Clinical Director of Counseling and Family Support Services
Organizational Summary:
The Children’s Place is Kansas City’s specialized trauma treatment agency, partnering with children from birth to eight years old and those in their lives as they heal from life’s deepest hurts. For nearly 50 years, The Children’s Place has been a leader in the children’s mental health field both locally and nationally.
The Children’s Place building is state-of-the-art, that was custom built for our programs and mission. This move was years in the making and has ushered in a new era of growth as we are now able to serve more children and families than ever before.
Organizational Culture:
We offer flexible working arrangements and emphasize the importance of employees caring for their own mental health. We work hard and also value play, with lively staff birthday celebrations, an annual appetizer cookoff for the Super Bowl, free tickets to agency events and other celebrations. Most importantly, our team is unified around a passion for helping children heal from their hurts and thrive in life.
Program: Counseling and Family Support Services
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Vice President of Program Administration, supervises four-six mental health therapists and one parent educator
Position Summary: Supervise and manage the Outpatient Counseling and Family Support staff to ensure high-quality and effective services are being provided to young children and their caregivers who have experienced traumatic events.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
I. Staff Supervision
The Children’s Place is Kansas City’s specialized trauma treatment agency, partnering with children from birth to eight years old and those in their lives as they heal from life’s deepest hurts. For nearly 50 years, The Children’s Place has been a leader in the children’s mental health field both locally and nationally.
The Children’s Place building is state-of-the-art, that was custom built for our programs and mission. This move was years in the making and has ushered in a new era of growth as we are now able to serve more children and families than ever before.
Organizational Culture:
We offer flexible working arrangements and emphasize the importance of employees caring for their own mental health. We work hard and also value play, with lively staff birthday celebrations, an annual appetizer cookoff for the Super Bowl, free tickets to agency events and other celebrations. Most importantly, our team is unified around a passion for helping children heal from their hurts and thrive in life.
Program: Counseling and Family Support Services
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Vice President of Program Administration, supervises four-six mental health therapists and one parent educator
Position Summary: Supervise and manage the Outpatient Counseling and Family Support staff to ensure high-quality and effective services are being provided to young children and their caregivers who have experienced traumatic events.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
I. Staff Supervision
- Provide both quality administrative and possible clinical supervision (on an ongoing basis) to all providers and direct reports to help them achieve program and personal performance goals.
- Monitor staff schedules, including approving leave time and professional development activities.
- Be attuned to program staff stress and burnout out levels, including soliciting staff input on ways to reduce professional stress and burnout, and increase compassion satisfaction.
- Offer guidance and resources when staff are working through client crises. Debrief when stressful sessions or encounters occur.
- Facilitate regular department meetings for the counseling and family support team.
- Facilitate team building and other activities to establish a cohesive outpatient and family support team.
- Provide leadership for direct reports and others throughout the agency, modeling effective communication and professional behavior to ensure an environment that is equitable and safe for all staff, clients, community partners and visitors.
- Coach staff to be prepared for testifying in court, advocating for clients in meetings, and guidance on professional boundaries.
- Conduct annual performance conversations and periodic check-ins throughout the year to monitor and support employees' designated professional goals.
- Coach and address performance concerns following the agency’s progressive discipline policy.
- Participate in interviews of candidates for open positions. Communicate to Vice President of People and Culture and the Vice President of Program Administration/CEO regarding all program staffing, hiring and personnel issue
- Maintain a small caseload consisting of one to two clients per week.
- Provide clinical consultation to all providers as needed to ensure ethical and trauma-responsive services are provided.
- Provide case management coverage for the urgent needs of clients when the principal staff is unavailable.
- Maintain weekly communication with Admissions staff to facilitate appropriate and timely admission to program services.
- Maintain relationships and communication with partner agencies regarding program services, collaboration and referrals.
- Learn and demonstrate compliance with all agency policies and procedures related to the clinical process.
- Skillfully allocate, monitor and utilize department resources. Actively participate in budget planning; oversee department spending and other expenses on a monthly basis.
- Assist in monitoring Children’s Place on Wheels schedules, productivity, staffing, and monetary needs.
- Monitor service waitlist and oversee the communication process with families needing services.
- Manage providers’ caseload size and weekly client attendance to ensure cancellations and discharges follow agency policies to ensure timely access to services for clients on the waitlist.
- Review weekly billing reports. Ensuring services are being recorded accurately before submitting them to the Billing Coordinator.
