Behavioral Health Counselor-Engagement Specialist, Community Support

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare•DeKalb, IL

11d•$27 - $39

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Counselor - Engagement Specialist is part of Northwestern Medicine’s Community Support Team and provides direct care to psychiatric patients. The role engages patients, their support networks, and the treatment milieu to facilitate positive outcomes while upholding Northwestern Medicine’s mission, values, ethics, policies, and regulatory standards. The position provides crisis intervention, assessment, referral, case management, and follow-up in person, by telephone, via telehealth, and through home or community visits. The counselor coordinates with clinicians, therapists, law enforcement, social service agencies, and other Northwestern Medicine departments to connect individuals with appropriate mental health care, substance use treatment, housing, and other services. Community-based work includes weekly case management and travel to multiple work sites and community locations. This is a daytime, Monday–Friday position scheduled for 40 hours per week (1.0 FTE). The hourly compensation range is $27.05–$39.22.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Obtain Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) certification within 12 months of hire.
Valid driver’s license.
Current auto liability insurance.
Annual driving record abstract.
Ability to travel daily to multiple work sites and community locations.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of direct experience working with individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness.
Experience serving on a 590-designated Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT), Community Support Team (CST), and/or Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, providing immediate behavioral health interventions in community settings.

Responsibilities

Provide immediate in-person and telehealth support and intervention to people in crisis, including those at imminent risk of suicide, needing urgent resources, or experiencing emotional distress.
Assess individual needs and connect people to appropriate services, including mental health care, substance use treatment, and safe housing.
Collaborate with clinicians, other professionals, law enforcement, social service agencies, and Northwestern Medicine departments to coordinate comprehensive patient support.
Transport individuals to necessary services or safe locations as needed.
Facilitate support groups and deliver staff training sessions.
Conduct follow-up services and home- or community-based visits within required timeframes, including weekly case management visits.
Use lived experience with mental health or substance use to build peer-level connections and trust.
Partner with assigned clinical therapists to provide individual interventions and manage patient crises.
Monitor and document patient progress toward treatment goals.
Plan patient discharge and linkage by securing treatment resources and scheduling follow-up appointments.
Lead new-patient orientations to explain services and expectations.
Complete intake evaluations and assessments, documenting justification for recommended levels of care using placement criteria.
Cross-train across Behavioral Health Services units and pursue professional development opportunities.
Contribute to Integrated Assessment and Treatment Plans with the multidisciplinary team.
Complete required documentation within designated time limits.
Communicate effectively and respectfully with team members across clinical disciplines.
Educate patients about self-help groups and encourage their use as ongoing supports.
Recognize street drugs and substances of abuse, including withdrawal symptoms.
Conduct telephone inquiry screenings and determine appropriate dispositions.
Apply patient placement criteria to identify appropriate levels of care and communicate with Managed Care for pre-certification.
Report incidents involving patients or staff that may compromise safety to the team lead and manager.
Support the intake process by handling inquiry calls as assigned.