Certified Social Worker (CSW) - Group Therapist, Full-Time, Lexington

About Harbor Behavioral Health

Harbor Behavioral Health (HBH) is a community-based behavioral health organization rooted in Lexington, Kentucky, with a growing presence in Hopkinsville. We provide structured, team-based services to adults with serious mental health needs, with a focus on building independence, stability, and meaningful community connection.

Our Therapeutic Rehabilitation Program (TRP) pairs licensed clinical staff with Peer Support Specialists in a collaborative, recovery-focused model. We're committed to a supportive, growth-oriented environment — for our clients and our team alike.

The Opportunity

We're growing, and we're looking for Certified Social Workers to grow with us. Here's the job:

• Lead one or two groups a day (a morning group, and an afternoon group as we grow). A Peer Support Specialist usually works alongside you and starts the notes.
• Finish your notes the same day; one of our LCSWs co-signs them.
• Over time, and under supervision, do the assessments and treatment plans for the clients in your groups. That's the clinical work the Board counts toward your LCSW.
• Your required Board supervision comes from one of our LCSWs, at no cost to you and during paid hours. Many CSWs pay for this on their own time elsewhere.

Location & Schedule

On site at our Lexington program, full time: five days a week, weekends included. Your five days are set in writing when you're hired. 40 hours a week, with an hour for lunch.

Weekend coverage is part of this job. If you can cover weekends, you're more flexible, and that makes you a stronger candidate for this role.

Any hour over 40 in a week pays time and a half: $52.50 an hour to start, $56.25 at 6 months and $60 at 18 months.

Travel, if you want it: we also need coverage at our Hopkinsville program. Hopkinsville days pay $50 an hour, drive time included, plus mileage and a place to stay. The drive alone, about 3 hours each way, pays about $700 round trip with mileage.

Requirements

Required

• Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program
• Active Kentucky Certified Social Worker (CSW) license, maintained in good standing throughout employment
• Before you start, the Kentucky Board of Social Work approves your supervision contract with one of our Board-approved LCSWs. We file it as soon as you accept; the Board says approval averages about three weeks, and you start the week it’s approved.
• Comfortable using AI tools at an intermediate to proficient level in your daily work (e.g., drafting, organizing, summarizing, and streamlining workflows)
• Strong clinical judgment, assessment, and documentation skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively within an interdisciplinary team
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and current auto insurance

Preferred

• Experience working with adults with serious mental illness
• Familiarity with Kentucky Medicaid documentation standards

All experience levels are welcome — recent MSW graduates are encouraged to apply.

Employment is contingent on successful completion of all HBH pre-employment requirements, including background, registry, and federal exclusion checks; drug and health screenings; license and education verification; and reference checks.

Benefits

• $35 an hour to start (about $72,800 a year at 40 hours), $37.50 at 6 months (about $78,000) and $40 at 18 months (about $83,200). Time and a half for any hour over 40 in a week.
• $5,000 performance bonus: $2,500 at 30 days and $2,500 at 90 days. Nothing to pay back.
• Employer-sponsored health insurance
• Optional dental and vision coverage
• Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays
• $2,500 a year for training, conferences and licensing after your first 90 days
• When you earn your LCSW, you move to our LCSW salary, $90,000, and Harbor pays the exam and Kentucky’s licensing fees

Travel

• $50 an hour on Hopkinsville days, drive time included, plus mileage and a place to stay.
• The drive alone, about 3 hours each way, pays about $700 round trip with mileage.
• Four days in a week (3 in Hopkinsville, 1 in Lexington) pays about $1,800 to start, versus $1,400 for a regular five-day week.
• No overnight trips required. It's there if you want it.

Core Values

Lots of companies mention core values at orientation and never bring them up again. This is NOT the case at HBH.

We talk about them and practice them daily (with varying levels of success). So please be aware of them, ask about them, and know we will be holding ourselves to them (the owner included, and especially). They are:

1. Responsibility - different than blame, focused on learning

2. Curiosity - holding your opinions lightly

3. Candor - speaking your unarguable truth, not withholding from others

4. Agreements - making clear ones, cleaning up broken ones

For more details about these commitments, see the book "The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership". You'll be getting a copy at orientation.

Many people have left the company or been asked to leave because they (or we) realized they weren't interested in living these values...which means all we've got left are people who are. If you're one of them, you'll love this work environment.