Social Advocacy Clinical Counselor (Interdisciplinary Non Medical)

Commander, Navy Installations Command•Bethesda, MD

10d

About The Position

The Social Advocacy Clinical Counselor provides nonmedical clinical counseling to individuals, couples, families, and groups on family dynamics, parent-child interaction, couples’ communication, adjustment to common personal and family issues, adjustment to military life, and psycho-educational training programs. The role receives and assesses referrals for clients experiencing situational stressors, provides short-term, solution-focused counseling, develops treatment plans, and assesses and triages clients who may pose a risk to themselves or others. The counselor refers clients whose needs fall outside the authorized scope of care to appropriate behavioral health providers, coordinates with legal, medical, social-service, and military command partners, facilitates groups, provides critical incident intervention when requested, and conducts quarterly quality-assurance case reviews. As the installation Family Advocacy Program (FAP) clinical subject matter expert, the counselor advises installation leadership, medical professionals, and command representatives on clinical needs, interventions, and evidence-based treatment. The counselor provides case management; conducts risk and lethality assessments; develops safety and treatment plans; makes referrals; and follows up on child abuse, neglect, and domestic abuse allegations. The role also conducts psychosocial assessments and provides diagnostic and prognostic impressions to relevant community and health-care partners when appropriate. For problematic sexual behavior in children and youth, the counselor receives reports and provides or coordinates assessment, psychoeducational support, clinical intervention, and specialized evaluations as recommended. The counselor also represents the Navy in community liaison activities, coordinating with military and civilian agencies and supporting domestic-violence prevention and awareness efforts.

Requirements

Must possess an active, full independent-level clinical license in good standing in one of the 50 states or Washington, DC, such as LICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, LPC, LCPC, or LMFT.
Must meet FAP clinical staff qualifications under Title 32 CFR Part 61, Subpart B, PS 28, and Tier II qualification requirements described in the current SECNAVINST.
Must be a U.S. citizen or have three years of lawful U.S. residency.
Must pass employment eligibility verification through E-Verify and resolve any discrepancies as a condition of employment.
Must use direct deposit/electronic funds transfer for salary payment.
Must receive a favorable suitability determination for regular contact with children under 18 and undergo periodic re-verification of multiple-agency records.
Must have a master's degree from an accredited program in Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, or Psychology.
Must have at least two years, including at least 2,000 hours, of full-time post-master's supervised clinical experience.
Must have two years of experience assisting and providing advocacy services to victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault.
Thorough knowledge of the CNIC Fleet and Family Support Program and military lifestyles and stressors.
Professional knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to child and spouse abuse and family violence, including risk assessment and safety planning.
In-depth knowledge of family systems, abusive behavior, abuse response, substance abuse, human behavior, human sexuality, attention deficit disorder, and juvenile delinquency; ability to apply the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Expertise in evidence-based and trauma-informed counseling approaches, clinical treatment, research methods, group dynamics, motivational interviewing, developmental psychology, and family systems therapy.
Ability to apply counseling and psychosocial approaches to assess, triage, refer, and manage difficult or serious cases involving at-risk behavior.
Strong verbal communication skills for working with diverse individuals and families, presenting sensitive information, discussing cases, delivering presentations, and maintaining professional relationships.
Strong written communication skills and ability to use FFSP management information systems and applicable software and web-based programs for documentation and presentations.
When state licensing or certification requires a written examination, must have passed the examination.
Applicants should be prepared to submit a credentialing packet as soon as possible and no later than five days after accepting the initial offer.

Responsibilities

Receive and assess referrals for individuals, couples, families, and groups experiencing situational stressors and military-life challenges.
Provide short-term, solution-focused nonmedical clinical counseling using approaches such as cognitive therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and family systems therapy.
Develop and carry out short-term counseling treatment plans for clients with commonly occurring life-circumstance issues or adjustment disorders.
Assess individual and family needs, behavior patterns, mechanisms, and symptoms.
Assess and triage clients who may harm themselves or others and refer them to appropriate behavioral health providers.
Refer clients whose needs fall outside the authorized scope of care to military or civilian behavioral health providers.
Coordinate with legal, medical, social-service, and command partners to support counseling and referrals.
Develop and facilitate group treatment programs for families, including marital and child or adolescent groups.
Help individuals and families cope with common life stresses, family dynamics, parenting issues, crises, and other stressors.
Provide critical incident intervention services when requested.
Conduct quarterly on-site or regional quality-assurance case reviews in accordance with Department of the Navy policy.
Serve as the installation FAP clinical subject matter expert and advise leadership, medical professionals, and command representatives on clinical needs, intervention, and evidence-based treatment.
Provide initial and ongoing FAP case management, including triage, mandated-reporting education and compliance, risk and lethality assessments, safety and treatment planning, referrals, individualized goals, and follow-up on abuse allegations.
Identify crisis situations, provide immediate crisis intervention, conduct risk assessments, and prepare or coordinate safety plans in accordance with mental-health best practices.
Conduct psychosocial assessments and provide diagnostic and prognostic impressions to relevant health-care, command, protective-services, law-enforcement, and legal personnel when appropriate.
Receive reports of problematic sexual behavior in children and youth and take action in accordance with FAP requirements.
Provide or coordinate clinical services, psychoeducational support, assessments, interventions, and specialized evaluations for children, youth, and their families.
Liaise with military and civilian agencies and commands to enhance FAP prevention and response in the military community.
Represent the Navy at community liaison meetings, educate partners on domestic-violence risk and protective factors, coordinate services, and participate in prevention and awareness activities.
Document case management and treatment plans and develop presentations using applicable management information systems and software.