Director of Clinical Training and Intern Development

About Wellnest

Founded in 1924, Wellnest has always been on the leading edge of mental health and supportive services for children and families. Wellnest helped to pioneer early intervention programs for the 0-5 population, intensive services for at-risk children and families, skills-based mental health services for young adults 16-25, and an inventive collaboration with primary care providers, bringing mental health professionals on-site in community settings. Wellnest’s Socially Integrated Service Model is designed to address the whole child, from 0-25, the entire family, and the communities they live in. We blend evidence-based clinical practices to address the effects of trauma; youth development programs and TAY housing to enable children and youth to develop coping skills, self-esteem, and stability; and family support services to build on family strengths to promote thriving futures. We work in partnership with the family and engage the larger community—particularly schools and other youth service providers—because we recognize that children need functional families and healthy communities to thrive.

Program Summary

The Clinical Training and Intern Development Program is designed to provide graduate-level students pursuing a master’s degree in social work with comprehensive training in a supportive learning environment. Our program goal is to develop well-rounded, skilled therapists who can work with a diverse population in various mental health settings. Interns/trainees receive a best practice curriculum emphasizing culturally responsive client engagement, including assessment, diagnostic, and treatment skills. The treatment modalities that the interns/trainees utilize are the following: individual, family, and group psychotherapy.

We currently partner with the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, Azusa Pacific University, Cambridge College, and Cal State, Long Beach.

Role Summary

The Director of Clinical Training and Intern Development is responsible for establishing and strengthening relationships with university partners for the recruitment, selection, orientation, development, and evaluation of social work and psychology graduate students completing their internship/training.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develops and oversees Wellnest’s Clinical Training and Intern Development Program by collaborating with university partners to establish intern training plans that meet the school’s requirements and the organization’s objectives.
• Supervises master-level social work and psychology interns to ensure they meet Wellnest’s client service delivery rate and legal and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Manages the interview and selection of interns according to university protocol and coordinates their assignments within the organization.
• Oversees all intern-related activities, including support with projects and assignments (e.g., Process Recordings, Macro/ Capstone Projects), completing the interns’ school evaluations and mid-semester reports, and meeting with the interns’ professors to discuss their performance.
• Establishes and manages interns’ supervision plans according to university requirements, assesses interns’ performance, and provides regular feedback and support via individual and group supervision meetings.
• Consults with other program and department leadership teams regarding interns’ performance.
• Manages the program’s budget and maintains the program’s budgeted staffing levels, including hiring temporary staff during the summer (e.g., case managers).
• Responds to crisis calls and other emergencies as needed (e.g. critical child-related incidents, threats of suicide in schools, home or community) and follows mandated reporting requirements.
• Develops, implements, and maintains departmental policies and procedures to meet Behavioral Health Care and the organization’s operational, business, and strategic goals and objectives.
• Develops and presents training and seminars in clinical, developmental psychology, and family systems.
• Represents Wellnest at community events, including client recruitment events and funder activities.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Fosters a culture that welcomes and encourages staff contributions to ensure the team maintains a positive learning and work environment.
• Conducts in-service training in the agency and community.
• Participates in clinic wide on-call system rotation.
• Participates in required leadership activities, including weekly/monthly meetings and training as scheduled.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university is required.
• At least two (2) years of post-licensure experience with the authorization to provide clinical supervision for licensing purposes is required.
• At least five years of progressive management experience is required.
• Experience implementing and supporting treatment programs for children and youth in a field-based, community mental health setting is preferred.
  
  

Certificates, Licenses And Registrations

• Must possess and maintain a valid license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
• Must possess and maintain a valid CA driver’s license and insurable driving record.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• A strong commitment to advancing Wellnest’s mission.
• Knowledge of the continuum of mental health services that can be provided to meet the needs of a diverse client population.
• Knowledge and experience in training processes for mental health professionals.
• Familiarity with resources available in Los Angeles County to meet the needs of individuals with mental illness.
• Proficiency with DMH documentation requirements.
• Demonstrate cultural competence and sensitivity with diverse groups across race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, class, ability, gender, and other identifiers.
• Knowledge and understanding of the historical context of racial inequality and its present-day implications with the ability to use references and examples that speak to the experiences of a diverse audience, particularly in the communities we aim to reach.
• Ability to effectively manage and supervise graduate-level students and para-professional staff.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to speak clearly and effectively to present information in one-on-one and small group situations.
• Excellent organizational, coordination, problem-solving, and time management skills, including planning and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to respond to and resolve complex problems expeditiously.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and cultivate effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to accomplish programmatic and organizational goals.
• Ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Ability to navigate Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems and other client databases.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (i.e., MS Word, Excel, PPT, and Outlook).
• Ability to occasionally work evenings or weekends as needed.
  
  

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, please visit www.WellnestLA.org and submit your application along with your resume. Only candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

Wellnest does not discriminate against any client, parent/guardian, employee, or community member based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Compensation And Benefits

• Annual Salary Range: $108,675 - $129,117
• Wellnest offers an $11,500 annual allowance to members of our leadership team to build a personalized benefits package from available medical, dental, and vision coverage plans and employer-paid life insurance.
• Wellnest employees benefit from an employer-sponsored 401(k) company match of up to 4% and an employee retirement trust contribution of up to 5%.
• Wellnest observes 12 holidays throughout the year and offers employees a paid holiday break in December, Paid Time Off accrual of up to 10 days during their first year of employment, and one Wellnest Day (floating holiday).
• Wellnest follows a hybrid work model that mixes in-office and remote work to offer flexibility and support to our employees. Staff are required to be in-office three days a week, and remote for the other two days.