PER DIEM - School-Based Therapist (LAC/LPC, LAMFT/LMFT, LSW/LCSW)

Effective School Solutions • Piscataway, NJ

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Effective School Solutions (ESS) is a leading provider of school-based mental health services, serving more than 6,000 K–12 students across 12 states. We bring the level of clinical care typically found in private practice, out-of-district placements, or higher levels of care directly into schools. We provide a full continuum of clinical programming, professional development, and district consultation. ESS has a large clinical team at NuView Academy, a state-run therapeutic school. As a per diem therapist at NuView, you'll provide coverage wherever the team needs you most. Depending on the day or assignment, you may step in for one of our 4 mental health therapists, one of our 5 Mental Health Technicians, or our Clinical Director, including collaborating with the program psychiatrist and handling administrative tasks. No two assignments are exactly alike, which makes this a great opportunity for a clinician who enjoys variety and wants to make an impact across an entire program.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or a related field
• Active associate or independent clinical license in New Jersey (LAMFT/LMFT, LAC/LPC, or LSW/LCSW)
• 2+ years of experience working with children and/or adolescents with behavioral and emotional needs
• Experience working with students with acute mental health needs
• Experience working with schools, families, and community-based services (school-based experience preferred)
• Ability to build and maintain trusting relationships with students, families, and school staff
• Commitment to high-quality, evidence-based care and best practices
• Ability to make confident, sound decisions in ambiguous or changing situations
• Comfort with clinical documentation and electronic systems such as an EMR and Microsoft Office

Nice To Haves

• Dynamic, adaptable clinician who is comfortable moving between roles and responding to changing needs throughout the day.
• Comfortable handling crises, staying calm under pressure, and building rapport quickly with students and staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide school-based mental health services, including individual, group, and family therapy, along with intake, diagnostic, and clinical assessments
• Partner with families and facilitate parent support programming
• Conduct risk assessments and crisis intervention, keeping students safe and coordinating referrals to the right level of care when needed
• Develop and carry out individualized, evidence-based treatment plans that support students' emotional, behavioral, and academic success
• Work with families, school staff, and interdisciplinary teams to coordinate care, and provide consultation, coaching, and training on mental health and trauma-informed practices
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, and ongoing professional development
• Oversee the day-to-day clinical operations of the program (when covering Clinical Director role)
• Serve as the primary clinical contact for school partners, providing expert guidance and building strong, collaborative relationships (when covering Clinical Director role)
• Collaborate with the program psychiatrist and complete administrative tasks (when covering Clinical Director role)
• Lead weekly consultation sessions to keep the team aligned on student goals and documentation standards (when covering Clinical Director role)
• Monitor program performance and keep it aligned with ESS clinical and operational standards (when covering Clinical Director role)
• Support clinician performance through feedback, coaching, and evaluations (when covering Clinical Director role)
• Keep clinical documentation timely and accurate, in line with regulatory, ethical, and organizational standards
• Maintain active licensure, ethical practice, reliability, and a strong professional presence

Benefits

• Available to per diem staff working 30 or more hours per week
• School-day schedule with no weekends (occasional evening hours to support family engagement)
• Flexible, choose-your-own commitment
• Ongoing clinical support and free CEUs
• Competitive pay

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level