PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER - JTDC

Cook County Health; Illinois; On-site; USD 97,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Pension Plan

Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time

PSLF eligibility

Job summary

The Psychiatric Social Worker at Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) within Cook County Health delivers developmental, behavioral and family/social assessments and interventions for youth at JTDC, including screening for mental health and substance use and linking to community services.

The role requires coordinating with health, court, probation, school staff; supervising trainees; developing treatment plans and community re-entry plans; and advocating for residents to restore and

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Social Work with clinical focus.
• Illinois LCSW licensure required.
• 4 years of experience in assessment, treatment, and case management for youth.
• 1 year of experience with juvenile justice populations.
• Experience with evidence-based therapies (CBT, trauma-informed CBT, DBT, MI).

Responsibilities

• Interviews residents to assess behavioral health and social determinants.
• Writes reports describing mental health assessments.
• Assists in creating treatment plans involving family participants.
• Conducts behavioral assessments including risk assessment.
• Provides individual/group/family counseling and crisis intervention.
• Manages community linkage and transition to community-based care.

Skills

LCSW licensure

Juvenile justice experience

Evidence-based therapies (CBT/DBT)

Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred)

Education

Master’s Degree in Social Work (clinical focus)

Job description

LOCATION

Juvenile Temporary Detention Center

DEPARTMENT

Behavioral Health

SHIFT

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

PAY RANGE

$97,116 - $109,897 YEARLY

Salary is commensurate with years of experience indicated at time of application submittal. Experience not disclosed or documented at the time of application will not be considered for initial step placement.

SUMMARY

JOB SUMMARY NON-UNION The Psychiatric Social Worker, JTDC is responsible to deliver developmental, behavioral and family/social system assessment and intervention for youth and adolescents at Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC); timely screening of mental health and substance use conditions including an assessment of family /support system; linkage and transition services for the resident and their family/support system; linkage and transition services to community based treatment services; effective team-work coordination with other health care, court, probation, program, and school professionals; and facilitating the improvement of quality timely linkage with community behavioral health programs, including resident preparation and transition to community care and programs designed to educate the residents’ family and support systems in community sentinel and support systems facilitating restoration and recovery. Participates in supervising behavioral professionals in training, such as Field Placement Students in Social Work, Psychology Post-Doctoral Residents, Pre-Doctoral Interns, and Practicum Students.

