Behavioral Health Counselor

Mission: Our mission is to empower immigrants, refugees, and all underserved communities to thrive by removing barriers and providing supports that create opportunities for life.

Vision: To live in a world where all immigrants, refugees and underserved communities have equal access to opportunities and resources and face no barriers to full participation in life. We strive to build a community where diversity is celebrated, and all people are treated with dignity and respect.

Core Values: Core values are the fundamental beliefs and principles that guide our organizations behavior, decision-making and culture.

• Embrace Community
• Advance Opportunity
• Bolster Learning and Growth
• Honor Diversity
• Foster Collaboration
• Champion People

Job Function:

Under the supervision of the Clinical Supervisor, in conjunction with the Director of the Behavioral Health, the Counselor will provide language-specific and culturally sensitive, mental health and case management services to individuals, families and groups experiencing serious mental illness; emotional, relational or developmental problems within the agency and community setting. Behavioral health staff also will handle administrative and programmatic responsibilities related to the mental health programs, as assigned by your supervisor.

This position will require the counselor to provide services in a variery of settings including agency offices, Chicago Public Schools, and within a community partner agency. This person will be expected to provide psychoeducation to members, staff, and partners as part of their clinical caseload. They will also be required to diagnose, complete treatment plans, and complete clinical documentation in accordance with Rule 132/140.

We are seeking a person who is bilingual, Spanish preferred, to achieve Mental Health Equity amongst our community.

We have a strong preference for a candidate with experience working with people with Persistent and Severe Mental Illness and coordinating multiple services for symptom managment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide services that are language-specific to the needs of immigrants and refugees and other underserved communities. This position requires fluency in English and preferred one other language as determined by the needs of Trellus clients. Spanish preferred.

Provide behavioral health counseling to individual and groups in accordance with Rule 132/140; diagnosis, IM+CANS, clinical notes required for all services rendered.

Provide an atmosphere of customer service in assuring that the clients are treated in a friendly and respectful manner. Display a positive attitude and behaviors in the accomplishment of job duties.

Abide by Code of Conduct and Ethics, all other Trellus policy and procedures, and all ethical standards of the professional group to which the individual counselor belongs (I.e., NASW, APA, etc.).

Provide direct services to clients including organizing and facilitating individual and group treatment activities, case management and outreach.

Provide client intake and assessment services, including social history, mental health assessment, social, community and functional assessments.

Develop treatment and rehabilitation plans in cooperation with clients, including reviews and modifications at specified intervals.

Provide case-management including providing or arranging for the provision of concrete resources and services needed by the client, advocacy, linkage, support, consultation and follow-up of these services.

Arrange, provide access, and follow up for psychiatric services, medication management and other medical services, as needed in conjunction with counseling and case management services.

Perform crisis intervention including crisis assessment, counseling, referral, and follow-up services as needed. Provide on call crisis coverage on a rotation basis for after hours to cover 24-hour emergency services.

Target direct service hours are 4.5 hours per 7.5-hour work day; approximate caseload of 22-30 clients.

Intervene with collateral sources, agencies, bureaucracies, facilities, and families on client’s behalf including working in ways that will reduce stigma of mental illness and generate more opportunities in society for client participation.

Provide inter-agency recourse brokerage and advocacy on the client’s behalf, including consultation and translation as needed.

Work in partnership with the clients’ families and significant others, including providing appropriate education to all family members or others in a client’s support system.

Participate in regular mental health related training programs and monthly meetings.

Handle administrative and programmatic responsibilities related to agency mental health programs, asspecifically assigned.

May assist in orientation and training for new staff and community members..

To participate in weekly supervision and staffing, reporting all case work, especially any information that may be ofa critical nature that would require immediate intervention to your supervisor. Report client progress, behavioralproblems or need for medication evaluation to supervisors/psychiatrists/clinical manager.

Involve in quality improvement activities on an ongoing basis such as conducting peer chart reviews monthly andcompleting patient satisfaction surveys bi-annually.

Participate in completing forms for third party coverage and discussing balance s due with clients as appropriate.

Maintain EMR client charts in a timely fashion.

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS (SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES):

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Experience working with mentally ill adults and/or children and adolescents, as appropriate. This position requires fluency in English and preferred a foreign language (preferably Spanish). We are seeking someone with experience working with people with persistent and severe mental illness.

EDUCATION:

Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling, Social Work or Psychology

Current licensure as an LPC, LSW, LCPC, LCSW or LMFT (or ability to earn within 6 months of hiring)

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

All staff who provides direct service to child and adolescent clients (age 17 and younger) is required to pass a background check through the Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS). All mental health staff is also required to pass the Nurse Aide Registry Verification and be certified by DCFS. Background checks for Chicago Public Schools is also required.

Physical Requirements and Working Environment:

Be able to lift 20 lbs and under

It is also possible that work hours may be staggered to provide coverage for certain situations. Office hours are 9AM - 7PM and counselor is expected to work at least one evening a week.

The full variety of Counselor duties cannot be specified here. In general, we expect our staff to work with tenacity, flexibility, empathy, energy and careful attention to detail. We expect our staff to act with the highest ethical standards to help our client’s in the community with comfort and dignity.

Must possess valid driver’s license. Daily access to a personal vehicle is required. Must obtain and maintain $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 bodily injuries and liability insurance.

Trellus is an equal employment opportunity employer dedicated to the fair and equal treatment of all of its employees without regard to age, gender, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, political or union affiliation, maternity status, parental status, military or veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $53,500.00 - $62,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person