Therapeutic Mentor

The Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama, Inc.

JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE: Therapeutic Mentor
WAGE CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt
SALARY GRADE: Certified Therapeutic Mentor I, II, or III
DIVISION: Children’s Albany Clinic in Decatur
HOURS: Full Time - 40 Hours Weekly - As Assigned
SUPERVISOR:
POSITIONS SUPERVISED: None

Position Description:
Provide structured one-on-one interventions to a youth and his/her family that are designed to improve behavioral
health-related conditions that prevent age-appropriate social functioning. The Therapeutic Mentor helps to ensure
the youth’s success in navigating various social situations, learning new skills, and making functional progress.
The Therapeutic Mentor offers supervision of these interactions and engages the youth in discussions about
strategies for effective handling of peer and adult interactions.

Primary Functions:
• Support, coach and train the youth in age-appropriate behaviors
• Train, coach and support the youth to demonstrate problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
• Provide linkages to recreational and social activities
• Provide interventions and support to achieve established treatment goals that are assigned as part of an
integrated service team for the youth.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Establish therapeutic relationship with the youth:
• Must be able to introduce yourself to the youth and parent/ primary caregiver and explain your role as a
Therapeutic Mentor
• Use a positive relationship with the youth to build skills, knowledge and confidence related to the youth’s
goals
• The relationship is structured and goal-oriented
• Ability to focus on the needs of the youth
• Ability to build a strong sense of connection based in equality, common respect and mutuality
• Ability to demonstrate active listening skills, empathetic responses and validate the youth’s experience
• Must be able to use person-first and strength based language in every interaction with the youth and
parent/primary caregiver
Coach and Support the Youth’s Acquisition of Skills:
• Address daily living, social and communication needs
• Help the youth navigate social contexts, learn new skills and make functional progress
• Support, coach and teach developmentally-appropriate behaviors, interpersonal communication, problem-
solving and conflict resolution, relating appropriately to others in recreational and social activities
• Teach skills through “structured, one-to-one support services” (across life domains and settings) in order
for youth to remain at home, prevent out-of-home placement, or to transition “home,” to include the
following interventions:
o Teach alternative strategies
o Provide anticipatory guidance
o Role plays
o Behavior rehearsals
• Supervise youth’s practices of new and enhanced skills and engage the youth in discussions about
effective strategies for handling “everyday” social situations
• Help ensure the youth’s success in navigating various social contexts, give feedback, coach and support
use of effective strategies
Respect Throughout the Relationship
• Ability to communicate a sense of respect that the youth’s voice matters and deserves to be heard
• Ability to identify, extract and utilize the youth’s functional strengths and family culture to develop
individualized support plans
• Ability to communicate a sense of cultural humility in connecting with each youth
• Ability to identify unmet needs as a key to establishing understanding
• Ability to assist youth in reflecting on their own journey and encourage empowerment
• Ability to model a relational stance of respect and acceptance in all interactions with the youth
• Strategically use own knowledge and life experiences to empower others to suspend their own bias about
youth
Link with Others in Collaboration & Problem Solving:
• Build collaborative partnerships with others demonstrating a non-adversarial advocacy approach
• Participate as needed in team meetings
• Ability to model a strength based approach and utilize collaborative problem solving techniques with
others
• Utilize youth’s strengths and resiliency traits in problem solving and brainstorming solutions
• Ability to recognize strengths of collaborative partners

Education and Certification:
• Education: Must have High School Diploma or G.E.D. + 2 years’ experience with the target population or
BA or Associate’s degree (in human services) + 1 year experience with the target population.
• Certificate/Licensure: Current Alabama driver's license and eligibility for coverage under Center liability
insurance and maintain a good driving record.

Minimum Expectations:
• Ability to relate well to clients, a multi-disciplinary staff and the community, ability to work with a team.
Must demonstrate and continue to show merit.
• Must be able to work in a cooperative manner with co-workers, supervisors, and other staff in the
company.
• Must read, understand, and abide by agency Policies and Procedures, Employee Handbook and Training
Expectations
• Must work the days and hours necessary to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks, including
nights and weekends. Must be available to communicate with supervisors, clients, vendors and any other
person or organization with whom interaction is required to accomplish work and project goals.
• Must be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements of performance, including, but not limited to,
attendance standards, work deadlines, and beginning and ending assignments on time.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must have basic typing/computer processing skills
• Must have good organizational and time management skills
• Must be at least 21 years’ old
• Must be able to obtain fingerprint clearance card. Must have a valid driver’s license, dependable
transportation and proof of automobile insurance
• Attend at minimum bi-monthly individual supervision with Program Manager and monthly group
supervision sessions with Clinical Director
• Performs other related duties as required. (Related duties as required are duties which may not be
specifically listed in the duties and responsibilities description, but are within the general occupational
series and responsibility level typically associated with the employee’s class of work.)

TRAINING:
• Completion of a DMH approved Therapeutic Mentoring Training Program.
• Professionally accepted management of aggressive/assaultive behavior and crisis intervention
techniques:
o The training must have been within the past 2 years, and the training must have been conducted
prior to working alone with youth.
• Infection control: Staff shall be trained prior to working with youth and annually thereafter.
• Initial training on the following topics:
o Diagnostic categories.
o Classes of psychotropic medications.
o Recovery orientation.
o Interaction with consumers and families.
• Abuse and neglect and all state laws pertaining to abuse and neglect including reporting required by the
Department of Human Resources. Training is required prior to working alone with youths and on an
annual basis.
• Tuberculosis training must be completed prior to working alone with youth and annually thereafter