Counselor III/Clinician - MRT

Lake County, IL; Waukegan (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center seeks a Counselor III for its Mobile Crisis Response team. The role includes in-community crisis intervention, phone support, and walk-in services, with coordination alongside Engagement Specialists and law enforcement to assess needs and link to resources.

The position requires a clinical approach to stabilization, safety planning, and treatment planning with clients and families, and involves on-call and weekend coverage as needed.

Qualifications

• Requires degrees in behavioral sciences or related field with applicable experience.
• Clinical certification/licensure as applicable in Illinois (IAODAPCA, LPC/LCPC, LCSW, or psychologist).
• Valid driver’s license and access to personal vehicle for outreach activities.

Responsibilities

• Provide mobile crisis intervention in community, via phone, and walk-ins.
• Perform clinical assessments, crisis stabilization, and safety planning with clients.
• Coordinate with Engagement Specialists, law enforcement, and crisis teams.
• Respond to crisis dispatch and walk-ins, offering referrals and linkage to care.
• Document clinical assessments, plans, and data per program/state/federal standards.
• Participate in outreach, team meetings, and supervision.

Skills

Crisis intervention

De-escalation

Treatment planning

Safety planning

Collaboration

Client education

Education

Associate’s degree in behavioral sciences

Bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences

Master’s degree in behavioral sciences

Tools

LCHD/CHC software

Job description

The Counselor III is a valuable member of our Mobile Crisis Response team who provides mobile crisis intervention services to clients where they are located - in the community, over the phone and walk-ins. The counselor will be dispatched into the community to respond to crises as part of the mobile response team. Works collaboratively with Engagement Specialists, law enforcement, and other crisis team members to respond to crisis situations. Evaluates and assesses clients for appropriate level of care, referrals, and linkage to resources. Prepares and implements treatment plans, crisis stabilization plans and safety plans with clients. Provides therapeutic and supportive services to clients and families, de-escalating the situation and assisting with obtaining a higher level of care when needed. Responsible for crisis response coverage over the telephone and in person.

Scheduled Hours: 40 hours per week

• Sunday to Thursday (8:00AM-4:30PM)
• Rotating on call schedule

• Provides direct crisis intervention services to clients and families which includes de-escalation, stabilization and linkage to appropriate levels of care, both in-person and via crisis phone lines
• Responds to dispatch requests immediately and works collaboratively with the Engagement Specialist to provide crisis response.
• Responds to walk-in clients presenting at CCP for crisis services utilizing crisis intervention/evaluation and referrals as appropriate.
• Completes a clinical assessment, stabilization plan and safety plan with the client experiencing a crisis.
• Answers LCHD local crisis line and 988 crisis line to provide phone crisis intervention to callers.
• Collaborates with all crisis staff/programs to provide crisis services.
• Provides community outreach as requested or assigned.
• Works with clients to build their ability to problem-solve and cope with interpersonal conflicts.
• Collaborates with client and the treatment team to develop, review and update treatment goals and referrals both internally and externally.
• Takes responsibility for training in and documentingall requirements includingclinical chart requirements, referrals and data tracking requirementsto meet program, state and federal standards.
• Provides atmosphere of customer service in assuring that clients are treated in a friendly and respectful manner. Displays positive attitudes and behaviors in the accomplishment of job duties.
• Focuses on client empowerment and evidence-based practices in providing treatment, seeking to assist clients to build on strengths in addressing treatment needs.
• Provides education and direction to clients, family members and/or significant others.
• Organizes and participates in treatment-related clinical conferences and staffings on assigned clients. Reports client progress, behavior problems or need for medication evaluation to program supervisors/physicians/psychiatrists regularly.
• Participates in staff meetings, shift reports, in-service trainings, and seminars to facilitate professional growth and maintain licensure if required.
• Responds to inquiries, gives appropriate information and referrals, and documents, if necessary.
• Involved in quality improvement activities on an ongoing basis (such as implementing processes as a result of performance measurement reviews, participation in councils and teams, making suggestions to improve a process, designing curriculum for groups).
• Performs initial evaluations and assessments of potential clients regarding their appropriateness for participation in the respite program. Provides ongoing assessment of client’s progress/growth.
• Acquires and utilizes knowledge of LCHD/CHC software, applications and other equipment commensurate with position.
• Participates in collection of client fees including completing forms for third-part coverage and discussing balances due with clients, as appropriate.
• Provides weekend or evening coverage as required. Requires being on-call and responding to on-call requests on a rotating basis.
• Assists in facilitating transportation of clients.
• Must meet minimum productivity expectations.
• May assist in the orientation and training of new staff.

• Associate’s degree and five (5) years’ experience inbehavioral sciences, or
• Bachelor’s degree and three (3) years’ experience in behavioral sciences, or
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and one (1) year of experience in behavioral sciences, or
• Master’s degree in behavioral sciences and no experience
• Must possess valid driver’s license.
• Requires use of personal vehicle when a LCHD fleet vehicle is not available for outreach activities or to respond to crisis calls in the field.
• Provides community education services as assigned and as self-initiated.

Certification/License

• Clinical certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor from the Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA) or
• Licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical professional counselor pursuant to the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing Act; or
• Physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches pursuant to the Medical Practice Act of 1987; or
• Licensed as a psychologist pursuant to the Clinical Psychology Practice Act [225 ILCS 15]; or
• Licensed as a social worker or licensed clinical social worker pursuant to the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act [225 ILCS 20].

Any new professional staff, who will provide clinical services in a treatment or designated program service and who do not meet the requirements of above when hired shall meet the requirements specified in within two years after the date of employment in the substance use disorder (SUD) field. Time in the SUD field is accumulative, it is not per employment episode.

As the largest human service provider in Lake County, we believe that services must be available without barriers. No residents are turned away due to the inability to pay. We believe in providing services in an environment of mutual respect, free of discrimination or bias. Whether assuring accessible and effective care, impacting policy, or assessing and monitoring risks, the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center has been an essential part of the public health system in Lake County for 60 years. We are looking for passionate, qualified team members who can help make a difference in our agency and, most importantly, in our community.

Additional information about the Lake County Health Department, our culture, and why you should join our team can be found at https://lakecountyil.attract.neogov.com/health-department.

At this time, you must live in Illinois or Wisconsin to be eligible to work at Lake County Health Department. You can find our salary grades at https://www.lakecountyil.gov/4515/Salary-Grades. For unionized positions, a list of our collective bargaining agreements can be found here: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/2686/Collective-Bargaining-Agreements.

Any offer of employment is conditioned on the successful completion of a background screening, drug and alcohol testing and may include a pre-employment medical exam.

The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.