Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Directions for Living; Largo (FL); On-site; USD 79,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision, Life

Paid time off

Wellness Days & Holidays

Job summary

Directions for Living in Largo, FL seeks a Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT) to support the First Five program, providing trauma-informed assessments and therapeutic services for children ages 0–5 and their families in classroom and home-based settings.

The Clinician will work with an interdisciplinary team to identify needs, develop service pathways, and ensure timely documentation while upholding licensure and ethical standards in a mission-driven, essential-services

Qualifications

• Active Florida license as LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT is required.
• Experience with young children (0–5) and families is preferred.
• Strong collaboration, consultation, and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of young children’s social-emotional and behavioral needs.
• Provide trauma-informed mental health interventions for children age 0–5 and families.
• Collaborate with families, early learning centers, and SMEs to develop intervention plans.
• Strengthen caregiver-teacher relationships through consultation and modeling strategies.
• Maintain timely clinical documentation and meet productivity requirements.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Collaboration

Communication

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Largo, FL 33773

Salary: $87,500/year

We offer:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short Term and Long-Term Disability.
• 5 days of PTO
• 16 Wellness Days and Holidays - Including the week of Christmas off!

Do you envision working for a dynamic, mission-driven organization which supports the community while fostering an employee culture of appreciation and fun? If your answer is yes, then an employment opportunity at Directions for Living may be a great fit for you!

The First Five Program provides trauma-informed care to support young children and their families by strengthening services within early learning centers. The program’s overarching goal is to help early learning center staff develop trauma-informed classroom cultures that promote social-emotional development and reduce the risk of preschool expulsion.

Position Summary:

The Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT) is a professional clinical role within the First Five program, providing trauma-informed assessment, consultation, and therapeutic services to children ages 0–5 and their families. The Clinician focuses on relationship-based work with children, caregivers, and early learning center staff through classroom and home-based observation, consultation, and intervention.

The Clinician is an integral member of the First Five Intervention Team and participates in the interdisciplinary team (IDT) process, helping to identify children in need of behavioral and social-emotional support and determining appropriate service pathways based on the level of complexity and risk of expulsion.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of young children’s social-emotional, behavioral, and relational needs through classroom and home observations
• Provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate mental health interventions for children ages 0–5 and their families
• Collaborate with families, early learning center staff, classroom consultants, Behavior Specialists, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop and support individualized intervention plans
• Strengthen caregiver-child and teacher-child relationships through consultation, coaching, and modeling of effective strategies
• Support families in developing coping strategies, routines, and skills that promote emotional regulation and positive behavior in the home setting
• Identify children requiring behavioral or mental health support and determine appropriate service pathways based on level of complexity (low, moderate, or high)
• Provide immediate on-site consultation and support during critical incidents (e.g., aggression, self-harm behaviors, property destruction, or other situations that could result in expulsion)
• Assist in drafting communication to families following critical incidents and participate in staff debriefings to reflect on responses and improve future practice
• Work closely with the First Five interdisciplinary team to provide coordinated, comprehensive services
• Assist with implementation of strategies developed by classroom consultants or subject matter experts in both school and home environments
• Maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation and meet productivity requirements of 120 client service hours per month
• Serve as a field-based clinician providing services across early learning centers and family homes

Additional Expectations:

• Actively participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and case consultations
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to trauma-informed care, cultural responsiveness, and family-centered practices
• Maintain licensure and adhere to professional ethical standards
• Willingness and ability to provide essential services during emergencies, pandemics, or disaster situations as an essential services provider

Qualifications:

• Active Florida license as an LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT
• Experience working with young children (ages 0–5) and families preferred
• Experience in early childhood, early learning centers, community-based, or home-based services strongly preferred
• Knowledge of early childhood development, attachment, and trauma-informed care
• Strong collaboration, consultation, and communication skills

Directions for Living is an essential services provider. All Directions for Living team members must be willing and able to provide vital support and essential services to the people that we serve in the event of an emergency, pandemic or other disaster situation.

EOE/ADA/DFWSmoke Free Campus

For the safety of all clients and team members, please remember that Directions for Living is a private business and weapons or firearms are not permitted in any of our facilities. If you carry a weapon, it must remain secured in your vehicle (ref: Fla. Stat. 790.251).