Safe Shores, the DC Children’s Advocacy Center, is currently seeking a Child and Adolescent Therapist. This is a full-time, exempt position with a starting salary of $65,000 for candidates with graduate-level licensure (LGSW, LGPC) and $70,000 for those with professional clinical licensure (LICSW, LPC). 

Be part of a diverse and dynamic team delivering quality services to/for child victims with equity, respect, and care! 

At Safe Shores, our work is all about PEOPLE. Therefore, we center people in our programming, services, policies, practices, and operations. Which people? The children and families we serve AND the people who do the work, our staff. How? For our trauma-impacted clients, by honoring the humanity of every individual, delivering high-quality services tailored to their specific needs, which includes giving them the time and attention they need. For our staff, by listening, offering excellent benefits, paying competitive salaries, providing remote work flexibility (depending on the position), investing in professional development, pursuing JEDI, encouraging and facilitating self-care and wellness, prioritizing progress over perfection, and building a team of smart, dedicated pros who know that Safe Shores’ mission is best accomplished when we show up as our whole selves, support one another, and experience joy. Joy working with young victims of crime? Absolutely, yes! Mining joy is essential to offering hope, helping clients heal, and individual/organizational sustainability. 

Safe Shores’ survivor-centered approach to healing means we recognize that healing is not linear and that our clients often bring multi-layered challenges to the therapy space in addition to the trauma that brought them to Safe Shores. Traditional insurance-guided treatment time-frames and deadlines may not meet our client’s needs; therefore, we don’t have those restrictions. Our therapists meet each client where they are and work with them accordingly, including on their time frame. Reasonable caseloads give Safe Shores’ clinicians the time and space to provide optimal clinical support. Further, Safe Shores knows the importance of language and cultural factors that affect client needs, and we allow the time required for staff to be appropriately supportive and responsive.

HOW WE PRIORITIZE THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE WORK (EMPLOYEE BENEFITS) 

To start, we recognize that co-workers impact the job experience. Safe Shores is intentional about assembling and supporting a team of individuals who are not just able, resourceful professionals, but just as importantly, people who are respectful, responsible, honest, and kind and who embrace Safe Shores' mission and values wholeheartedly, with a focus on racial equity, kindness, belonging, trustworthiness, integrity, and taking care to give care. 

That said, our robust benefits for newly hired employees include: 

• Birthday Comp Day (your birthday is a holiday for you!)
• Annual Professional Development Fund
• 13 days of paid vacation leave 
• 13 days of paid sick leave 
• 13 days of paid holidays 
• Paid personal leave 
• Paid parental leave 
• 100% employer-paid medical (PPO with lots of      provider options), dental and vision insurance for the current plan year
• Wellness stipend
• Dedicated Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Employee appreciation and wellness events 
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance 
• 403(b) Retirement Plan (Employer contribution after one year of service)
• Essential oils and diffusers for employee workspaces
• Safe Shores provides clinical supervision that may be counted toward licensure as a benefit for the clinical positions.
• Safe Shores covers the cost of licensure fees in the District of Columbia for clinical positions. 
• Safe Shores offers paid sabbatical leave for employees with a five or more consecutive years tenure.

JOB SUMMARY

Provides (without charge to client or encumbrance of insurance) therapeutic services to help children and caregivers cope with and recover from experiences of child sexual or physical abuse or exposure to other violent crimes. This is currently an 80% in-person, direct service position and may require occasional evening (until 8 p.m.) work hours. The incumbent is required to participate in the on-call rotation for after-hours and weekend clinical crisis intervention services. This position requires mandatory reporting for child abuse and neglect under the District of Columbia Statute § 4-1321.02.

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.  

• Conduct psycho-social assessments primarily with children, adolescents, and parents to identify strengths, needs, and appropriate interventions.
• Conduct therapeutic sessions with children and adolescents; develop case goals and document progress.
• Facilitate caregiver support groups and treatment groups.
• Facilitate support/psychoeducation/treatment groups as needed.
• Maintain and assure quality and confidentiality of electronic and paper files and statistical tracking.
• Participate in individual clinical supervision and case review, program peer review, and in-service trainings.
• Provide non-offending family members with clinical consultation, parent education, and therapeutic referrals.
• Respond promptly and appropriately to assess and de-escalate crisis situations with clients.
• Participate in staff meetings, ongoing training and professional development activities, including individual supervision and peer review.
• Share appropriate information with Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) partners; collaborate with team members in planning care for children/adolescents and arrange services.
• Consult with members of the MDT as requested or as deemed necessary.
• Participate in MDT and organization-wide planning efforts.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

There are no supervisory responsibilities for this position.   

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree (from an accredited institution) in psychology, social work, or related field.  
• At least one (1) year of professional experience.
• Graduate or clinical licensure in the District of Columbia as an LGSW, LGPC, LICSW, LPC, or LMFT; will consider candidates that can be licensed in the District of Columbia within 30-60 days.
• Ability to successfully pass Child Protection Registry clearance and criminal background checks.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally to a variety of individuals, including children and adolescents, ranging in age from 3 to 17 years of age, as well as with their adult caregivers and groups.
• Certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; will consider candidates without but must complete the training when hired. 
• Academic or post-graduate training in trauma-focused interventions. 
• Superb interpersonal skills; high level of cultural competence.  
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally to a variety of individuals and groups. 
• Ability to communicate effectively with non-offending caregivers who have experienced trauma. 
• Superior organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to work independently and as a contributing team member. 
• Familiarity with and a disposition toward the multi-disciplinary team approach to the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases.

OTHER SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Academic or post-graduate training in evidenced-based/informed trauma-focused therapeutic modalities, specifically Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. 
• Experience working in a Children’s Advocacy Center setting or other mental health settings.
• Knowledge of investigative, social service, and legal systems in the District of      Columbia.
• Demonstrated knowledge of different theoretical models and intervention modalities related to trauma and abuse, and familiarity with the DSM-V.

EEO STATEMENT 

Safe Shores is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION and BELONGING

Safe Shores expects all employees to respect and be sensitive to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and the cultural differences of applicants, other employees, and those we serve. We demonstrate this respect and sensitivity without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability (actual or perceived), source of income, place of residence or business, military service, and any other basis protected by federal or District of Columbia law. 

Interested in applying or want more information? Visit www.safeshores.org/careers!