TYPICAL DUTIES

• Interviews residents to assess his/her behavioral health, including diagnosis, psycho-social, family/support, and social determinants of health needs, and respond to his/her immediate concerns.
• Writes reports describing all pertinent facts and conclusions resulting from the mental health assessment.
• Assists resident in drawing up written agreements and proposals specifying roles and responsibilities of each family participant in a resident’s treatment plan.
• Conducts behavioral assessments flowing from the intake assessment, for example for determination of suicidal or homicidal risk and guidance for the program staff in keeping the resident and unit safe.
• Conducts daily rounds and consults with staff to ensure residents are doing well and to evaluate environmental alerts/confinement checks.
• Monitors residents for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects, or complications.
• Supports psychotropic medication management prescribed by JTDC psychiatry staff focusing on education with residents on treatment adherence, side effects, and other complications, and effectiveness of treatment.
• Provides individual/group/family counseling and crisis intervention that are evidence-based for juvenile justice populations.
• Provides direct patient services on an “on call” basis as assigned. Responds by telephone call on a timely basis, and report to the facility as soon as possible when clinically appropriate.
• Delivers interventions designed to facilitate progress toward a more community-based level of care.
• Conducts social environment assessment and treatment work with communication and coordination with the nursing staff, medical staff, program staff, school staff, probation staff, and court staff.
• Supports residents with development of appropriate coping skills, such as affect management , especially anger management, through introduction to evidence-based practices used widely in the community, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed CBT, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
• Builds community re-entry plans based on data from the social work intake and assessments.
• Assists in the assessment of residents and their family/support system, especially in keeping with the goal mental health recovery in the community setting.
• Provides active community case-coordination to assist and establish community treatment options.
• Engages in teamwork coordination with case management services based in the court, probation, JTDC, and other resident agents and resources.
• Facilitates mental health treatment linkage for residents and their families/support system in the community.
• Uncovers barriers to adjustment and provide recommendations for removing barriers to support recovery.
• Develops service and treatment plans.
• Educates, coaches, and supports the practice for the resident and their families regarding best use of educational, recreational, health/mental health, and other community resources.
• Informs residents of appointments, including scheduled appearances.
• Discusses with staff and referral sources resident reaction to services/treatment received to aid in evaluating adequacy of future services/treatments to enhance engagement and recovery.
• Works with resident to modify plans to meet program requirements and education opportunities.
• Maintains a record of appointments, case review dates, due dates, etc.
• Contacts relatives and friends of resident to encourage them to help provide needed services, with resident’s consent.
• Recommends whether case/situations require emergency or routine handling.
• Assesses and builds Family, kinship, and community support systems through linkage activities such as education and brief multi-system (family, kinship, community) consulting.
• Documents clinical and case work services.
• Meets to coordinate services with JTDC case workers.
• Assists in training students and interns in techniques designed to facilitate efficient and effective use of a brief stay in JTDC and to facilitate solid linkage with community services.
• Assists in training techniques designed to facilitate step-wise transition to a lesser level of care focused mainly on the more chronically mentally ill residents at JTDC and consulting with other case-work services providers in facilitating solid linkage with community services.
• Participates in presentations at professional meetings pertaining to JTDC.
• Maintains records in accordance with Cook County Health and county policies, and completed required outcomes and protocols.
• Works in collaboration with a team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, mental health specialists, and other supervisees to develop and deliver an integrated plan of services.
• Shares specialized clinical knowledge with colleagues.
• Participates in completing performance reports of relevant mental health staff upon request.
• Gives clinical presentations for the clinical staff.
• Recommends new programs for appropriate treatment of patients.
• Acts as a clinical consultant within the facility.
• Responds to subpoenas and court-ordered documents with consultation with the Medical Mental Health Program Director and Chief Psychologist.
• Participates in the ongoing training, education, and support of student behavioral health staff in techniques designed to facilitate an effective brief stay in JTDC.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with institution and/or field staff in order to provide a continuum of care.
• Review file material and/or obtain information from institution and/or field staff in order to make psychological recommendations.
• Consult in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs following guidelines provided by the Medical Mental Health Program Director and Chief Psychologist.
• Participate with other clinical staff in structured case conferences and staffing intended to conceptualize case diagnostics, formulate treatment plans, and further professional development.
• Attend workshops, training sessions, and meetings as required.
• Reports to the Chief Psychologist, JTDC.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university focusing on clinical social work with a concentration on mental health is required (Copy of official transcripts due at the time of interview)
• License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW) in the State of Illinois is required (Must provide proof at time of interview)
• Four (4) years of prior experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker performing assessment, treatment, and case management for youth who have mental health or substance use conditions is required
• One (1) year of experience working with juvenile justice populations, i.e. youth and/or adolescents is required
• Current experience using evidence-based therapy techniques for youth (e.g. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Informed CBT, Dialectical Behavioral therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, etc.) is required

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual in English/Spanish is preferred.
• Certification as an Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Counselor or Board Registered as a Mental Illness-Substance Abuse Counselor (MISA I, MISA II) is preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

• Knowledge of the principles and practice of the psychological diagnosis in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and International Classification of Disorders (ICD).
• Knowledge of evidence-based treatment modalities, including individual and group.
• Knowledge of dynamics of human relations, social work methods, interviewing techniques, problem identification and solving techniques, culturally different values (cultural awareness).
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system, including specific roles of probation, courts, GALs, family, etc.
• Knowledge of community resources, support systems, and legal procedures.
• Basic knowledge of computer databases and keyboarding skills.
• Demonstrated skill with dual diagnosis: substance abuse & mental illness.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to work in team treatment settings.
• Demonstrated ability to work with both female and male adolescent residents.
• Desirable qualifications include: professional memberships and publications indicating experience and expertise with the population served.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

This position is functioning within a healthcare environment. The incumbent is responsible for adherence to all hospital and department-specific safety requirements. This includes but is not limited to the following policies and procedures: complying with Personal Protective Equipment requirements, hand washing and sanitizing practices, complying with department-specific engineering and work practice controls, and any other work area safety precautions as specified by hospital-wide policy and departmental procedures.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the personnel so classified.

For purposes of the American with Disabilities Act, “Typical Duties” are essential job functions.

VETERAN PREFERENCE

PLEASE READ When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service.

To Take Advantage Of This Preference, a Veteran Must

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, “Are you a Military Veteran?”
• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable

OR

• A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver’s License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link: http://www.cookcountyrisk.com/

• Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States’ territories and Canada, must be credentialed by an approved U. S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.
• Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications, and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.
• CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing, or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH & HOSPITALS SYSTEM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Job Posting

Oct 22, 2026, 3:54:16 PM

Collective Bargaining Unit

NONE

Organization

Health and Hospital Systems