Clinical Counselor (52060)

WestCare Inc; Oklahoma; On-site; USD 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

WestCare is seeking a dedicated professional to provide a range of programs for clients in substance abuse and mental health treatment at Logan Correctional Facility (Lincoln, IL). The role involves assessments, treatment planning, group education, and post-release planning within IDOC guidelines.

Responsibilities include documenting progress, coordinating services, and ensuring confidentiality. Qualifications include relevant licensure or certification and a strong background in offender

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice, or related field preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of two years experience with offender, dual diagnosed populations, and substance abusers.
• Bilingual preferred.
• Must be highly organized, detail oriented, and have excellent time management.
• Must possess strong computer skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to pass background check and obtain OIG LEIE clearance.
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug screening.

Responsibilities

• Complete assessment of each client with required assessment tools.
• Initiate and sustain motivation to participate in treatment using engagement techniques.
• Develop a comprehensive service plan with input from the client and within IDOC constraints.
• Provide daily treatment and curriculum-based education groups on therapeutic communities and related topics.
• Assist clients in developing self-help groups such as AA/NA.
• Maintain client treatment files in accordance with policies and securely stored.
• Develop post-release plans.
• Provide supervision and scheduling of therapeutic activities.
• Maintain confidentiality per regulations.
• Submit weekly client data for WestCare database entry.
• Attend required staff development training and cross-training.
• Embrace WestCare's mission, vision, and goals.

Skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Computer skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Background check

OIG LEIE clearance

Drug screening

Bilingual

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work/psychology/criminal justice

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Location: Logan Correctional Facility - 1096 1350th, Lincoln, IL 62656. Position Type: Full Time. Education Level: High School. Salary Range: $19.20 – $23.08 per hour. Travel Percentage: Negligible. Job Shift: Day. Job Category: Nonprofit – Social Services. Benefits details are available at https://westcare.link/ILOTHER.

Position Summary

Person in this position will be responsible for providing a variety of programs in relation to substance abuse and mental health for clients participating in the program. Essential job functions are outlined below.

Essential Job Functions

• Complete assessment of each client with required assessment tools.
• Initiate and sustain each individual's motivation to participate in treatment, using techniques of engagement, including therapeutic relationships, individual counseling, and brief interventions based on the stages of change.
• Develop a comprehensive service plan for each client that includes the results of assessments, and short- and long-term treatment goals and objectives of the client (the service plan is developed with the input of the client, but within the limitations imposed by IDOC).
• Provide daily treatment and curriculum-based education groups on the basic concepts of therapeutic communities, emotional incarceration, relapse prevention, motivation for treatment and the stages of change, communicable diseases, cognitive skills, conflict resolution, fundamental social skills, and personal moral development.
• Assist clients in the development of self‑help groups, such as AA/NA, which offer clients an opportunity to support one another in recovery.
• Maintain individual client treatment files in accordance with agency policies and procedures, including documentation of vocational/educational activities, as well as all other pertinent documentation and ensure files are securely stored.
• Develop post‑release plans.
• Provide general client supervision, including planning and scheduling therapeutic activities.
• Provide coping skills for clients with gambling and other addictions beyond substance abuse.
• Maintain all information according to the laws of confidentiality as required by the Federal Register, General Provisions, Title 42, Chapter 1, Part 2, which prohibits making disclosures without the specific written consent of the client, or as otherwise permitted by such regulations.
• Obtain a signed release of confidential information (disclosure form) from each client authorizing review of case files for quality assurance reviews and evaluation of WestCare performance, and maintain as a part of the client file.
• Maintain thorough records of each client's participation, including participant IDOC number, unique identifier for the WestCare program, beginning and ending dates of service, number of hours of participation, and number of days of participation.
• Submit all individual client data on a weekly basis for entry in to the WestCare database.
• Attend all required staff development training, including cross‑training, and WestCare in‑service training such as conducting assessments, clinical skills, developing service plans, basic TC concepts, emotional incarceration, relapse prevention, motivation for treatment and stages of change, cognitive skills, conflict resolution, social skills, moral development, communicable diseases, and self‑help groups.
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation.
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Certifications / Licenses

• Hold clinical certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor from the Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA), or be a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Certified Reciprocal Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CRADC), Certified Supervisory Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CSADC), or Certified Masters Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CMADC).
• Meet the requirements specified above within two years after the date of employment.
• Not work in any supervisory capacity until such requirements are met; work under the direct, verifiable supervision of an individual who has staff supervisory responsibility at the facility and who meets the requirements above; sign, and adhere to, a professional code of ethics developed by the organization.

Training

• Must complete training as needed to obtain and then maintain chosen certification.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice, or related field is preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience and Competencies

• Minimum of two years of experience/expertise with offender, dual diagnosed populations, and substance abusers is required.
• Knowledge of offender populations, criminal subcultures, substance abuse assessment tools, therapeutic community concepts.
• Intake and assessment experience is preferred.
• Bilingual is preferred.
• Must be highly organized, detail focused, and have excellent time management.
• Must possess strong computer skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to pass background check.
• Ability to obtain and maintain OIG LEIE clearance.
• Ability to pass pre‑employment drug screening.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality.
• Must have professional appearance and demeanor.
• Ability to obtain and maintain clearance from Illinois Department of Corrections.
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR certification, first aid certification, and an annual tuberculosis test.

Working Conditions

Work is primarily performed in an institutional setting. Some outdoor activities may be required.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

Physical Demands

• Requires mobility and physical activity; adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking, sitting for extended periods, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds; use of computer and telephone systems.
• Requires defending oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved verbal de‑escalation techniques.
• Requires talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word).
• Requires hearing (to receive and communicate detailed information).
• Requires seeing (clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance).
• Normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co‑workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions.
• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.
• Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de‑escalation techniques.