New Alternatives for Children, Inc. (NAC) is an award-winning not-for-profit agency in Midtown Manhattan, with a satellite Bronx office, dedicated to serving children with special healthcare needs and their families. To assist in achieving this mission, NAC is currently seeking an MST Clinical Supervisor to join its Mental Health team.

MST (Multisystemic Therapy) is a cutting edge, intensive family and community based treatment that addresses the multiple determinants of risky, challenging, and antisocial behavior exhibited by juvenile offenders and at-risk youth. The MST Clinical Supervisor is a highly energetic, supportive, and engaging team player with strong engagement and QI skills to help staff adhere to the model, thus addressing the multiple factors known to be related to misconduct across the key settings, or systems, within which youth are embedded (e.g. family, peers, school, and neighborhood).  MST strives to promote behavior change in the youth’s natural environment, using the strengths of each system to facilitate change.

• Title of Position: MST Clinical Supervisor
• Position Type: Full Time
• Salary Range: $76,000-80,000
• Location: 37 West 26th Street New York, NY 10010
• Department: Mental Health

Description of Responsibilities:

• Direct supervision of 1 MST team consisting of multiple MST Therapists
• Provide clinical direction to therapists during weekly individual and group supervision and during weekly consultation
• Review therapist’s weekly plans with strong convergence to the model.
• Provide direct MST services to a caseload of 1-2 clients as needed.
• Provide on-the-job training to new Therapists, and in service training to team.
• Maintenance of MST team: maintenance of MSTI website, checking e mail/phone messages daily, providing coverage to families as needed, chart audits, reviewing red flag cases, maintaining team coverage at 75% staffing, ensure confidentiality adherence, interfacing with larger agency, communication with superior regarding team performance and outcomes.
• Maintain timely, clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts that promote peer and supervisory review and feedback, and that demonstrate compliance with the 9 MST principals and the MST analytical process.
• Collaborate with all relevant systems and key participants within each system to ensure their buy-in and cooperation throughout MST treatment.
• Provide direction regarding clinical treatment using methods compatible with MST principles and practices.
• Participate in all MST training, supervision and consultation activities.
• Participate in development activities and networking in local communities.
• On call 24/7 to Therapist and secondary on-call to families.
• Review audio tapes AND provide in-home live model supervision for each therapist monthly
• Hire staff using strong behavioral based interviewing
• Maintain level of adherence in the high average range in Structure and Process on SAM scores
• Sign off of licensing hours for staff.

Required Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree or higher and professional license in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy
• Four years direct clinical experience with adolescents or family systems
• At least one year of previous supervisory experience or three years direct experience as an MST therapist and at least six months experience as an MST Supervisor

*LMSW to obtain LCSW within 2 years to maintain the position. *

Preferred Experience:

• Direct use of pragmatic (i.e. strategic, structural and functional) family therapies
• Individual therapy with children and adults using cognitive behavioral approaches
• Marital therapy using behaviorally based approaches
• Behavioral therapy targeting school behavior and academic performance
• Implementation of interventions within or between system’s in the youth’s natural ecology that affect or influence the behavior of youth (i.e. peer, family, school and neighborhood)
• Substance abuse treatment for adults and children using behaviorally-based approaches
• Trauma treatment for adults and children using exposure, cognitive therapies, and stress inoculation training
• Safety planning
• Work with youth who engage in sexually problematic behaviors
• Linkages with community agencies and funders

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Family systems theory and application
• Social ecological theory and application
• Behavioral therapies theory and application
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy theory and application
• Pragmatic family therapy theory and application
• Child development research and its application in treatment
• Social skills assessment and intervention
• Knowledge of preventive mandates and procedures within the ACS system.
• Ability to use computers and related technology efficiently
• Research or training in diagnostic assessment, mental status examinations

Training Requirements to Maintain Position:

• The MST 5-Day Orientation Training (given within 2 months of hire)
• MST Supervisory Workshop (given within 3 months of hire)
• All subsequent MST Boosters (given quarterly)

Physical and Sensory Requirements:

• Ability to read, write and converse in English.
• Ability to communicate with staff, identified clients, families, contract agencies, support agencies and others.
• Ability to remain calm and composed under stressful situations.
• Bending, lifting, grasping, fine hand/eye coordination, pushing/pulling, and/or prolonged sitting/standing.
• Ability to respond to telephones and other auditory stimulation.
• Ability to discriminate color.
• Quantitative/mathematical ability (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, standard measurements).
• Ability to evaluate/interpret information, and make independent judgments/decisions.
• Ability to conduct extensive field visits in excess of 12 per week that may include walking distances in excess of 2 city blocks, walking up and down stairs.

How to Apply:

Please indicate MST Clinical Supervisor in the subject line when applying. Please submit cover letter and resume to: hr@nackidscan.org