Counselor

WESTCARE INC•Lincoln, IL

16d•$19 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

The Counselor provides substance abuse-related programs to clients participating in the program at Logan Correctional Facility. The role includes assessing clients, engaging them in treatment, developing service plans, delivering treatment and educational groups, supporting recovery activities, supervising clients, and maintaining accurate and confidential records. The Counselor also submits client participation data, attends required staff development and training, and upholds WestCare Foundation’s mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals. The work is primarily performed in an institutional setting, with some outdoor activities potentially required.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Hold clinical certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) from IAODAPCA, or meet the specified requirements within two years of employment; until those requirements are met, do not work in a supervisory capacity and work under direct, verifiable supervision of a qualified individual with staff supervisory responsibility.
Sign and adhere to the organization's professional code of ethics.
If CADC licensed, complete 40 hours of continuing education biennially.
Within two years of hire, obtain 150 hours of clinical supervision, complete 225 hours of training/education, and pass the CADC written examination to obtain licensure.
Knowledge of offender populations, criminal subcultures, substance abuse assessment tools, and therapeutic community concepts.
Highly organized, detail-focused, with excellent time management.
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 exercise good judgment and discretion and work well in a team environment.
Adhere to the highest ethical standards, especially confidentiality standards.
Professional appearance and demeanor.
Ability to obtain and maintain CPR certification, first aid certification, and an annual tuberculosis test.
Ability to perform the essential physical and mental duties with or without accommodation, including mobility, standing, walking, sitting for extended periods, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, and occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds.
Ability to use computer and telephone systems, including typing, writing, and handling files.
Ability to use approved verbal de-escalation techniques to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations, and approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques in abusive situations.
Ability to speak, hear, and see as needed to communicate, complete paperwork, and observe client behavior and activities.
Ability to analyze complex numerical, written, and verbal information and reach logical conclusions.
Ability to cooperate and communicate with clients, coworkers, managers, the public, and employees at all levels.
Ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.

Nice To Haves

Master's or bachelor's degree preferred.
Intake and assessment experience preferred.
Bilingual preferred.

Responsibilities

Complete assessments of clients using required assessment tools.
Initiate and sustain each client's motivation to participate in treatment through engagement, therapeutic relationships, individual counseling, and brief interventions based on stages of change.
Develop comprehensive service plans with clients, including assessment results and short- and long-term treatment goals and objectives, within IDOC limitations.
Provide daily treatment and curriculum-based education groups on 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, to support recovery.
Maintain individual client treatment files under agency policies and procedures, including documentation of vocational and educational activities, and ensure files are securely stored.
Provide general client supervision, including planning and scheduling therapeutic activities.
Protect confidential information in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Obtain and retain signed client releases authorizing OSAP to review case files for quality assurance and evaluation purposes.
Maintain thorough records of each client's participation, including IDOC and program 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 WestCare Foundation's mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals.
Perform other duties as assigned.