EC Licensed Clinician

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong and communities are vibrant.

LSF is looking for a talented Early Childhood Licensed Clinician who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.

Purpose & Impact:

The Early Childhood Licensed Clinician is responsible for managing and delivering mental health support and coordinated services in a pre-school setting to assist with prevention, early identification and intervention for children and families. Responsibilities include managing the mental health aspect of the program, communicating, engaging, and collaborating with counseling agencies and local mental health partners to ensure access to services and referral process for children and families. This position is to provide a range of services; including but not limited to mental health services, training, screening, assessment, and referrals services. Responsible for the management, oversight and implementation of the trauma informed care model and practice across the program organizational structure. In addition, this position is responsible for the management and execution of an evidence-based trauma informed care model to reduce re-traumatization, promote children resilience, increase positive social and emotional outcomes, and establishes preventative and responsive measures for children and families.  This position participates in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts. 

Essential Functions:  

• Work with program leadership and staff (education, family services, comprehensive services, operations, and support services) to implement evidence-based trauma-informed systems. 
• Implement and monitor the Trust Based Relationship Intervention (TBRI), the program’s trauma informed care model. 
• Promotes social-emotional well-being through a trauma-informed infant and early childhood mental health approach by providing mental health expertise to classrooms, and situations. 
• Assess, evaluate and create therapeutic interventions to best support the child and family. 
• Assess effectiveness of the TBRI model and it’s impact on reducing trauma and its effects on children and families.   
• Provide guidance to staff on implementing and interpreting psychosocial assessment tools and findings in collaboration with other members assigned to work with the Mental Health Division of the agency. 
• Supervise the Behavior Analysts, Behavior Support Specialists, Program Specialists, Program Interns and contracted mental health staff to ensure oversight of the mental health and behavioral referral process and systems.  
• Provide guidance and model developmentally appropriate activities for children and effective ways to work with and support young children. 
• Provide behavior management training and on-site technical assistance to the centers and contracted sites. 
• Provide direct leadership and guidance with managing the behavior of children and crisis management. 
• Meet with classroom teams to review classroom observations and develop and implement plans as needed. 
• Manage and monitor mental health contracts, vendors and services.  
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meeetings. 
• Participate in the development and implementation of mental health program and policies. 
• Coordinate and facilitate parent training for TBRI curriculum.  
• Provides training and technical consultation to staff and leadership on evidence-based practices and strategies with a particular focus on childhood mental health and Trauma Informed Care. 
• Facilitate individualized child and family-centered observations & consultation as needed. 
• Conduct standardized developmental, behavioral, and/or social-emotional screenings and assessments for individual children as assigned or referred for consultation. 
• Conduct home visits to support the mental health needs of families and children. 
• Collect data, maintain records and ensure compliance with all facets of Head Start Performance Standards and state regulations. 
• Contribute to federal, state and local reporting requirements, and participate in the quality assurance efforts for HS/EHS. 
• Develop, reviews and support Behavior Intervention/Support P 
• Report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect in accordance with regulations and policy. 
• Participates in management meetings as required; works closely with members of the management team to plan, problem-solve and implement continuous improvement plans as needed. 
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures. 
• Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the supervisor 
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned. 

Other Functions: 

Note: The duties above are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform some or all of the activities described above. 

Physical Requirements: 

Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds.  Reasonable accommodation may be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. 

Education:  Master’s Degree in Social Work, Mental Health, Human Services or Early Childhood Education or closely related field.   

Licenses/Certification:  Current license in clinical social work (LSCW) or mental health (LMHC) required or an equivalent license in Family Therapy will be accepted. 

Experience: 

At least three years of experience providing mental health services in an ESE\School District, Early Head Start, Head Start or a social services environment that serves culturally diverse low-income children and families.  Experience working with community partners and utilizing comprehensive record keeping systems.  Must have the ability to identify special needs children.  Experience formulating and writing assessments and support plans, preferable for young children.  Experience with evidence-based practices and curricula to promote early childhood mental health is desirable. 

Bilingual preferred: English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area.  Also required: Certification in First Aid and CPR within six months of the date assigned to this position; and successful completion of a Level II background screening and drug screening prior to hiring. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Demonstrated understanding of infant and early childhood mental health issues related to young children ages 0-5. 
• Demonstrated understanding of infant and early childhood behavioral health. 
• Experience working with children in trauma and knowledge of trauma informed care. 
• Knowledge of human development and health. 
• Demonstrated understanding of differences in mental health services and concepts across cultures. 
• Demonstrated experience with writing clinical reports and documenting. 
• Knowledge of social services and health services available in the area. 
• Ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with service providers and families. 
• Knowledge of family-centered practices. 
• Ability to work with pre-school age children. 
• Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing. 
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence. 
• Ability to speak before groups of individuals, such as Committees and Staff meetings. 
• Ability to calculate amounts by adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and figuring percentages. 
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions. 
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. 
• Ability to make recommendations and develop implementation strategies. 
• Computer skills, including MS Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, etc). 

Other: 

Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs. 

Principal Accountabilities: 

• Team player with co-workers and central service office staff.  
• Cost effective program operations. 
• Adherence to LSF and Head Start/Early Head Start policies and management practices.  
• Effective leadership skills. 

Why work for LSF?

LSF offers 60 programs across the state of Florida serving a wide range of populations in need. Mission Driven staff members become part of the LSF community while transforming the lives of those in need. Our staff additionally find growth opportunities as they explore areas of interest within the organization.  

Amazing benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Teledoc (24/7 online access to Doctors)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employer paid life insurance (1X salary)
• 13 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday
• Generous PTO policy (starting at 16 working days a year)
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match OR 3% student loan repayment reimbursement
• Tuition reimbursement

Lutheran Services Florida embraces diversity, equity and inclusion in all business practices. LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.