Clinical Counselor

Westcare Illinois • Lincoln, IL

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Counselor provides substance abuse and mental health programs for clients participating in the program. The role includes assessing clients, engaging them in treatment, developing service and post-release plans, delivering treatment and educational groups, supporting self-help groups, supervising clients, and maintaining confidential and complete client records. The counselor works in an institutional setting, with some outdoor activities potentially required, and follows WestCare policies, applicable confidentiality requirements, and professional ethical standards.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• At least two years of experience or expertise with offender, dual-diagnosed, and substance-abusing populations is required.
• Must hold clinical certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor through IAODAPCA, or be an LCPC, CRADC, CSADC, or CMADC; alternatively, must meet these requirements within two years after employment.
• Until certification requirements are met, must not work in a supervisory capacity and must work under direct, verifiable supervision of a qualified individual with staff supervisory responsibility at the facility.
• Must sign and adhere to the organization's professional code of ethics.
• Must complete training needed to obtain and maintain the chosen certification.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of offender populations, criminal subcultures, substance abuse assessment tools, and therapeutic community concepts.
• Must be highly organized, detail-focused, and have excellent time-management skills.
• Must possess strong computer skills and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Must be able to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screening.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain OIG LEIE clearance and clearance from the Illinois Department of Corrections.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain CPR and first aid certifications and complete an annual tuberculosis test.
• Must exercise good judgment and discretion, work well in a team, and adhere to high ethical and confidentiality standards.
• Must maintain a professional appearance and demeanor.
• Must be able to perform the essential duties with or without accommodation, including mobility and physical activity; occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds; computer and telephone use; and the ability to defend oneself and clients using approved verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Must be able to speak, hear, and see as required to communicate, complete paperwork, and observe client behavior and activities.
• Must be able to analyze complex numerical, written, and verbal information, cooperate with people at all levels, work under stress in emotionally charged settings, and use approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice, or a related field is preferred.
• Intake and assessment experience is preferred.
• Bilingual ability is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Complete assessments of each client using required assessment tools.
• Engage clients and sustain their motivation to participate in treatment through therapeutic relationships, individual counseling, and brief interventions based on stages of change.
• Develop comprehensive service plans with client input, including assessment results and short- and long-term goals and objectives, within IDOC limitations.
• Provide daily treatment and curriculum-based education groups covering therapeutic communities, emotional incarceration, relapse prevention, treatment motivation and stages of change, communicable diseases, cognitive skills, conflict resolution, social skills, and moral development.
• Assist clients in developing self-help groups such as AA/NA.
• Maintain individual client treatment files according to agency policies and procedures, including vocational and educational activity documentation, and ensure files are securely stored.
• Develop post-release plans.
• Provide general client supervision, including planning and scheduling therapeutic activities.
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with applicable federal regulations and obtain and retain signed releases for quality assurance reviews and performance evaluation.
• Maintain thorough client participation records, including required identifiers, service dates, hours, and days of participation.
• Submit individual client data weekly for entry into the WestCare database.
• Attend required staff development, cross-training, and WestCare in-service training.
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED