Graduate Student Clinical Intern (Education)

Graduate Student Clinical Internship Description

Title: Graduate Student Clinical Intern

Reports to: Licensed Clinician or Clinical Supervisor or Program Manager/Director

Intern Schedule: 16 - 24 Hours/Week; Minimum Duration of Six (6) Months

Fred Finch Youth & Family Services/Fred Finch Youth & Family Services, CARES (FF) is committed to seeking diverse and competent graduate student clinical interns to join our team. We strive to provide culturally attuned and responsive care to individuals, adolescents, young adults, and their families. We offer a trauma-informed work environment and encourage personal and professional growth among colleagues. FF utilizes evidence-based practices to serve and support youth (ages 0-26) and their families who not only have complex needs (i.e. behavioral health and/or developmental challenges, foster care and/or juvenile justice system involvement, experiencing major life transitions or other stressors), but also have often experienced multiple episodes of complex trauma. Graduate Student Clinical Interns in the behavioral health field must be organized, reliable, and passionate about working with youth and families. Interns must demonstrate adherence to ethical and legal standards in the behavioral health field. In addition, interns must also demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and development.
Under the supervision of a licensed supervisor with two (2) or more years clinical experience, the Graduate Student Clinical Intern (Intern) is responsible for learning to provide high quality, trauma informed therapeutic services and/or care coordination to a diverse population of at-risk youth or young adults experiencing mental health symptoms, and their families. These developmentally appropriate, individualized services occur in residential and community locations including homes, schools, program offices, psychiatric emergency settings, clinics, crisis residential programs, and/or shelters. In addition, the supervised internship typically provides weekly individual therapy and case management to a minimum of two (2) participants (clients) and, depending on the program, may co-facilitate group or family therapy. Interns are expected to actively participate in individual and group supervision.

Internship Summary of Responsibilities/Competencies to be Developed:

Assesses Strengths and Needs:
Gathers, organizes, summarizes and interprets behavioral health and biopsychosocial
information, including identifying participant/family/community values, goals, and
priorities, along with strengths, resources, natural supports, stressors, deficits, disparities, problems, and needs, using a culturally grounded approach.
Conducts clinical evaluation, including risk screening and assessment.Detects warning signs and anticipates needs; routinely reassesses by conducting a thorough review of goals and priorities. Develops knowledge of individual and family assessments and involves family and collateral contacts, with participant consent.Develops knowledge of child/adolescent/young adult development and emotional disorders as relevant to programs target population. Conducts analysis and assessment of behavioral health conditions in the context of diverse identities drawing on race, ethnicity, culture, social economic status, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status and other socially constructed factors; becomes familiar with within-group differences and across-group similarities.

Provides Services:
Establishes trust, builds rapport, and is empathetic and compassionate to participants and families.
Engages participants in treatment and/or care planning and collaboratively implements treatment and discharge plans. Develops knowledge of diagnosis, differential treatment approaches and interventions
including intensive case management services.
Learns to select and utilize culturally grounded interventions to ameliorate behavioral health conditions and promote health equity, culturally adapting evidence-based practices as needed. Provides developmentally appropriate therapeutic, emotional, health, and biopsychosocial support and treatment, including but not limited to individual, family, and/or group therapy and rehabilitation services, consistent with program model, and involving multiple systems planning and coordination. Educates participants/families about services, support, resources and treatment options that are available and appropriate for their situation.Works collaboratively with collateral resources such as residence or housing staff, therapeutic behavioral service providers, medical providers, educators, and/or psychiatric providers. Applies assessment and evaluation tools to measure progress and outcomes; communicates progress and outcomes to participants/families.Meets service delivery goals in accordance with learning agreement.

Individualizes Care in accordance with FF Values:
Delivers services in a manner consistent with FF core values of participant/family-centered, culturally responsive, strength-based, complexity capable, trauma-informed, and needs-driven practice. Learns to assess the influence of key individual, family, and community characteristics; tailors services to individual/family/community characteristics; modifies plans and services based on participant/family experience.Delivers services to participants with an awareness and integration of the developmental milestones of children, youth, or young adults, including those impacted by trauma.Demonstrates Cultural Responsiveness: works with the whole person; is welcoming, inclusive and respectful; embodies cultural humility; appreciates diversity. Embodies trauma-informed principles: Manages stress, maintains health; is self-aware and regulates emotions in order to be present for and responsive to others; is reflective and thoughtful when faced with complex, uncertain or ambiguous situations; maintains openness and approaches situations with an appreciation for multiple perspectives and a spirit of inquiry; promotes participant/family voice and choice about services.

