"School Social Worker"

Overview

This is a clinical school social work position at the Cedarhurst School, an approved, private, therapeutic middle and high school in Hamden, operated by the Department of Psychiatry. The School Social Worker provides social work and clinical services to adolescent and young adult students and their family members both in their homes and in this special education/therapeutic school. Responsibilities include: Maintain a caseload of students specific to the School Engagement Program (SEP). Complete mental status examinations, identify mental health needs of and provide individual counseling to students. Facilitate therapeutic groups. Provide crisis triage and intervention with students, including hospital referral when indicated. Develop and report progress on the therapeutic aspects of the IEP and collaborate with teachers/advisors on oversight of the entire IEP document. Complete intake assessments (tours, interviews, shadows) and intake documentation, including admission reports. Maintain regular contact with parents/guardians and provide weekly family/parent sessions.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. State of Connecticut Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or eligibility to obtain such licensure.
2. Proven ability to conduct detailed psychosocial assessments and develop multi-disciplinary treatment plans, documented within an electronic medical record.
3. Ability to assess and treat adolescents and adults with mental health, substance use, and behavioral problems using evidence-based practices such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
4. Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, with strong verbal and written communication abilities.
5. Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Ability to work independently.
2. Effective decision-making and problem solving skills.
3. Excellent interpersonal skills.
4. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
5. Driver's license and personal vehicle.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Plans, coordinates and implements individual, group, and couples’ therapy for students in University outpatient clinic.
2. Conducts patient evaluations and assesses patients’ acceptability for psychotherapy programs and develops initial disposition planning.
3. Establishes positive relationships with patients in order to administer the appropriate treatment.
4. Provides family meetings as appropriate.
5. Maintains patients’ charts and reports.
6. Participates in mental health 24-hour emergency coverage.
7. Provides educational and consultation services to undergraduate residential colleges and professional schools.
8. Provides mental health outreach to Yale community.
9. Develops materials for educational programs and seminars for professional staff.
10. Interacts with internal contacts such as patients, patients’ families, clinicians, medical staff, and administrators regarding treatment of individual patients and implementation of clinical programs.
11. Interacts with external contacts such as clinicians in private practice, mental health institutions, university deans, hospital psychiatrists and clinicians and hospital administrators.
12. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Master’s Degree in Social Work and one year of experience providing clinical care.

Salary Range

$68,000.00 - $120,500.00

Location

871 Prospect Street, Hamden, Connecticut