Crisis Counselor

Overview:

Provides screening and assessment, consistent engagement, and any needed direct mental health services to individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness, co-occurring serious mental illness/substance use, and/or acutely distressed individuals in our Crisis, Residential, and Community Conditional Release Programs. Ensures continuity of care for high-risk persons experiencing mental health symptoms through direct clinical intervention, supportive counseling, monitoring, and advocacy functions.

Employee will adhere to the Memorial Health System (MHS) Code of Conduct, the MHS Ethics and Corporate Compliance Plan, MBH policies and procedures, as well as performance standards established by the governing board/administration and accrediting bodies.

Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Quality, and Efficiency that support our mission, vision and values.

Sunday through Thursday or Saturday through Wednesday

Qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor's degree required, in social services field, or meets the 'Mental Health Professional' designation as determined by the Department of Human Services. Related experience preferred.

Licensure/Certification/Registry:

Must have valid IL Driver's License, clean driving record, reliable transportation, and proof of automobile insurance.

Must have or obtain CPR, First Aid, and Personal Safety certifications within 45 days from date of hire.

IM+CANS certification required.

Experience:

Experience working in the mental health field preferred but not necessary.

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Must have keyboarding and computer skills as required by position.

Responsibilities:

Direct Clinical Services

Provide 5 billable hours per week in the Crisis, Residential, and Community Conditional Release Programs.

Ensures completion of face-to-face admission procedure involving review of program requirements, resident's rights, room assignment, admission assessment of functioning, belonging/medication check-in.

Establish initial data including clients presenting problems, mental status, relevant psychiatric, medical and developmental histories to make decisions regarding diagnosis (per DSM-V), treatment objectives and ongoing treatment plans and/or to provide information and make appropriate referrals to other treatment sources in the community.

Implement crisis or pre-crisis intervention procedures with potentially suicidal, homicidal, or severely disabled clients. Make appropriate referrals to consulting psychiatrists or inpatient psychiatric facilities to prevent further destabilization.

Refer to, and work closely with, appropriate community resources to assure client linkage to appropriate coordination resources and delivery of appropriate services.

Provide practical assistance to clients to improve their ability to cope within the community within the least restrictive setting possible (e.g. assistance with transportation, budgeting, locating housing, and/or identifying vocational training opportunities). This includes direct individual, group, or crisis intervention services.

Complete concurrent documentation at time of service with clients.

Implementation of Crisis/Residential Practices and Activities

Assist in providing individual rehabilitation skill training in activities of daily living including; budgeting, meal preparation, housekeeping, personal hygiene, medication management, and other areas as needed to promote independence in daily living.

Monitor facility maintenance including safety, housekeeping, and sanitation. Report and/or correct any problems observed.

Follow appropriate sanitary practices in food storage, meal preparation, and clean-up.

Maintain adequate housekeeping standards at all times.

Client Information System

Establish appropriate professional files, including intake evaluations, progress notes, treatment objectives and plans, previous treatment records, clients' consent to current treatment and for exchange of information.

Complete required administrative forms (case opening/closing, SMI, Time Off Slips, Expense Vouchers, etc). Collect necessary information for billing and fee collection.

Provide necessary client information to other agencies or health care providers to coordinate services to identified clients.

Training Activities/Professional Growth

Supervisor and employee mutually identify professional goals to enhance job skills.

Participate in ongoing agency meetings, committees, and special projects to enhance professional expertise.

Complete all mandatory education requirements by specified deadlines.

Meet with supervisor to complete mandatory monthly clinical supervision as required by the IL Department of Human Services.

Participate in required staff meetings and in-service meetings to keep abreast of agency policy and administrative procedures, meet requirements for continuing education, and upgrade professional knowledge.

Consultation/Networking

Engage in appropriate team work functions (such as mutual support, clarification of office responsibilities and procedures) according to best professional judgment and agency policy to provide a professional working environment and effective service delivery.

Develop cooperative relationships outside the agency with family, physicians, public officials or interested agencies to provide for the development of mental health services in the community.

Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Quality, and Efficiency that support our mission, vision and values

Job Relationships

Communicate directly with supervisor for clinical supervision, crisis intervention, clarification of program procedures and policies.

In absence of the immediate supervisor, access the site Administrator for clinical supervision.

Adhere to MHS/MBH Behavioral Standards.

Other Job Responsibilities

Performs other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.