Counselor (IDJJ)

POSITION SUMMARY:

Person in this position will work in collaboration with the licensed counselor to provide services to clients enrolled in the program. Essential Job Functions include those listed below.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Assess resource needs of clients.
• Initiate and sustain each individual's motivation to participate in treatment, using techniques of engagement, including therapeutic relationships, individual counseling, and brief interventions based on the stages of change.
• Provide curriculum-based re-entry groups for clients preparing for release to the community.
• Educate and refer clients to community agencies and businesses that appropriately address the clients' needs for food, shelter, clothing, employment, transportation, etc.
• Assist clients with establishing or re-establishing support systems within their community.
• Participate in clinical staffing decisions regarding the clients' current strengths and resources and their need for additional resources.
• Complete documentation of services on provided forms in a timely manner.
• Maintain all information according to the laws of confidentiality as required by the Federal Register, General Provisions, Title 42, Chapter 1, Part 2, which prohibits making disclosures without the specific written consent of the client, or as otherwise permitted by such regulations.
• Assist other WestCare staff as needed in a collaborative manner to promote cooperation and portray a professional image to the community.

• Attend all required staff development training, including cross-training, and WestCare in-service training such as conducting assessments, clinical skills, developing service plans, basic TC concepts, emotional incarceration, relapse prevention, motivation for treatment and stages of change, cognitive skills, conflict resolution, social skills, moral development, communicable diseases, and self-help groups.
• Must Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation; and
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the duties and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Experience and Competencies:

• Ability to have flexibility in schedule, to include but not limited to evening hours and weekends.
• Knowledge of offender populations, criminal subcultures, and cultural differences, substance abuse assessments tools, therapeutic community concepts.
• Bilingual is preferred.
• Must be highly organized, detail focused, and have excellent time management.
• Must possess strong computer skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to pass background check.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DCFS CANTS clearance.
• Ability to obtain and maintain OIG LEIE clearance.
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug screening.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality.
• Must have professional appearance and demeanor.
• Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to populations served.
• Ability to obtain and maintain clearance from Illinois Department of Corrections
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR certification, first aid certification, and an annual tuberculosis test.
• Valid driver's license and ability to obtain and maintain WestCare's vehicle insurance is required.
• During your tenure with WestCare there may be new requirements, including, but not limited to vaccinations that are issued by local, State, Federal, and/or Funders that WestCare may have to comply with. Should this occur Human Resources or appropriate personnel will inform you.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Demonstrated experience working with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders within the juvenile/criminal justice population is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in social work; or a bachelor's degree with a social work major; or working toward a degree in social work; or comparable years of qualifying experience.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:

• Hold clinical certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor from the Illinois Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA),

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is performed in a combination of an office and outdoor setting.
• Some travel is required.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations using approved physical de-escalation techniques.
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee's essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.
• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels to exchange ideas, information, instructions, and opinions.
• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.
• The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations using approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.