LCES Mental Health Professional/Counselor

Lake County is located two hours west of Denver in the heart of Colorado’s highest peaks at 10,200 feet. There are about 7,000 people in Lake County, and Leadville is the main city. Many adults commute to work in the service industry in nearby ski areas. We have a strong history of mining, adventure recreation, and outdoor enthusiasm. Lake County Elementary School consists of about 200 students in grades K-2 and also houses The Center preschool program. This position provides services to students in K-2.

Reports To: LCES Principal

Length of Assignment: 189 contract days per year. 

Salary: Determined by experience and the Special Service Provider Salary Schedule. Full benefits provided. Grant-funded for one year with possibility of continuation.

Purpose of Position: To develop students who are productive community members – demonstrating perseverance, collaboration, compassion, craftsmanship, respect, responsibility, and curiosity.  Identify and support students and staff with intensive therapeutic supports, care coordination, assessment/evaluation and referrals, and the development of a trauma informed school environment.  Demonstrate a flexible, collaborative attitude in completing the work and a willingness to be a team player to accomplish school and district goals.

Responsibilities:

Duties of this job include, but are not limited to:

• Continually assesses qualitative and quantitative data to identify student support needs and measure the impact of interventions, in collaboration with other social emotional team members.
• Teaches one section of kindergarten social/emotional support four days per week. 
• Serves as a member of LCES 1^st Responder Team for student behavior, mental health, crisis response, and social/emotional concerns.
• Provides intervention and skill building for students who have been referred by staff for Tier 1 and Tier 2 skill-building and therapeutic supports (individual or group), while maintaining accurate records.
• Reduces barriers for students and families to access services provided by community-based organizations for treatment and counseling.
• Implements age-appropriate substance use prevention education and provides evidence-based resources to school staff, students and families.
• Participates as a member of the school Multi-Tiered System of Support process to represent social/emotional and mental health perspective, as needed 
• Supports staff at team meetings to ensure that services are communicated and that teams deliver consistent structures and support for students 
• Provides professional development to promote school-wide SEL initiatives including Collaborative Problem Solving and trauma informed discipline practices
• Utilizes assessment tools to understand student strengths and lagging skills, and to determine an appropriate course of action.
• Creates and follows referral, intervention and support protocols to meet the most significant needs of all students, building upon common social/emotional, behavior, and academic goals to deliver services as appropriate.  
• Participates in family engagement efforts that support the social, emotional, and behavioral health of LCES students, including collaborating with parents for intervention and placement options. 
• Works regularly with school leadership to review and flexibly adjust schedule as needed
• Collect and maintain evidence of student progress toward identified skills (evidence may include examples of student work, data tracking documents, exit tickets, behavior charts, discipline data, and student self-reflection).
• Refer students in need of therapeutic services to community therapy resources (i.e. School based Health, Sol Vista, etc.).
• Perform Suicide Risk Assessments and other behavioral or mental health crises.
• Serves as the mental health consultant on threat assessments, on an as needed basis.
• Provides care coordination services and family outreach for students in need of or receiving outside therapeutic services.
• Participate on the District Counseling/Social Work team through monthly meetings. 
• Provide coordination or delivery of mental health minutes as designated on IEPs, in collaboration with the Special Education Director. 

• Assists in the promotion of a positive school climate and follows school norms and expectations.
• Promotes a positive professional and ethical image of the school district, social emotional and behavioral-mental health supports and special education services.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work or School Counseling required 
• Must have or be willing to obtain: CDE license required (within 45 days of hire)
• Be able to motivate, encourage, and work with Intermediate School students grades 3-6
• Experience implementing social/emotional curriculum to both classrooms and small groups
• Possess educational and professional experience in social work or counseling
• Work with students from diverse backgrounds and a variety of family situations
• Experience with educational systems and practices, such as MTSS, PBIS, and EL Education preferred
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

Logistics:

• Create schedules collaboratively with principal and other relevant staff; continuously revisit schedule with principals to refine and adjust as needed.
• Flexibly adapts to the needs of the school, students, and concern
• 40 minute lunch
• 45 minute per day for planning  
• Student supervision duties will be required, such as before and after school and at recess and lunch.
• Manage groups each day  
• A work space will be provided; it may be shared, if needed
• Evaluated using CDE School Social Work or Counseling Rubric

To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to Carlye Sayler, Healthy Schools Director.