School-Based Counselor

About the Center: The Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center of St. Clair County is located in East St. Louis, IL. The Center has been in operation since 1957 serving the needs of children, adolescents, and adults.

Our mission is to provide quality individualized essential services for people in need of emotional, rehabilitative and social support. We strive to be the top-ranking Community Behavioral Health Center within its size, population and category within the State of Illinois.

Overview: This is an opportunity for a Master’s-level social worker or counselor to provide behavioral health assistance to children and adolescents within a school community of great need. This person will be on-site in the school district.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide high-quality service using evidence-based practices.
• Assess students using IM+CANS, develop diagnosis and determine student’s appropriateness for services using the DSM-V.
• Work with students and parents to develop and put treatments plan in place.
• Ensure all documentation is completed on the same day of service.
• Provide essential mental health support for students who have had mobile crisis response screening resulting in deflection or hospitalization.
• Provide short-term individual counseling to students who are experiencing social/emotional/behavioral problems that interfere with their learning or the ability of others to learn.
• Assist with conflict resolution and anger management, as well as helping students with the transition process between schools and those returning from alternative placements.
• Maintain an ongoing caseload and occasionally see students at their homes or at the agency outside of school hours.
• Integrate services through collaboration and a multi-disciplinary approach to determine how best to meet individual students' needs.
• Attend training sessions, staffing at the school, and weekly department meetings at the agency.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Practices and understanding of the impact traumatic experiences can have on youth development and learning abilities.
• Knowledge of and/or preparation in cultural diversity, systems theory, social justice, risk assessment and intervention, consultation and collaboration, and clinical intervention strategies to address mental health needs of students.
• Ability to identify unmet needs and gaps in service delivery systems necessary to support the development of all children.
• Working knowledge of the community resources and support systems available to aid students and their families.
• Ability to deal effectively and appropriately with students, parents and other educational professionals regarding student concerns and problems.
• Ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting and consult with school personnel in developing and implementing effective social and behavioral interventions for students.
• Ability to prioritize use of time, analyze situations accurately, and adopt an effective course of action.

Education and Experience:

• Must possess a master’s degree in social work, Counseling, Psychology or a related field giving knowledge of human behavior, required.
• At least one year of experience counseling children and/or adolescents desired.

Hours:

• Part-time, 16-24 hours per week.

Note: It is possible this position could grow into a full-time position if the program grows in the number of students it serves.

Reports to: Director, Outpatient Services

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $23.09 per hour

Expected hours: 16 – 24 per week

Work Location: In person