position description for FFT Therapist
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Approved Date: 11/01/2026FLSA Status: Non-Exempt Location: Maple Star ColoradoTypically Reports To: Clinical Supervisor
POSITION ovERVIEW
Help youth and families strengthen relationships, reduce conflict, and build lasting skills. The Functional Family Therapy (FFT) Therapist provides structured, family focused treatment in homes and community settings. This position partners with youth, caregivers, referral sources, and community supports to address behavioral and emotional concerns, improve family functioning, and support stability. Training to become an FFT therapist is provided. Prior FFT training or certification is not required. The therapist must complete required FFT training and participate in ongoing supervision, consultation, and activities that support competent delivery and fidelity to the model.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct Service:
- Deliver FFT through engagement, motivation, relational assessment, behavior change, and generalization, following the program’s approved model and clinical guidance.
- Build balanced relationships with family members; reduce blame and negativity, strengthen hope, and address barriers to participation. Adapt engagement to each family’s culture, strengths, needs, and circumstances.
- Assess family relationships, strengths, risks, protective factors, and presenting concerns. Develop individualized treatment goals and safety or crisis plans with families and the treatment team.
- Coach and practice communication, problem solving, parenting, emotion regulation, and other skills selected to fit the family’s assessed relational patterns and treatment phase.
- Help families apply and maintain new skills across home, school, and community settings. Plan for transition, connect families with supports, and complete discharge planning.
- Assess and respond to safety concerns within training and scope of practice; consult promptly, follow crisis response procedures, and report suspected abuse or neglect as required.
- Communicate with referring agencies and coordinate with caseworkers, schools, courts, and other providers as appropriate, with required consent and confidentiality protections.
- Provide other assigned clinical services within qualifications and scope of practice, while maintaining FFT model requirements and assigned program priorities.
- Carry non FFT cases as needed on an occasional basis to support community and program needs.
Administrative:
- Complete provided FFT training and required model learning activities. Participate in scheduled FFT consultation, clinical supervision, case review, and fidelity monitoring at the frequency required by the program and model.
- Use feedback and clinical data to strengthen practice. Complete required model assessments, session planning, progress tracking, and fidelity documentation in designated systems.
- Complete at least 20 hours of required annual training along with additional agency and FFT requirements. Participate in team meetings and support new staff shadowing as assigned.
- Maintain client files in the Electronic Health Care System
- Complete and submit work diaries, ADP Time Card, and expenses in expected timeframes.
Documentation:
- Maintain accurate, timely clinical records, treatment plans, progress notes, assessments, and reports in the electronic health record and applicable FFT systems. Meet agency, payer, and contract standards and follow service authorization requirements.
- Maintain the caseload, service frequency, and billable hours established by the program in a manner consistent with FFT delivery, clinical need, and quality of care.
- Work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed to meet family availability. Participate in the program’s on call process as assigned and follow established response procedures.
- Submit work diaries, timecards, mileage, and expenses within required timeframes. Protect confidential information and follow agency compliance standards.
- Maintain professional boundaries, communicate respectfully, use supervision proactively, and complete other duties necessary to support program and agency functions.
Program Expectations:
- Attend and actively participate in Clinical Services team meetings
- Appropriately access and utilize supervision resources
- Adhere to all HIPAA guidelines as well as agency compliance standards
- Work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends
- Report immediately any incidents of alleged abuse or neglect
- Maintain billable hours at level established by the program
- Other duties as assigned and are necessary to support program and agency functions
LEVEL OF SUPERVISIOn
Given: None
Received:
- Minimum of monthly supervision with Lead, Supervisor or Program Director.
- Onboarding supervision, group supervision and other case consultations as directed by Program and need.
education, Certifications and license requirements
- Master’s degree in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or a related behavioral health field. Current Colorado DORA license, candidate credential, or registration appropriate to the role, with ability to practice under applicable supervision and payer requirements; independent licensure preferred.
- Experience working with children, adolescents, and families. Knowledge of family systems, child and adolescent development, trauma informed care, crisis intervention, and culturally responsive practice.
- Ability to engage families experiencing conflict or mandated services; organize a field based caseload; make sound clinical decisions; and accept coaching and accountability.
- Strong written and verbal communication, documentation, and technology skills. Ability to learn electronic health records, FFT platforms, and agency systems.
- Valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, current auto insurance, and access to a safe, reliable vehicle for required travel. Ability to satisfy required background checks and fingerprinting.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND Abilities
- Knowledge and use of a conceptual framework for child and adolescent development, emotional and behavior problems, and a range of treatment modalities including foster care.
- Knowledge and management expertise as demonstrated by the skills necessary to adhere to applicable standards and regulations; make appropriate placements based on youth and the family care providers, develop and implement goals; and maintain agency policies and standards.
- Effective organizational skills including time management, the ability to think clearly and logically; to problem solve effectively; and the ability to function with minimal supervision.
- Knowledge of local agencies and other community resources that may serve youth, families, and foster care services.
- Experience with crisis intervention and conflict resolution, knowledge of child development and child welfare system
- Ability to track staff performance metrics and utilize a person-centered approach to holding staff to performance objectives
- Comfortable with learning and utilizing new technology resources including Avatar, Trails, and other such systems
- Detail oriented in documentation and communication
- Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, as well as ability to collaborate with teams
- Maintain a high degree of professionalism regarding demeanor, language, communication, and boundaries with co-workers and clients
- Ability to hold others accountable
- Effective, respectful, and professional written and verbal communication
- Rapport building and maintenance with youth, adults, employees, and child welfare/court professionals
- Professional boundaries and self-care routines and ability to support others in setting appropriate boundaries
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook), adequate typing skills, and basic computer skills
- Knowledge and use of phone, copier, and other office equipment.
- Ability to properly install and use car seats and other child vehicle restraint systems
- Understanding and application of Trauma Informed Care
- Bilingual is a plus but not required
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Field-based and/or general office environment (locations may vary)
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk and sit.
- May be required to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25.
- Requires significant use of computer, tablet, phone and/or general office equipment.
- Needs adequate visual acuity, ability to grasp and handle objects.
- Needs ability to communicate effectively through reading, writing, and speaking in person or on telephone.
- Position requires off-site travel for meeting, county and client needs.
- Ability to operate and have access to a safe and reliable vehicle at all times. Willing and able to drive in various road and weather conditions. Will use personal car or vehicle as required for travel and/or transportation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT FOR POSITION DESCRIPTION
clinical therapist
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- I understand that the Company reserves the right to amend, interpret, modify, or change any portion of this job description at any time.
This description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and requirements of a person so classified. Other functions may be assigned and management retains the right to add or change the duties and responsibilities at any time. 1 of 3 | Page
