Counselor III/Clinician - MRT

Lake County•Waukegan, IL

About The Position

The Counselor III is a member of the Mobile Crisis Response team and provides crisis intervention where clients are located, including in the community, over the phone, and for walk-in clients. The counselor is dispatched into the community as part of the mobile response team and works collaboratively with Engagement Specialists, law enforcement, and other crisis team members. The role evaluates clients for an appropriate level of care, referrals, and resource connections; develops and implements treatment, crisis stabilization, and safety plans; and provides therapeutic and supportive services to clients and families, including de-escalation and assistance in obtaining a higher level of care when needed. The position provides crisis coverage by telephone and in person, including responding to the LCHD local crisis line and 988 crisis line. It also includes assessment and support for clients in the respite program, community outreach and education, care coordination, documentation, quality improvement activities, and participation in clinical conferences and staff development. The counselor may assist with transportation and training new staff, and must meet minimum productivity expectations. The scheduled hours are 40 per week, Sunday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a rotating on-call schedule. Weekend or evening coverage may be required. The position requires a valid driver’s license and use of a personal vehicle for outreach or field crisis responses when an LCHD fleet vehicle is unavailable. Applicants must live in Illinois or Wisconsin to be eligible to work at the Lake County Health Department.

Requirements

Associate’s degree and five years of experience in behavioral sciences; or bachelor’s degree and three years of experience in behavioral sciences; or bachelor’s degree in a related field and one year of experience in behavioral sciences; or master’s degree in behavioral sciences with no experience.
Valid driver’s license.
Use a personal vehicle for outreach activities or field crisis responses when an LCHD fleet vehicle is unavailable.
Clinical certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor from IAODAPCA, or an applicable professional license: licensed professional counselor, licensed clinical professional counselor, physician, psychologist, social worker, or licensed clinical social worker.
New professional staff who provide clinical services in a treatment or designated program service and do not meet the specified certification or licensure requirements when hired must meet them within two years after employment in the substance use disorder field; time in the SUD field is cumulative.
Must live in Illinois or Wisconsin to be eligible to work at the Lake County Health Department.
Successful completion of background screening and drug and alcohol testing is a condition of employment; a pre-employment medical exam may also be required.

Responsibilities

Provide direct crisis intervention to clients and families, including de-escalation, stabilization, and linkage to appropriate levels of care, in person and through crisis phone lines.
Respond immediately to dispatch requests and collaborate with Engagement Specialists to provide crisis response.
Respond to walk-in clients seeking crisis services, using crisis intervention, evaluation, and referrals as appropriate.
Complete clinical assessments, stabilization plans, and safety plans with clients experiencing crises.
Answer the LCHD local crisis line and 988 crisis line and provide phone crisis intervention.
Collaborate with crisis staff and programs to provide crisis services.
Provide community outreach as requested or assigned.
Help clients develop problem-solving and coping skills for interpersonal conflicts.
Collaborate with clients and treatment teams to develop, review, and update treatment goals and internal and external referrals.
Complete required training and documentation, including clinical charts, referrals, and data tracking, to meet program, state, and federal standards.
Provide friendly, respectful customer service and promote client empowerment and evidence-based treatment practices.
Educate and provide direction to clients, family members, and significant others.
Organize and participate in treatment-related clinical conferences and staffings for assigned clients.
Regularly report client progress, behavioral concerns, or needs for medication evaluation to program supervisors, physicians, or psychiatrists.
Participate in staff meetings, shift reports, in-service trainings, and seminars to support professional growth and maintain licensure if required.
Respond to inquiries, provide appropriate information and referrals, and document as necessary.
Participate in ongoing quality improvement activities, including process improvements, councils and teams, and curriculum design for groups.
Conduct initial evaluations and assessments of potential respite-program clients and assess client progress over time.
Learn and use LCHD/CHC software, applications, and other equipment as appropriate to the position.
Participate in client fee collection, including completing third-party coverage forms and discussing balances due when appropriate.
Provide weekend or evening coverage as required and respond to on-call requests on a rotating basis.
Assist with facilitating client transportation.
Meet minimum productivity expectations.
Assist with orienting and training new staff as needed.
Provide community education services as assigned or self-initiated.