Crisis Prevention and Intervention:
Collaborates closely with supervisor to screen for risk of danger to self or others on a regular basis and in response to indication of changing risk based on participants internal condition or external situation; creates and implements safety plans accordingly. Develops knowledge of clinical risk management including risk assessment for danger to self or others; uses clinical judgement and interviewing to assess an individuals current level of risk and associated risk factors; engages participant/family in safety planning. Utilizes de-escalation techniques, including but not limited to: attentiveness to potential triggers/stressors and early indicators of distress; motivational interviewing; reflective listening; providing responses that rely on engagement and empathy; modeling composure through use of calm voice and neutral facial expressions; remaining self-aware of verbal and non-verbal communication, demonstrated ability to adjust verbal and non-verbal communication, prompting for use of known coping skills; etc., to defuse distress and ensure safety in a manner that aligns with the trauma informed care model.

Case Management/Care Coordination:
Coordinates care collaboratively with treatment team and collateral contacts throughout the assessment, reassessment, treatment planning, service delivery, and discharge planning process.
Links participants to resources by identifying recommended resources; supporting individuals and familys decision-making in selecting resources; and connecting individuals and families to community resources.Learns to assess participants health and behavioral health service delivery systems and community resources for strengths, limitations, cultural relevance and impact, and modifies referral process accordingly. Advocates on behalf of participants and families by supporting and coaching participants in self-advocacy.

Working with Others/Teamwork:
Communicates collaboratively and regularly with essential team members to keep them informed and to facilitate continuous open lines of communication and to integrate care across systems.Considers the mode, timing, frequency, method, context, and amount of information to offer to others.Communicates clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with co-workers, supervisors, participants, and other providers.Comprehends, follows, and clearly conveys instructions to others.Builds positive relationships; maintains appropriate boundaries.Collaborates as part of an integrated team that may include peer specialists, psychiatric providers, and/or paraprofessional staff. Understands, values, and adapts to the diverse professional cultures of an integrated care team.Participates in agency Continuous Quality Improvement Committees, if relevant for learning goals.

Documentation:
Writes concise, clear, and cohesive progress notes and reports in a timely manner.Utilizes the Electronic Health Record system(s) or other technology effectively to complete documentation.
Develops knowledge of and capacity to meet documentation standards in accordance with agency deadlines.Meets all HIPAA standards including, but not limited to, exchanging information, keeping Protected Health Information (PHI) secure, and following procedures to protect electronic transmission/access to PHI at the agency and in the community.Completes process recordings upon request.

Behaving Professionally and Ethically:
Fulfills responsibilities and commitments.Maintains clear and healthy interpersonal boundaries, complies with laws and regulations, and adheres to all professional ethical standards including abuse reporting and maintenance of participant confidentiality.
Adheres to all agency and program policies including Boundary Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, Employee Handbook and state and federal regulations.Participates in trainings and in weekly supervision, including case presentations in group supervision meetings, if applicable.Manages work relationships and workload and adapts to organizational change.Seeks opportunities to improve knowledge, skills, and abilities. Strives for excellence, has positive attitude, accepts changes flexibly, is collaborative, is relationship-oriented, shows initiative, attends to detail, is accurate, and is responsible.Represents FF with integrity in every community situation, including participation in community committees and presentations as assigned.

Additional Responsibilities to help Develop Competencies:
Other related duties as assigned by Supervisor.May drive on agency business, as required, and if allowed by university.

Commitment:
Interns are required to attend one (1) hour of supervision each week. Interns will provide services as scheduled.
Interns are required to attend clinical meetings, weekly program meetings and mandated training as a part of their internship.

Requirements:
Must be enrolled in an accredited masters program in counseling psychology, clinical psychology, social welfare, social work or equivalent. Clean driving record: Current CA Drivers License or ability to obtain within 10 days after hired. Basic computer and keyboarding competence with the ability to use Microsoft Office Suite and/or competency with electronic clinical documentation systems.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
When assigned to an office environment, must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone; ability to stand and walk between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information.
When performing field work, must possess mobility to work in changing site conditions; to sit, stand, and walk on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces; to reach, twist, turn, kneel, and bend; and to operate a motor vehicle and visit various sites throughout the Fred Finch service area; vision to observe participant behavior, signs of illness, and potential hazards. The job involves frequent walking to locate, assist, and deliver services to participants, with exposure to hazardous materials and waste in some locations. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects averaging a weight of 40 pounds, or heavier weights, in all cases with the use of proper equipment and/or assistance from other staff.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees also work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, and may be exposed to blood and bodily fluids, and other hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees interact with participants with behavioral disorders who may display erratic and assaultive behavior, including those who require emergency crisis intervention. Employees may also interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing policies and procedures.