Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Directions for Living•Largo, FL

54d•$87,500 - $87,500

About The Position

Do you envision working for a dynamic, mission-driven organization which supports the community while fostering an employee culture of appreciation and fun? If your answer is yes, then an employment opportunity at Directions for Living may be a great fit for you! The First Five Program provides trauma-informed care to support young children and their families by strengthening services within early learning centers. The program’s overarching goal is to help early learning center staff develop trauma-informed classroom cultures that promote social-emotional development and reduce the risk of preschool expulsion. Position Summary: The Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT) is a professional clinical role within the First Five program, providing trauma-informed assessment, consultation, and therapeutic services to children ages 0–5 and their families. The Clinician focuses on relationship-based work with children, caregivers, and early learning center staff through classroom and home-based observation, consultation, and intervention. The Clinician is an integral member of the First Five Intervention Team and participates in the interdisciplinary team (IDT) process, helping to identify children in need of behavioral and social-emotional support and determining appropriate service pathways based on the level of complexity and risk of expulsion.

Requirements

Active Florida license as an LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT
Experience working with young children (ages 0–5) and families preferred
Experience in early childhood, early learning centers, community-based, or home-based services strongly preferred
Knowledge of early childhood development, attachment, and trauma-informed care
Strong collaboration, consultation, and communication skills

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive assessments of young children’s social-emotional, behavioral, and relational needs through classroom and home observations
Provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate mental health interventions for children ages 0–5 and their families
Collaborate with families, early learning center staff, classroom consultants, Behavior Specialists, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop and support individualized intervention plans
Strengthen caregiver-child and teacher-child relationships through consultation, coaching, and modeling of effective strategies
Support families in developing coping strategies, routines, and skills that promote emotional regulation and positive behavior in the home setting
Identify children requiring behavioral or mental health support and determine appropriate service pathways based on level of complexity (low, moderate, or high)
Provide immediate on-site consultation and support during critical incidents (e.g., aggression, self-harm behaviors, property destruction, or other situations that could result in expulsion)
Assist in drafting communication to families following critical incidents and participate in staff debriefings to reflect on responses and improve future practice
Work closely with the First Five interdisciplinary team to provide coordinated, comprehensive services
Assist with implementation of strategies developed by classroom consultants or subject matter experts in both school and home environments
Maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation and meet productivity requirements of 120 client service hours per month
Serve as a field-based clinician providing services across early learning centers and family homes
Actively participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and case consultations
Demonstrate a strong commitment to trauma-informed care, cultural responsiveness, and family-centered practices
Maintain licensure and adhere to professional ethical standards
Willingness and ability to provide essential services during emergencies, pandemics, or disaster situations as an essential services provider