situations tactfully and appropriately. .

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

Establish and maintains effective working relationships while showing open mindedness and a collaborative spirit. Compatibility with agency purpose, goals, philosophy, and approach. Demonstrates enthusiasm and passion for their work. Utilizes a creative approach to problem solving. Interactions with others reflect a spirit of honesty, humbleness, and self-awareness. Accepts constructive criticism with a positive attitude and willingness to implement change. Ability to work well independently and demonstrate appropriate initiative. . Demonstrates the ability to practice a wide variety of treatment modalities, and to exercise discretion and independent judgment in all areas of job performance including adherence to appropriate professional boundaries. Possesses advanced knowledge that is primarily intellectual in character and includes exercising discretion and independent judgment Must demonstrate knowledge of trauma Informed, client driven, and culturally competent care.

Other Requirements

Reliable transportation. Must have a California driver license and good driving record. Willing to use own, properly insured, reliable vehicle for the job (mileage reimbursed). Employment subject to clearances, including background finger printing checks, driving record, tuberculosis testing, and drug testing

Specific Activities

• Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments
• Develop and implement strength-based individual and family case plans, in collaboration with Case Manager
• Fulfill all requirements to become certified in FFT in the time allotted
• Address oppositional behaviors, conduct disorders, and other delinquency issues including substance abuse and violent behaviors utilizing Family Functional Therapy
• Provide crisis intervention and stabilization
• Works to create a motivational environment in the family in which change can occur
• Identifies dysfunctional relational patterns and creates relevant interventions
• Identifies and strengthens positive adaptive interactions, utilizing FFT strategies and techniques
• Attend training in the unique aspects of the culture, common family dynamics, or frequently seen issues of clients in program
• Provide therapy sessions with fidelity to the FFT model
• Case conference in coordination with other mental health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and others
• Provide in-home family support, case management and treatment (e.g. nutrition, budgeting, safety, home health and support systems, appropriate referrals)
• Advocate, mentor and role-model skills for families such as discipline, communication and general life skills
• Conduct specific groups as necessary (e.g. parenting support groups, decision-making, substance abuse, anger management and life skills)
• Assist in career guidance, job skills and job placement for youth
• Provide assistance with community resources through advocacy, information and direct connections
• Conduct exit interview with family within 30 days of family's final FFT session
• Participate in component meetings and trainings
• Maintain necessary client records and statistics, and submit timely monthly reports
• Participate in case supervision and program evaluation
• Participate in quality assurance review
• Provide administrative duties and meet all contract requirements
• Knowledge of and respect for diverse cultures
• Other duties as assigned

Compensation and Benefits

Your well-being matters at North County Lifeline!

• Paid vacation
• Paid sick time
• Paid holidays (13 days)
• Exceptional medical, dental, vision, chiropractic and acupuncture coverage
• Free health and wellness programs
• Free Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance program
• Great employee incentive award programs
• Training and education assistance
• Matched 403b retirement plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Menu of optional benefits, including short term disability, critical illness, accident, hospitalization and cancer policy

Pay Range Salary will commensurate with experience and education. Differential pay offered for bilingual skills.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

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; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee may be exposed in an extremely stressful environment where there are considerable mental and emotional demands. Travel is required to the schools /client homes. Employee may be exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The employee will be required to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer.

Work Schedule

Mon-Fri (a minimum of 2 evenings until 7:30pm and 1 evening until 6pm and 3 days in the office) (nights and weekends as needed)

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

North County Lifeline DBA Lifeline Community Services ("Lifeline") is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring an inclusive workplace where diversity is celebrated and discrimination is not tolerated. We are committed to creating a workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to bring their best selves to work. We adhere to all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination and provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

In California, we extend these protections to include ancestry, medical condition, genetic characteristics, mental or physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), familial status, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, and age (40 and above) among others, recognizing and valuing the diverse backgrounds and perspectives that all individuals bring to our team.

Lifeline is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) by providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and by ensuring that our employment practices do not discriminate against any individual.

We believe that diversity fuels innovation and creativity, and we are dedicated to building a team that reflects a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Lifeline's success is built on a foundation of respect, integrity, and the collective contributions of all our employees.

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. Lifeline expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on any of the protected characteristics mentioned above.

Lifeline's leadership is committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion and ensuring that our employment environment is free from discrimination and harassment. All employees are encouraged to report any instances of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation in violation of this policy to a supervisor, HR representative, or through our reporting email.

By embracing diversity and promoting equality, Lifeline not only complies with all relevant legislation but also creates a richer, more vibrant work environment for all our employees.

As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our clients and maintaining the integrity of our workplace, North County Lifeline conducts comprehensive background and drug screening processes for all prospective employees. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Driving Record Check: Verification through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to ensure a good standing driving record.
• Employment Verification: Confirmation of your employment history to verify your experiences and qualifications.
• Reference Checks: Contacting provided references to gain insights into your work ethic, professionalism, and suitability for the role.
• Tuberculosis (TB) Screening: A TB test to ensure the health and safety of our clients and staff, in line with public health recommendations.
• Drug Screening: A 10-panel non-DOT drug test to screen for the presence of common illicit substances, ensuring a drug-free workplace.
• Criminal Background Checks: Comprehensive checks through the Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI, and Child Abuse Index to identify any history that may impact your suitability for employment, particularly in roles involving vulnerable populations.

These screenings are a vital part of our hiring process and must be successfully completed for employment eligibility. North County Lifeline is dedicated to fair and responsible hiring practices and ensures that all screenings are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, respecting the privacy and rights of all candidates. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this process, aimed at creating a safe and productive work environment for everyone.