REGIONAL PSYCHIATRIC CLINICAL SPECIALIST
About The Position
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results-oriented Regional Psychiatric Clinical Specialist to support psychiatric hospital care programs and help improve outcomes for children and families. The role monitors program compliance with state regulations and best-practice care, reviews performance and corrective-action plans, tracks referrals and agency engagement, and coordinates with hospitals, providers, agencies, and DCFS staff. The position is headquartered in East St. Louis, Illinois, and has an anticipated hybrid schedule of 1 to 5 days per week in the office depending on operational needs. Work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The role requires a relevant master's degree and qualifying professional or supervisory experience in human services, including specialized experience in mental health services and inpatient psychiatric settings serving children and youth. Travel is required, along with a valid driver's license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance. Candidates must pass a background check and disclose criminal history.
Requirements
- Master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, education, special education, or a related human service area.
- Either five years of progressively responsible professional experience in a human services area, including two years of independently interacting and negotiating with other service systems in a clinical setting to ensure children with special needs access services; or a master's degree in a listed field plus two years of verifiable supervisory experience providing services to special-needs children in a state or private human service agency.
- Three years of experience in mental health services, including work with children and youth with intellectual disabilities, substance use disorders, or involvement in the juvenile justice system in an inpatient or outpatient setting; two of those years must include directing services for children and youth in inpatient psychiatric settings.
- Ability to pass a background check and disclose criminal history.
- Ability to travel, a valid driver's license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
- Physical, visual, and auditory abilities to carry out assigned duties.
Nice To Haves
- Three years of experience in mental health services with children and youth with intellectual disabilities, substance use disorders, or involvement in the juvenile justice system in an inpatient or outpatient setting, including two years directing services for children and youth in inpatient psychiatric settings.
- Six years of experience in a public or private organization applying social work principles, methods, procedures, and techniques, particularly in serving children with special needs.
- Six years of experience in a public or private organization applying knowledge of public agencies, private child welfare agencies, and community-based agencies serving children with special needs.
- Six years of experience in a public or private organization applying knowledge of federal and state laws affecting children's health and welfare, particularly laws affecting children with special needs.
- Six years of experience in a public or private organization applying knowledge of child welfare and other services needed by children with special needs.
Responsibilities
- Monitor and assess psychiatric hospital care programs to ensure compliance with state regulations, best-practice care, clinical capacity, admission requirements, and performance standards.
- Provide input into ongoing quarterly clinical staffings.
- Review management reports on psychiatric hospital care program performance and monitor corrective-action plans, advising on and directing appropriate implementation.
- Identify significant developments, performance problem patterns, and other program issues, and submit reports to appropriate Department staff.
- Track referrals and intra-agency, psychiatric hospital, and inter-agency engagement to determine outcomes.
- Serve as a liaison among agencies, hospitals, and DCFS staff to maintain a supportive network of care and support.
- Perform other related duties as required or assigned.
Benefits
- Pension program
- Competitive group insurance benefits, including health, life, dental, and vision insurance
- Three paid personal business days annually
- Twelve paid sick days annually, with unused sick days carrying over from year to year
- Ten to twenty-five days of paid vacation annually, with ten days in the first year of employment
- Thirteen paid holidays annually, and fourteen in even-numbered years
- Flexible work schedules when available and dependent on the position
- Twelve weeks of paid parental leave
- Deferred compensation supplemental retirement plan
- Optional pre-tax medical care and dependent care assistance programs
- Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
- GI Bill training and apprenticeship benefits eligibility for qualifying veterans
- Five percent salary differential for bilingual positions
- Commuter Savings Program for Chicago
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
