Licensed School-Based Lead Clinician

Effective School Solutions•Matawan, NJ

12d•$65,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

Effective School Solutions (ESS) provides school-based mental health services to K–12 students across 12 states. The Lead Clinician delivers clinical care within an assigned school-based program, supporting students’ emotional, behavioral, and academic success while partnering with families, school staff, and interdisciplinary teams. The position also oversees day-to-day clinical operations and serves as the primary clinical point of contact for school partners. The role includes individual, group, and family therapy; intake, diagnostic, and clinical assessments; family support; risk assessment and crisis intervention; and coordination of referrals when students need a higher level of care. The Lead Clinician develops and implements individualized, evidence-based treatment plans, provides consultation and training on mental health and trauma-informed practices, maintains compliant clinical documentation, and ensures the program aligns with ESS clinical and operational standards. ESS describes a school-day schedule with no weekend or on-call requirements, occasional evening hours as needed for family engagement, and a lighter summer schedule of 10 hours per week for five weeks with full-time pay. The starting salary range is $65,000–$75,000. ESS also cites small caseloads, ongoing supervision and clinical support, free CEUs, and comprehensive benefits.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related field.
Active clinical license (e.g., LCSW, LPC, LMFT) in the state where services are provided.
At least 3 years of experience working with children and/or adolescents with behavioral and emotional needs.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound clinical judgment, and problem-solve effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Experience working with schools, families, and community-based services.
Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in clinical documentation and electronic systems (e.g., EMR, Microsoft Office), with the ability to maintain accurate and timely records.

Nice To Haves

School-based experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide individual, group, and family therapy, as well as intake, diagnostic, and clinical assessments.
Partner with families and facilitate parent support programming.
Conduct risk assessments and crisis intervention, ensure student safety, and coordinate referrals to appropriate levels of care when needed.
Develop and implement individualized, evidence-based treatment plans supporting students’ emotional, behavioral, and academic success.
Oversee the day-to-day clinical operations of the assigned school-based program.
Serve as the primary clinical point of contact for school partners.
Collaborate with families, school staff, and interdisciplinary teams to deliver coordinated care.
Provide consultation, coaching, and training on mental health and trauma-informed practices.
Participate in team meetings, supervision, and ongoing professional development.
Maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation in accordance with regulatory, ethical, and organizational standards.
Maintain active licensure and uphold ethical practice, reliability, and a strong professional presence.
Monitor program performance and ensure alignment with ESS clinical and operational standards.