Clinical Counselor

WESTCARE INC • Lincoln, IL

5d • $19 - $23 • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Counselor provides substance abuse and mental health programming to clients participating in a program at Logan Correctional Facility. The counselor assesses clients, engages them in treatment, develops service and post-release plans, delivers treatment and educational groups, supports recovery activities, supervises clients, and maintains confidential treatment and participation records. The role also includes staff training and carrying out the mission and goals of WestCare Foundation.

Work is primarily performed in an institutional setting, with some outdoor activities potentially required. The position requires working with offender, dual-diagnosed, and substance-abusing populations, and may involve emotionally charged situations. Some exposure to human blood, body fluids, or tissues may occur as a condition of employment; appropriate personal protective equipment will be available.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least two years of experience or expertise with offender, dual-diagnosed, and substance-abusing populations.
• Hold qualifying clinical certification or licensure: Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (Illinois IAODAPCA), LCPC, CRADC, CSADC, or CMADC; alternatively, meet the applicable requirements within two years of employment. Until requirements are met, the employee may not work in a supervisory capacity and must work under direct, verifiable supervision of a qualified individual with staff supervisory responsibility at the facility.
• Sign and adhere to a professional code of ethics developed by the organization.
• Complete training needed to obtain and maintain the chosen certification.
• Knowledge of offender populations, criminal subcultures, substance abuse assessment tools, and therapeutic community concepts.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and time-management skills.
• Strong computer skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screening.
• Ability to obtain and maintain OIG LEIE clearance and clearance from the Illinois Department of Corrections.
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR and first aid certifications and complete an annual tuberculosis test.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion and work well in a team environment.
• Adherence to high ethical standards, especially confidentiality requirements.
• Professional appearance and demeanor.
• Ability to perform essential duties with or without accommodation, including mobility and physical activity; standing, walking, sitting for extended periods, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, and occasionally lifting or carrying up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to use computer and telephone systems, including typing, writing, and handling files.
• Ability to use approved verbal and mental/verbal de-escalation techniques to defend oneself and clients in abusive situations.
• Ability to speak, hear, and see as needed to communicate, give instructions, complete paperwork, and observe client behavior.
• Ability to analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information, cooperate and communicate with people at all levels, and work under stress in emotionally charged settings.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Complete client assessments using required assessment tools.
• Engage clients and sustain their motivation to participate in treatment through therapeutic relationships, individual counseling, and brief interventions based on the stages of change.
• Develop a comprehensive service plan with each client, incorporating assessment results and short- and long-term treatment 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 personal moral development.
• Assist clients in developing self-help groups, such as AA/NA.
• Maintain individual treatment files in accordance with agency policies and procedures, including vocational and educational activities and other pertinent documentation, and ensure files are securely stored.
• Develop post-release plans.
• Provide general client supervision, including planning and scheduling therapeutic activities.
• Protect confidential information in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Obtain and retain client-signed releases authorizing case-file review for quality assurance and evaluation.
• Maintain thorough records of client participation, including required identifiers and service dates, hours, and days.
• 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 WestCare Foundation’s mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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