- Collaborate with the Grant Manager and the Accountant to ensure compliance and fiscal responsibility of grants supporting this department.
- Maintain current knowledge of government funding and earned revenue requirements for the department.
- Participate in an annual review of policy and procedures relevant to Counseling and Family Supports Services.
- Participate in All Staff meetings and Leadership Team meetings.
- Coordinate and oversee the completion of quarterly chart audits for completeness. Provide education and support to staff for any corrections needed.
- Champion the data collection process, ensuring staff are collecting data from caregivers to help monitor treatment progress.
- Be knowledgeable about and contribute to the achievement of the agency's strategic plan.
- Assist in the distribution and review of data from staff satisfaction and client satisfaction surveys. Proactively address changes in response to data.
- Work collaboratively with others to assist in the collection, interpretation, and oversight of client outcomes, waiting times, attendance, and discharge data
- Participate in the preparation and maintenance of program accreditation (Joint Commission)
- Maintain current clinical licensure and certifications.
- Assist in integrating and perhaps supervising Clinical Fellows and interns into meaningful learning experiences.
- Create professional development plans for each direct report and coordinate financial access to ensure staff receive the training and expertise needed to deliver high-quality services.
- Conduct presentations and participate in community educational panels on behalf of the agency as requested and scheduling allows. May occur onsite, off-site, or virtually.
- Effectively represent The Children’s Place by regularly attending professional meetings as needed in the community.
- Establish or enhance community partnerships to support a network of resources for the agency and clients.
- Develop, monitor, and adjust programs to ensure services meet clients’ therapeutic needs as funding and staffing permit.
- Maintain a high level of clinical knowledge about the current treatment of trauma and provide ideas and guidance to leadership when program decisions are being made.
- Modify program services based on client feedback, outcome data, and professional development opportunities.
- Create and integrate effective program components, including:
- Providing research or evidence-based treatment
- Involving caregivers in the treatment planning and treatment process (when possible)
- Utilizing strengths-based treatment planning
- Implementing trauma-responsive interactions and interventions
- Providing culturally responsive services to eliminate inequity and increase access
- Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or related field.
- Registered Play Therapist or Registered Play Therapist Supervisor Certification strongly desired.
- Current Missouri clinical licensure in social work or counseling.
- Be an approved provider of clinical supervision in a specific discipline
- Trained in Reflective Supervision strongly desired.
- Minimum of five years clinical experience
- Minimum three years supervisory/management experience
- General knowledge of the signs and symptoms of child abuse and/or neglect
- Knowledge of the role of a mandated reporter and the child welfare system
- Demonstrate a high level of knowledge about child development and mental health treatment of children under the age of 10 and caregivers.
- Demonstrate a high level of ethical integrity.
- Demonstrate a high level of initiative. Eagerness to take responsibility to achieve goals.
- Use appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to develop interdisciplinary team camaraderie and cooperation.
- Ability to interact professionally and effectively with clients, families, staff, board, and community partners. Demonstrate respect and responsiveness to cultural differences.
- Willingness to manage difficult child behaviors.
- Physical ability to lift young children and engage in play activities on the floor without restriction.
- Proficiency of the English language, both verbal and written.
- Ability to be solutions-focused and build consensus. Also be able to communicate assertively and effectively to solve problems within a multicultural environment.
- Knowledge and ability to demonstrate organizational and time management skills.
- Demonstrated track record of accuracy, timeliness, dependability, and attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality regarding records, clients and sensitive data.
- Competence and ability to utilize technology and demonstrate competencies in the use of Microsoft Office Suite of programs and the use of Canva.
- Working Conditions:
- Ability to work and travel within the community without restriction. Some community travel.
- One evening (until 7 pm) per week is required.
- Ability to access multiple levels of buildings.
- Be responsible for client's physical safety.
- Must understand and follow building security procedures.
- Business casual office attire.
- Exposure to childhood illnesses. Flu and COVID vaccination strongly recommended.
- Exposure to sensitive client subject matter.
- Exposure to vicarious trauma.
Performance will formally be evaluated by the Vice President after initial 90 days and annually thereafter.
Disclaimer:
Other duties will be required/requested for effective job performance. This is not a contract for employment but an outline of essential functions and expectations.
The Children's Place is an equal opportunity employer that makes employment decisions regarding individuals and employees on the basis of their qualifications without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran, or other status protected by law.
Job Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $75,000 - 99,999
