HANCOCK COUNTY SCHOOLS

NEW CUMBERLAND, WEST VIRGINIA

POSITION: MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION: To work in collaboration with school administration, counseling staff, nurses, school psychologist, specialists and instructional staff to address the needs of at-risk students in an alternate education setting.

QUALIFICATIONS: A Master’s degree in Social Work or Counseling from an accredited college or university and current West Virginia Social Work License and/or LPC

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Mental Health Specialist is responsible:

  1. Maintain current list of community resources.
  1. Increase parental involvement through parent workshops, home visits, and mentoring.
  1. Use assessments to determine needs of students.
  1. Create plans (ILPs) to support students on an individual basis who are in crisis or having academic, attendance, social, emotional, or behavioral issues in the classroom.
  1. Maintain documentation for each student that is current with all treatments and programs administered.
  1. Maintain confidentiality of student and family information.
  1. Conduct trainings and in-services for school staff.
  1. Report any suspected abuse and neglect as required by state code.
  1. Obtain and maintain Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (CPI) Certification.
  1. Provide counseling and other support services to students and or groups
  1. Make referrals to other agencies, mental health centers, vocational rehabilitation, or other sources of assistance.
  1. Participate in IEP, Attendance, and/or Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings

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Mental Health Specialist (Continued)

  1. Make home visits to engage parents/guardians to work with the school to improve the educational success of student. Provide family information and counseling/referral services.
  1. Work with students to identify career interests. Conduct a vocational diagnostic interview, career interest inventory, etc. Assist students in the utilization of CFWV.
  1. Provide vocational counseling to help student identify an appropriate vocational goal.
  1. Help students formulate a plan on how to reach their vocationalgoal.

Q.Assist the school in providing a staff development program for teachers and other school personnel regarding the needs of the students, appropriate dropout prevention strategies and the implementation of successful programs or strategies that enhance the needs of at-risk students.

  1. Assist the school in monitoring and increasing attendance among at-risk students, reduce truancy, tardiness, and frequent absenteeism.
  1. Assist the school in securing outside resources, volunteers, private business support and other in-kind services from sources located out of the education system.
  1. Makes provisions for being available to students and guardians for education related purposes outside the instructional day when requested to do so under reasonable terms.
  1. Working to establish and maintain open lines of communication with students and their guardians concerning the broad academic and behavioral progress of all assigned students.
  1. Arranges and coordinates off-campus learning experiences for students, when appropriate, and accompanies students engaged in off-campus activities.
  1. Other duties as assigned.