Brief Strategic Family Therapist

Position Title: Brief Strategic Family Therapist (BSFT)

Department: BSFT

Position Summary

The BSFT Therapist works within The BSFT Model, a well-supported, evidence-based model for delivering preventive interventions to children and families. The BSFT Therapist will serve approximately 13 families at one time, while delivering services in home and community settings.

The BSFT Team serves families primarily Niagara County with some Erie County families. The BSFT Therapist will provide trauma-informed treatment that is sensitive to the cultural needs of the population served.

Agency

New Directions Youth & Family Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to championing the principles of anti-racism, justice, and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse cultures and backgrounds, for all positions, who will uphold our values and contribute to our mission. We aim to have a leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Benefits

• New Directions offers a competitive benefits package, including:
• 105 hours of paid time off in the first year, plus 13 agency holidays
• Medical, dental, and life insurance coverage
• 401k with up to 3% agency match

Guaranteed Raises After the First Year

Opportunities for advancement within a 100+ year old agency where over 30% of staff have been with us for 10+ years

Compensation

• $58,548 – $59,865 per year
• Offers based on education and years of relevant experience

• Hours/Schedule
• Full-Time, Monday–Friday, flexible schedule.
• Evening availability may be required based on family needs.

Professional Development Opportunities

Staff are supported through regular supervision, in-service training, and continuing education opportunities to promote professional growth.

Responsibilities/Duties

Casework Contacts:? Maintain a caseload of 13 families.? Provide weekly in person services to youth and families for approximately 60-90 minutes in accordance with BSFT Standards? Conduct a safety assessment at each home visit? Maintain a flexible work schedule, including evenings and weekends.

Child and Family Engagement:? Organize a therapist-family work team. Developing a therapeutic alliance with each family member, and with the family as a whole? Partner with families to identify strengths and problems? Develop a treatment strategy aimed at capitalizing on strengths and correcting problematic family relations to increase family competence.? Implement change strategies and reinforce family behaviors that sustain new levels of family competence

BSFT Training:? Participate in training to competency in Brief Strategic Family Therapy in order to practice trademarked model, which may include travel? Maintain certification in BSFT Model? Participate in clinical supervision related to BSFT Model, including video-taping sessions

Collaborate with BSFT Team and Community Partners:? Collaborate with team members for case coverage and consultation? Participate in regularly scheduled team meetings? Link youth/family with community supports to ensure that needed services are provided.? Collaborate with formal systems, service providers and informal networks involved with the youth and family? Communicate with Niagara County Probation Officers and Erie County Case Managers regularly

Documentation:? Input and update all necessary documentation in Net smart myEvol and CONNECTIONS? Maintain accurate and timely case records, including progress notes and tracking mechanisms, electronically and in each youth’s file? Keep all youth and family information, verbal and written, confidential

Agency Standards/Norms:? Participate in regular supervision (per New Directions policy and procedure)? Attend all mandatory in-service trainings as per NDYFS policy, Niagara County Probation and ECDSS requirements? Participate in continuing education as needed to maintain a level of expertise in the field.?

Adhere to agency and department policies and procedures? Utilize normative culture? Adhere to the Code of Ethics prescribed by the National Association of Social Workers? Perform all other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor

Skill, Qualifications, Knowledge, Ability & Physical Requirements

Minimum Education and/or Professional Qualifications/Skills Education

Master’s in a human services field specializing in mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, or other similar fields. License is required.

Must have a valid driver’s license, adequate auto insurance and meet the criteria for driving set forth in the New Directions Driver’s License policy and Auto Insurance policy.

Special – Personal Skills, Qualities, Aptitudes and Physical Requirements

New Directions Youth & Family Services, Inc is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform essential functions.

1. Ability to work effectively with clients, families, staff and community contacts from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. 2. Ability to deal effectively with children/youth with behavioral, emotional and/or mental health challenges and their families.

3. Ability to accept supervision and perform as part of a team.

4. Ability to be flexible and adapt to change.

5. Ability to interface with people (groups and individuals) and communicate within various mediums (logbooks, E-mail, telephone, written).

6. Must have excellent organizational and communication/interaction skills.

7. Ability to pass annual physical for Category 1 job classification in accordance with New Directions Employee Health policy.

8. Must comply with Agency safety standards and be responsible for own actions and conduct concerning safety and healthy working conditions.

POSITIONS SUPERVISED: none

New Directions is an equal opportunity employer committed to championing the principles of anti-racism, justice, and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse cultures and backgrounds, for all positions, who will uphold our values and contribute to our mission. We aim to have a leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.