Clinical Internship

About the Role

Under the supervision of a Masters Level Field Supervisor and the District Clinical Director, this position provides therapeutic mentoring, supportive counseling, home-based supervision, and parent effectiveness training through the use of proper therapeutic interventions as delineated on the treatment plan with assigned children and families. The role involves training and supporting clients to create a therapeutic milieu.

Responsibilities

• In the first phase of internship:
  • Assists in the development and implementation of interventions to create effective skill-building activities and behavior management plans.
  • Assists in developing therapeutic relationships with clients.
  • Identifies and resolves barriers that hinder effective client care.
  • Utilizes appropriate tools to monitor client treatment by completing progress notes, incident reports, and verbally reporting treatment issues to supervisor in a timely manner.
  • Completes clinical and administrative documentation within established time frames with oversight from supervisor.
  • Participates in collaborative meetings with other professionals as requested.
• In the later phases of internship:
  • Leads individual and family therapeutic sessions and interventions as outlined in the treatment plan with support from supervisor.
  • Integrates appropriate therapy theory, concepts, and interventions in the field working with children and families.
  • Identifies and resolves barriers that hinder effective patient care with support and oversight of supervisor.
  • Develops and reviews strength-based treatment plans involving client, parents/guardians, Behavioral Health Professionals, and other involved professionals.
  • Utilizes tools to monitor client treatment by reviewing progress notes and completing assessments, treatment plans, monthly reports, and discharge summaries with continued oversight by supervisor.
  • Provides supervision to Behavioral Health Professionals assigned to caseload with oversight by supervisor.
  • Attends weekly individual supervision and comes prepared to discuss caseload.
  • Attends all group consultations (at Regional and State levels) and makes presentations on clients as assigned.
  • Works with the team to create, personalize, and update all Treatment Plans, ensuring compliance with PSC of Maine policy, state licensing regulations, and accrediting body requirements.
  • Attends all required training as scheduled.
  • Works with clients to plan for discharge and follow-up recommendations with oversight from supervisor.
  • Participates in collaborative treatment planning and coordination meetings involving schools, other providers, and parents.
  • Works with client affect, tests, applies, and modifies clinical theories.
  • Participates in court-related issues for the caseload.
  • Serves as liaison with other professionals and agencies.
• Develops their own clinical identity while performing the above duties.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an approved Human Service discipline (e.g., counseling, mental health, social work, special education, psychology, vocational counseling, rehabilitation, human services, social and behavioral health, human development, child development, or related field) from a four-year college or university. Degrees not listed will need to have course curriculums reviewed and approved before being accepted.
• Good communication skills, both orally and written.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to deliver persuasive communications on sensitive and complex issues.
• Basic mathematical skills: ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers and common fractions and decimals; ability to compute rate, ratios, and percentages and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Reasoning ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; ability to deal with abstract and concrete variables based on theory and plan interventions.
• Proficiency with personal computers, including common Microsoft Windows applications, web-based applications, and email.

Certificates, Licenses & Registrations

• Copy of diploma and/or transcripts from an accredited college, university, or other educational institution's graduate program.
• CPR/First Aid Certification (training will be provided to obtain and maintain this requirement).
• Safety Care Certification (training will be provided to obtain and maintain this requirement).
• Valid Maine driver’s license in good standing (record will be verified through Maine State Police).
• Background check through Department of Human Services of Maine (DHHS).

Additional Qualifications

• Effective organization and communication skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Reliable transportation.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to talk or hear.
• Required to use hands, and occasionally required to walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Travel to client homes is required; some travel at night may be necessary as the majority of shifts take place in the afternoons and evenings.

Work Environment

• Most work is carried out in community settings, family homes, and schools. Conditions of homes may vary and can include unsanitary environments, difficult-to-navigate roads, or busy streets with limited parking.
• Exposure to second-hand smoke, loud noises, animals, weapons, and other paraphernalia may occur in privately owned domiciles.
• Safety procedures will be trained, and individual safety plans will be developed as necessary for providing treatment in family homes.
• Some duties may be performed in a professional office setting, involving sitting and looking at a computer screen for extended periods.
• The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate.