Mental Health Counselor: START Program

Department: Community Mental Health and Counseling

Status: Full-time

Pay range: $50,000-55,0000

Who We Are

At Sertoma Star Services, we're on a mission to empower individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and those living with mental illness to reach their goals and lead fulfilling lives. With a strategic presence in South Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, we proudly serve over 2,000 consumers through a diverse range of vocational, educational, therapeutic, and residential programs.

Sertoma Star Services’ roots trace back to the merger of two dynamic social services organizations, New Star and Sertoma Centre combining over 125 years of expertise in providing cutting-edge, person-first services. Our united commitment is straightforward: to transform lives through delivering comprehensive services, choices, and opportunities to those we support in an environment that promotes self-advocacy and personal success.

By joining the Sertoma Star Team you will have a unique opportunity to challenge limits and change lives. Together, we can shape a brighter future for those we serve.

Your Role

As the Mental Health Counselor, you will work in collaboration with the community mental health and counseling teams to support people in developing skills to manage mental illness, socialize with others, and decrease reliance on professional support. The Mental Health Counselor will also support people in exploring thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from the past and in the present to gain insight throughout the personal recovery process. The mental health counselor will bill for all services provided.

Mental Health Counselors within the Supporting Treatment and Recovery Together (START) program provide services to individuals experiencing a dual diagnosis of an intellectual or developmental disability and mental illness (DDMI). In this program, the Mental Health Counselor focuses on helping the individuals with developing coping techniques for symptom management and increasing personal growth skills through on-site educational groups. START also offers community support services that focus on community integration to generalize skills with support from staff within a community setting.

Responsibilities

Facilitate psycho-educational and therapeutic services that focus on developing coping skills needed for symptom management and increasing insight needed for personal growth. Provide services at the facility, in the home, or in the community to consumers through the recovery process to promote independence, acquire resources, and secure the necessary support.
Provide person-centered and trauma-informed therapy services utilizing best practice approaches to treatment.
Deliver mental health services to consumers in accordance with their treatment plans and complete all required documentation and billing according to Sertoma Policy, Rule 132, Rule 140, and accreditation bodies within specified deadlines.
Schedule and status billing activities on a daily basis in the electronic clinical records and maintain electronic clinical records for assigned consumers.
Employees are required to maintain compliance with all state/federal, position, agency, accreditation and funding source training/licensing requirements including but not limited to CPR and CPI.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or a related human services field is required within six (6) months of hire.
Knowledge of working with individuals experiencing mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, youth and knowledge of the recovery model.
Effective communication skills, both oral and written.
Valid driver’s license and documentation of current auto insurance, with an acceptable motor vehicle report.
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite programs.

Benefits

Generous paid time off
13 Paid holidays
Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Plans
Employer Paid Insurance: Basic Life/AD&D and Long-Term Disability
Employee Assistance Program
403(b) with company match
Tuition assistance
Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Ongoing training and development opportunities

Health, Safety, and Culture

Sertoma Star is an equal opportunity employer that embraces the uniqueness of every person. Sertoma understands that in order for you to work effectively and be an advocate of inclusivity, we must foster an environment that is respectful and sensitive to persons of all gender identities and from every cultural, socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, and racial background. Our open-door, team-building concept supports both agency goals and employee success.

Sertoma Star Services

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Mental Health Counselor: START Program (Dual Diagnosis)