Job Description

THIS ROLE REQUIRES A CAR

$22.89 - 26.32/Hr.

$1,500 Sign-on Bonus!

Schedule: Wednesday - Sunday; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Location: Rogers Park

The Recovery Counselor will assess the client’s personal, medical, emotional, social, and environmental situation to plan for treatment course through home, community, and office visits. They will work with clients who may have higher risk factors that create a barrier to more traditional outreach services. The Recovery Counselor will be an advocate for clients and link them to community services as needed. They will provide client-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed services to clients with severe mental illnesses and co-occurring substance abuse/addiction disorders utilizing a harm reduction approach.

The Recovery Counselor will provide at least 60-75% of all community support services in the community. They will engage clients that are not already linked to services and will build relationships to help increase their receptivity to services and treatment. This includes a focus on clients involved in the criminal justice system and clients that are experiencing street homelessness. The Recovery Counselor will complete case management tasks with clients and assist with accessing entitlements where clients may later be linked with higher levels of care depending on their need. The Recovery Counselor will also provide crisis/on-call coverage as directed.

Responsibilities:

• Independently assess risk and client’s need for higher level of care; i.e. hospital, detox program, emergency room, etc.
• Determine associated risk and coordinate support from colleagues/Supervisors to manage risk; e.g. provide two-person visits to clients
• Assess client’s personal, medical, emotional, social, and environmental situation through home, community, and office visits.
• Implement assertive engagement strategies with potential clients to bring them into services and assist with linkage to needed treatment.
• Participate in initial engagement with clients through street, shelter, jail, and community outreach throughout the city of Chicago.
• Complete intake process for clients being opened to the team from various referral sources including Illinois Department of Corrections, shelters, and hospitals. Complete client’s intake paperwork; i.e. application for services, consent for treatment, etc.
• Conduct mental health assessments to determine service needs, appropriateness of service, and level of care needed.  Document all client encounters in tracking systems.  
• Ensure completion of authorization for services.  Communicate with managed care organizations to retrieve authorizations for client services. 
• Coordinate the establishment of an individual recovery plan with the client, client’s support system, and other care providers.
• Recognize and act on opportunities to move clients to appropriate levels of care; provide referrals to additional services as indicated.
• Assist clients in identifying signs and symptoms of de-compensation. Work collaboratively with clients to identify coping skills to assist in managing symptoms and stressors experienced.
• Assist clients in learning and improving independent living skills; i.e. personal hygiene, housekeeping skills, nutrition, and shopping for food and personal items
• Educate and assist clients with applying for entitlements; i.e. Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP
• Accompany clients to important appointments in the community and provide support with issues related to housing, substance use, budgeting, social support, and medication.
• Advocate on client’s behalf and empower clients to advocate on behalf of themselves when appropriate with a focus on understanding the criminal justice system and citywide housing opportunities.
• Communicate effectively and efficiently with community partners involved in client’s care and within the team model for a multi-disciplinary approach to client care.
• Perform other related duties and/or projects as assigned

Qualifications

• Must have one of the following requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree in counseling and guidance, rehabilitation counseling, social work, education, vocational counseling, psychology, pastoral counseling, family therapy, or related human service field
  • Bachelor's degree in any other field with two years of supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting
  • Licensed Practical Nurse under the Nurse Practice Act [225 ILCS 65]
  • Certificate of Psychiatric Rehabilitation from a DHS-approved program, a high school diploma/GED, and two years’ experience of experience in a mental health setting
  • CRSS certification through IAODAPCA
  • Family Partnership Professional certificate from and in good standing with IAODAPCA
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant licensed under the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act [225 ILCS 75] with one-year experience in a mental health setting;
  • High school diploma or GED and five years of supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting
• Valid Illinois driver’s license with daily access to a well-maintained vehicle with $100,000/$300,000 liability insurance  
• Experience working with people with mental health and/or substance abuse diagnoses preferred
• Experience in community-based services preferred
• IM+CANS certification preferred and may be required to obtain IM+CANS certification within 30 days of hire

Benefits

• FREE Virtual Primary Care, Urgent Care, and Mental Health Counseling for ALL Employees
• PAID Maternity/Paternity leave
• Medical Insurance (BCBS of IL)
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term & Short-Term Disability
• Pet Insurance
• FSA (Health, Dependent Care, Transit)
• Telemedicine
• EAP
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Match