Mental Health Specialist CST

Envision Unlimited•Chicago, IL

About The Position

About Envision Unlimited: Founded in 1948 in Chicago, Envision Unlimited provides a full spectrum of care for individuals with disabilities ranging in age from infancy to 80+. We serve all individuals regardless of race, gender, religion, or ability to pay. Our innovative services span Chicagoland and Central Illinois and include community living, day programs, behavioral health, employment services, family respite, and foster care. Our innovative services span Chicagoland and Central Illinois and include community living, day programs, behavioral health, employment services, family respite, foster care and Supportive Housing. Learn more at: www.envisionunlimited.org Summary: Member of a multi-disciplinary team providing comprehensive mental health services to clients residing in the community in need of enhanced services beyond what a traditional outpatient program provides, including recent discharges from in-patient facilities. Must maintain compliance with all clinical documentation for assigned caseload, including but not limited to IM-CANs, LOCUS, and consents. Will provide individual and group therapy, medication training, skill building, crisis intervention and case management services to clients using a recovery model within client’s home or within community. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology or related field. Will consider bachelor level staff with extensive mental health experience.
Must be able to work with diverse populations with multi-faceted needs.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, decision making, problem solving, computer and organizational skills needed, with demonstrated ability to engage clients.
Individual must be able to work both autonomously and within a team dynamic.
Valid driver’s license, with insured automobile to travel to multiple locations required.
Knowledge of Medicaid rule 132/140 a plus.

Nice To Haves

Experience with clients with substance abuse issues and/or CADC a plus. Experience in working directly with clients with severe mental or physical illness also preferred.

Responsibilities

Work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to implement recovery-oriented services to clients using evidenced based practices.
Work collaboratively with team leader and staff attending case staffing's and clinical meetings as needed.
Conduct assessments, including IM-CANs, to determine need/appropriateness for services, and coordinate linkage to services identified.
Provide clients with referral, linkage, and follow-up services as needed.
Provide services needed to achieve psychiatric stability including crisis intervention, therapy, medication training, community support and case management services.
Work with CST team to facilitate individual and group skill building activities to aid clients with achieving recovery goals that promote community living at highest potential possible.
Assist clients to secure and maintain entitlements.
Develop and implement therapeutic recreational opportunities for clients.
Responsible for maintaining compliance with all clinical documentation for assigned caseload.
Maintain and update client’s pertinent information within the MH electronic care system i.e. face sheets, contacts, consents, and diagnoses.
Achieve assigned productivity targets and complete progress note documentation within 24 hours of providing services.
In conjunction with the client’s treatment team, keep client’s family, guardian, and other Envision Unlimited staff informed of the client’s progress, including emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and medication changes/adjustments.
Provide information to outside agencies as requested to coordinate and assure the appropriateness of services.
Provide and document crisis interventions as needed, within 24 hours of an incident, and complete an incident report when necessary.
Work with CST team to manage client recruitment, prior authorization and on-going utilization management and other administrative requirements of the program.
Participate in on-call rotations with other ACT/CST staff, addressing client needs/concerns as needed and appropriate.
Engage clients and establish trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disabilities.
Other duties as assigned.