Milieu Therapist- Neurodevelopmental Unit

10 HOSP Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 46,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

PTO

Retirement plan

Life and disability insurance

Job summary

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago seeks a Milieu Therapist for the IPU-B inpatient psychiatry unit, a specialized neurodevelopmental program for children and adolescents with autism spectrum and related differences in crisis.

You will help create a safe, structured milieu tailored to developmental needs. Responsibilities include direct patient care, leading milieu activities, implementing plans of care and collaborating with nurses and clinicians.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, nursing, social services or other related fields.
• Minimum of one year of direct experience in a mental health setting, paid or unpaid, preferred.
• Strong knowledge of basic child care and development, mental disorders affecting children, signs of abuse/neglect.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct patient care in a therapeutic environment focusing on behavior modification and social skills.
• Completes duties assigned by Charge Nurse, Clinical Managers/Manager of Clinical Services and/or Unit Director.
• Leads milieu activities per program and sets age-appropriate goals and boundaries.
• Implements care plans and behavior programs initiated by the team.
• Assists in group therapy, recreational therapy, classroom and other activities as assigned.
• Maintains safety in the milieu and uses de-escalation techniques.
• Intervenes in emergency situations and follows protocols.
• Communicates changes in health or behavior to appropriate staff.
• Documents patient status and progress in Medical Records per guidelines.

Education

Bachelor's Degree (Required)

Job description

Location

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Job Description

The Milieu Therapist will serve as a designated staff member for Inpatient Psychiatry Unit, IPU-B, a specialized neurodevelopmental inpatient unit designed to provide care for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders and differences, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who are experiencing a mental health or behavioral health crisis.

The Milieu Therapist will support a safe, therapeutic, and structured milieu tailored to the unique developmental and behavioral needs of this patient population.

Clinician Responsibilities

• Provides direct patient care in a therapeutic environment focusing on areas of behavior modification, improved social skills, more effective coping skills, etc.
• Completes duties assigned by Charge Nurse, Clinical Managers/ Manager of Clinical Services and/or Unit Director.
• Leads and co-leads milieu activities per program.
• Actively sets and communicates age/developmentally appropriate individual goals, expectations and behavioral limits within the parameters of the program.
• Implements plans of care and individual behavior programs initiated by team.
• Assists in group therapy, recreational therapy, classroom and other activities as assigned.
• Maintains safety in the milieu, utilizing prevention and de-escalation CCM techniques.
• Independently performs unit specific procedures, protocols and precautions.
• Intervenes in anticipated emergency situations and knows emergency protocols.
• Communicates changes in health or behavior to appropriate staff (nurse, primary therapist, physician, etc.).
• Documents patient status and progress in patient's Medical Record as per program guidelines.

Team Membership

• Supports clinical operations and decisions related to treatment plans.
• Responds to environmental concerns (maintenance/cleanliness) of the area.
• Participates in staff meetings as scheduled.
• Adheres to scheduling requirements.

Professional Development

• Maintains mandatory yearly reviews.
• Appropriately seeks out supervision to function in professional role.
• Assumes responsibility for professional development through participation in continuing educational events, conferences, group supervision and in-services, etc.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree required in psychology, nursing, social services or other related fields.
• Minimum of one year of direct experience in a mental health setting, paid or unpaid, preferred.
• Must have strong knowledge of basic child care and development, mental disorders affecting children, signs of physical abuse/neglect, appropriate adult conduct towards normal and disturbed children, etc.

Special Physical Requirements

sits and stands throughout the day. Physical management of patients in crisis situation may be necessary.

Education

Bachelor's Degree (Required)

Pay Range

$22.25-$36.38 Hourly

Additional Compensation

In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offer a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs. For more details on other compensation, consult your recruiter or click the following link to learn more about our benefits.

Benefit Statement

For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes: Medical, dental and vision insurance Employer paid group term life and disability Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account Flexible Spending Accounts Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave 403(b) with a 5% employer match Various voluntary benefits: Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage Tuition assistance Student loan servicing and support Adoption benefits Backup Childcare and Eldercare Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities Discount purchasing program

There’s a Place for You with Us

At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and its affiliates (collectively “Lurie Children’s”), we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

For questions about how to request an accommodation please contact: [e-mail]

AI Notice

Lurie Children’s utilizes certain AI-enabled features within our recruiting platform to support candidate engagement and assist recruiters in identifying and prioritizing applicants whose experience aligns with job requirements. All employment decisions are made by individuals. It is a civil rights violation with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, or employment for an employer to use artificial intelligence that has the effect of subjecting employees to discrimination on the basis of protected classes under the Illinois Human Rights Act or to use zip codes as a proxy for protected classes. For questions about the use of artificial intelligence in this process or any additional support, please contact: [e-mail]

Closing Summary

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do.