Title: Mental Health Specialist                                                                     

Department: School Counseling

Building/Facility: District-wide 

Reports to: Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee

Employment Status: Regular/Full-Time

FLSA Status: Not Eligible for Overtime

Description: The Mental Health Specialist provides case management, diagnostic assessments, and therapeutic intervention services to address student needs that are consistent with the district’s mission and mandated requirements.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Exhibit professional behavior, emotional stability and sound judgment.
• Respond appropriately to crisis situations (i.e. emergencies, employee/parent concerns)
• Provides emergency consultation as needed. Facilitates parent, student, and staff involvement in decision-making activities.
• Conducts risk assessments and lethality screeners.
• Ensure safety of students.
• Direct the implementation of federal and state law for education of students with special needs.
• Complete diagnostic assessments for identified students.
• Provides individual, group, and family counseling services.
• Facilitates the implementation of behavior invention plans as part of the IEP process.
• Instructs teachers in mental health issues that may impact school success.
• Provides assistance to help parents improve parenting skills.
• Serves as a member of the IEP team as needed.
• Serves as a resource for RTI teams, attending meetings when needed.
• Coordinates mental health services for District students with outside mental health providers (counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers).
• Collaborates with staff to implement behavior improvement plans. Counsels students to acknowledge and manage responsible personal conduct.
• Provides ongoing communication and support for teachers. Shares knowledge and resources that enhance student learning.
• Serves as a resource for drug prevention awareness and intervention activities.
• Consults with parents as needed (e.g., telephone calls, messages, meetings, etc.).
• Coordinate activities between the school district and outside agencies.
• Monitor the progress of students receiving services provided by or coordinated by the district.
• Attend student conferences as needed.
• Advise all personnel on rules and regulations regarding all programs that relate to non-academic barriers.
• Provide in-service for personnel.
• Respond to routine questions and requests in an appropriate manner.
• Cooperate with superintendent in the development and implementation of administrative and board policies.
• Make contacts with the public with tact and diplomacy.
• Maintain respect at all times for confidential information.
• Interact in a positive manner with staff, students, and parents.
• Outstanding attendance and punctuality.
• Promote good public relations by personal appearance, attitude, and conversation.
• Attend meetings and in-services as required.

 

Knowledge

• Knowledge of barriers to learning (physical, mental, behavioral) and strategies and resources to overcome such barriers.
• Knowledge of public-school policies and practices.
• Knowledge of teaching and coordinating academic programs.
• Knowledge of writing, implementing, and monitoring behavioral management plans.

Skills

• Skilled in effective, active listening.
• Skilled in organization and problem solving.
• Skilled in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Skilled in managing one's own time and the time of others.

Abilities

• Ability to work effectively with others.
• Ability to communicate ideas and directives clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability and skill to operate various computer programs.
• Ability to access community resources appropriate to the needs of students.
• Ability to conduct crisis intervention and perform lethality screeners.

 

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate or professional degree. Master’s degree preferred in Counseling, School Counseling, School Psychology, School Social Work or Social Work.
• Valid Ohio social worker or counselor license (e.g., LSW, LISW, LPC, LPCC, etc.).
• At least three years of social work, counseling, or related experience.
• Training and/or experience in behavioral management techniques.
• Alternative to the above qualifications as the superintendent and/or board of education may find appropriate.

Physical Demands and Workings Conditions

• Regularly required to speak and hear.
• Required to have dexterity of hands and fingers.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Required to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to bend at the waist, kneel or crouch.
• Occasionally asked to push, pull, lift, or carry under 25 pounds.
• Occasional interaction among unruly children.
• The physical demands described here are a representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

Terms of Employment

This job description summary does not imply that these are the only duties to be performed. This job description is subject to change in response to funding variables, emerging technologies, improved operating procedures, productivity factors, and unforeseen events.

 

 

The Teays Valley Local School District is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.