By joining the San Diego Center for Children, you will empower children and families through transformative mental health care and educational services. Our vision is to inspire a world where children and families live joyful, healthy lives. We serve over 1,000 people every day - are you ready to make an impact?
Join us - and work with purpose!
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Team-Oriented, Multidisciplinary Approach
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Ongoing, High-Level Learning and Development Opportunities
- Culturally Diverse Environment
- Joint Commission Accredited Organization
- Comprehensive Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet)
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Retirement Savings Plan: 403(b) - With Employer Match Up To 3%
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Generous Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick Leave, Holidays)
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Wellness Programs
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EAP - Employee Assistance Program
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Tuition Reimbursement or Assistance For Continuing Education
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Employee Discounts
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Employee Recognition Program
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Opportunities For Career Advancement
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May Be Eligible For State or Federal Loan Forgiveness Programs For Work With Underserved Populations
The PHP Intake Therapist supports the enrollment and intake process for youth entering the San Diego Center for Children’s Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs (PHP and IOP). This is a key role in increasing access to this life-saving level of mental health care. PHP treatment is primarily group-based, abbreviated DBT skills along with other groups and wellness activities. Treatment length for youth is typically 3 weeks but can last longer based on medical necessity. This role assists with assessment of the youth and families’ needs, coordinating and completing paperwork (including behavioral health assessments and treatment planning), motivational interviewing and commitment strategies, and communicating with internal and external stakeholders throughout the referral and intake process. The Intake Therapist plays a critical role in ensuring that youth and families are welcomed in a trauma-informed, professional, and efficient manner while maintaining regulatory and contractual compliance. In addition to conducting intake assessments, completing assessment documentation, the Intake Therapist also assists with running groups, coverage of clinical cases and duties assigned.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist in the collection and review of required intake documentation, including psychological evaluations, IEPs, immunization records, and consent forms.
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Conduct in-person assessment/intake appointments with youth and families with cultural sensitivity and professionalism.
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Problem solves families’ barriers to accessing treatment and support connection to resources (e.g. transportation, ECM referral, etc.)
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Conduct motivational interviewing for treatment and engage youth and caregiver in commitment strategies.
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Assessment of risk to ensure PHP and IOP services can meet youth and families’ needs.
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Maintain accurate and timely documentation in electronic records and tracking logs.
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Communicate with county agencies, school districts, caregivers, and other referral sources to ensure smooth coordination.
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Ensure all required forms are completed
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Ensure compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements including County of San Diego and Joint Commission standards.
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Facilitate therapy groups and ensure a therapeutic milieu.
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Carry a small caseload and cover cases as assigned.
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Support internal reporting on admissions data.
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Perform other duties as assigned by the ICS Director.
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Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and FERPA requirements.
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Participate in internal quality improvement activities and clinical leadership meetings.
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Ensure the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive services throughout the admissions process.
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Outreach assistance to increase the visibility of SDCC’s programs, specifically represent PHP and IOP to increase referrals
- Ensure that all safety protocols are followed and immediately report any unsafe conditions or incidents to the appropriate supervisor.
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Contribute to overall program development and improvement initiatives, ensuring the program meets the highest standards of care and compliance.
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All duties as assigned
Compliance and Documentation Oversight:
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Review clinical documentation (e.g., assessments, treatment plans, progress notes) to ensure accuracy, quality, and compliance with agency, IEP and accreditation standards.
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Support and participate in audits and accreditation processes conducted by SD County, Joint Commission, and other regulatory or funding entities.
Crisis Intervention & Support:
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Assist emotional and behavioral concerns when needed by providing de-escalation and safety planning interventions (calling MCRT, PERT etc.).
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Assist when needed to support a crisis and maintain a safe therapeutic environment.
Professional Development & Continuous Learning:
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Stay current on best practices in child and adolescent treatment, trauma-informed care, cultural humility, and neuroaffirming mental health care.
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Participate in ongoing professional development activities and engage in regular training to maintain required registration and/or licensure/certifications.
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Seek learning and professional growth through feedback, mentorship, and coaching within the interdisciplinary team.
On The Job Mandatory Ongoing Trainings:
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Maintain all certifications and licenses required for the role, ensuring they remain current.
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Complete and stay up-to-date with all mandatory trainings as specified by the San Diego Center for Children, including but not limited to: Residential Counselor Training, Intervention Toolbox, CPR and First Aid Certification S.P.A. Certification, False Claims, HIPAA, Safety, Trauma Informed Care, Annual Block Trainings as assigned. Any trainings assigned.
Restraint and Safety Training Requirements:
Apply Safe and Positive Approaches (SPA) restraint techniques, which may involve:
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Lifting or holding a child in standing, sitting, or ground-level positions.
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Separating clients who are acting in an unsafe manner to ensure the safety of both clients and staff.
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Prolonged standing, bending, and transitioning youth from a standing to a seated position.
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Must pass a two-day SPA training that focuses on safely initiating a physical hold with youth presenting as a danger to themselves or others.
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It is recommended that staff be able to support up to 50 pounds.
Behavioral and Emotional Challenges:
Due to the emotional instability of the clients, the employee may be subjected to physical aggression, including but not limited to:
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Kicking, hitting, punching, biting, and hair pulling.
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Vision Requirements: Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret medical records, journals, reports, and legal documents; Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community; Ability to effectively present information to management and public groups; Ability to produce clear, concise, and clinically appropriate records.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret medical records, journals, reports, and legal documents; Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community; Ability to effectively present information to management and public groups.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to run, walk, sit and drive a vehicle. The employee must be able to move and/or lift a student when clinically necessary, and must be able to follow a student that AWOLs in a walking or running pace. Applying SPA restraint techniques can involve lifting the student, holding the student down in a standing, sitting or ground level manner, as well separating clients who are acting in an unsafe manner to ensure the safety for the clients and staff. Due to the emotional instability of the clients the employee may be subjected to kicking, hitting, punching, biting, hair pulling, etc. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
The San Diego Center for Children is committed to:
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Actively recruiting, retaining, and supporting diverse staff at all levels of the organization
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Ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in the development and implementation of policies, practices and services, and that individuals feel empowered to advance our mission within an atmosphere of trust, safety, and respect
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Encourage and provide access to professional development in order to deliver equitable and culturally informed services to the population we serve
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Must have a registration number issued by the State of California oversight board for that license: ASW/LCSW, AMFT/LMFT, APCC/LPCC, PhD or PsyD or provide proof of submission of a completed application within the BBS 90-day rule.
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Valid California Driver’s License (CDL)
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Master’s Degree from an Accredited University
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Experience working with youth and families
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Clinical experience with youth and families
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Interest and training in diversity, inclusion, equity, and action and cultural adaptations to evidence-based treatments
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Experience in PHP, IOP, or higher level of care (e.g. inpatient, residential), including experience with safety assessments and safety planning
