Intensive Family Preservation (IFP) Therapist coordinate and implement services based on a case plan developed and facilitated by a referring agency. The primary goals of this service are to stabilize and strengthen families by preventing abuse/neglect of children, assisting in providing permanency for children in care and/or enhancing community safety. The IFP Therapist will provide services primarily in the family home and focus on improvement of the family functioning through trauma informed therapeutic interventions; and assist with skill acquisition in the areas of parenting, communication, behavior management, and life skills. The IFP Therapist’s focus is to stabilize the home to preserve permanency of the child(ren).
The IFP Therapist provides structured, goal-oriented, time-limited therapy in the natural environment of families who need assistance recovering from physical, sexual, emotional abuse, and neglect. Other issues, including trauma, substance abuse, mental illness, personality/behavior disorder, developmental disability, dysfunctional family of origin, and current family dysfunction, may be addressed in the course of treating the abuse/neglect. Crisis intervention is offered by the IFP Therapist 24-hours a day/7-days/week.
Major Responsibilities and Related Tasks
Direct-Line Services
- Complete initial contact to referred families.
- Complete an assessment with the family in an effort to develop appropriate / necessary recommendations for future success.
- Provide necessary community resources and support system development
- Provide family counseling/IFP as required.
- Provide crisis intervention as needed.
- Participate in case conferences, school conferences and court appearances with the family as requested.
- Provide family advocacy as needed.
- Provide case management and coordination with the Case Manager.
- Participate in ongoing assessment and evaluation of the family’s goals.
Client Information System
- Provide necessary client information to referring departments and the family (Session Notes and Monthly Summaries, case updates, Collateral Logs).
- Complete necessary referrals for additional therapeutic services as deemed appropriate with the approval of the family and referring department.
- Maintain appropriate professional files electronically which will provide all necessary documentation regarding the family.
Team / Supervision Meetings
- Participate in case management meetings upon requests with the Case Manager to coordinate necessary services.
- Participate in weekly supervision meetings with the Clinical Supervisor. (Paradigm will provide a licensed supervisor for people with counseling psychology degrees and social workers will be supervised by a licensed clinical social worker).
Qualifications and Requirements
Knowledge & Skills: Activities are governed through a professional code of ethics and rules of confidentiality. A thorough knowledge of counseling and social work practice is expected with emphasis in home-based service delivery. Effective skills should be demonstrated in dealing with families involved in abuse/neglect situations as well as those involved in juvenile delinquency issues. A thorough knowledge of community resources is expected.
Training and Experience: Master’s Degree in social work, psychology or related area; a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner or Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner. Continuing education is required and Master’s Level Therapist’s must give evidence of aggressively working toward licensure.
In addition to:
- Knowledge of family of origin/intergenerational issues.
- Knowledge of child abuse/neglect and sexual abuse treatment.
- Knowledge of crisis intervention.
- Knowledge of child and adult development.
- Knowledge of community resources
- Ability to work as a team member.
- Ability to be culturally competent.
- Ability to be trauma informed.
- Belief in the family preservation philosophy.
- Demonstrated successful ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Solid communication and computer skills.
- Clear criminal history background and adult/child abuse checks.
- Valid driver’s license and good driving history.