Mental Health Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Description :

Envision Unlimited is a full spectrum of care organization serving people with disabilities from infants to 80+ years old regardless of race, gender, religion, or ability to pay.

Founded in Chicago in 1948, Envision Unlimited has a legacy of evolving care delivered with empathy, every time and everywhere.

Innovative services offered across Chicagoland and Central Illinois include community living options, novel day programs, behavioral health services, employment programs, respite for families, and foster care for children with disabilities.

Purpose :

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.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

• 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 staffings 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 reports 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

OVERALL JOB PERFORMANCE :

• At all times maintain confidentiality according to the Illinois Mental Health code and Confidentiality Act.
• Responsible for participating in required in-service training and community training seminars at the discretion of the Director.

Pursue and keep abreast of current trends, methods and techniques in case management and counseling (minimum of 15 hours / year).

• Be prepared to present information from outside trainings to clinical staff.
• Develop, utilize, and share clinical group curricula, keeping it up to date and adding new ideas or activities.
• Attend / complete agency trainings as required.
• Participate in / attend committee meetings as applicable.
• Attend special events for clients and assist as needed.
• Maintain a professional image and role as a representative of Envision Unlimited.
• Inform supervisor of any condition that impacts the safety and wellbeing of clients served. Seek assistance as necessary to mitigate risk and seek out supervision as needed.
• Attend individual supervision with supervisor at scheduled time weekly to review and report on progress, productivity, and concerns.
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability with changes to program needs and schedule as the need arises.

Requirements :

The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION, SKILLS, and / or EXPERIENCE :

Master’s Degree in social work, counseling, psychology or related field. Will consider bachelor level staff with extensive mental health experience.

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.

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.

Envision Unlimited provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Blue Cross / Blue Shield Medical Coverage : HMO, PPO, HSA

Dental and Vision Insurance Options

Flexible Spendings Accounts

Company paid Life Insurance

12 Paid Holidays

Paid vacation, sick time, and personal days

403B plan

Voluntary Life, STD and other benefits

In house training and CEU’s

Employee Assistance Network

Support for pursuing clinical licensure (financial and time off)

Opportunity for career growth & development

Student Loan forgiveness participant program