"Mental Health Specialist IV Per Diem - Multiple Vacancies"

Position Summary

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Per Diem Mental Health Specialist IV for the Child & Adolescent Services – School Based Program within Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

The primary purpose of the per diem Mental Health Specialist IV is to participate as a member of the School Based Program's staff assisting with therapeutic and special education services to children.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary staff team implementing each child's treatment plan.
• Maintains appropriate boundaries with children and families. Interacts with children and family members therapeutically with empathy and respect.
• Maintains cooperative and respectful working relations with co-workers.
• Provides behavior crisis prevention and intervention, as needed, including personal restraints (once trained) and conducting debriefing discussions.
• Assists in providing therapeutic activities.
• Provides ongoing supervision of children individually and in groups at arrival, dismissal, during lunch, and throughout the day.
• Observes children carefully and shares observations with other members of the staff team.
• Completes required clinical documentation thoroughly and on time.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Successful completion of a one (1) year training program as a Mental Health Specialist Trainee or one (1) year of similar full-time experience in the mental health field.
• An Associate's Degree, preferably in a related field, including 12 credits in human services, such as psychology or its equivalent, may be substituted for the minimum requirements of this position.

Equipment Utilized

Computer knowledge.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Employee must be physically active and be on feet most of the day. Duties may involve running and playing active games with children and adolescents (4 – 21 years). Following training, employee must be physically capable of safely providing personal restraint to agitated children.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Crowded and moderately noisy conditions with children, adolescents, and staff moving about.

Special Conditions

• Must undergo criminal history background check at employee's expense, as required by NJ State Law