WHO WE ARE:

Annually serving over 1,400 youth and families, Lawrence Hall is a community-based organization committed to helping Chicago's youth, families, and communities heal from the adverse effects of childhood trauma. For more than 150 years, Lawrence Hall has been delivering high-quality care throughout the Chicago metropolitan area and is a statewide leader in highly effective, evidence-based, and innovative therapeutic treatment. Their core programs-Child and Family Treatment Center, Therapeutic Day School, Creative Therapies, Foster Care, Transitional/Independent Living Program, Workforce Development, and Community Wellness-have met the changing and complex needs of youth and families by not only becoming more community based, but also by developing more preventative programs that help curb violence in Chicago's communities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Reports directly to the Clinical Services Manager or designated supervisor. Provides direct therapy services to young people and their families, within agency policies, including home visits, transportation of young people in agency or personal vehicle, etc. Utilization of good verbal and written communication with employees, referring agencies, community resources and young people/families. Requires knowledge of trauma exposure, knowledge of the 5 S's of trauma: Safety, Self-Regulation/Soothing, Supportive, Strengths, Self-Care, and an understanding of and recognition of the signs of traumatic stress. Must be able to effectively use both verbal and physical intervention skills with individuals six (6) through twenty-one (21) years of age. Physical intervention skills require the ability to kneel and return to standing without assistance. Maintains flexibility to adjust work schedules according to needs of the program. Therapist has on-call responsibility on a rotating basis.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Carries a selected load of young people and families as assigned, focusing on the use of individual, group or family treatment modalities
• Formulates and frequently reviews treatment plans with supervisor
• Develops and implements treatment plans
• Collaborates with Treatment Team Coordinator to ensure delivery of services
• Participates in evaluation and planning of conferences/staffing
• Provides data, information and the treatment goals to treatment team. Works with treatment team, collaterals, and families in completing assessments and developing the treatment plan
• Requires knowledge of typical child and adolescent development and an understanding of trauma exposure and traumatic stress signs and symptoms.
• Practice will include using strategies that support healing, recovery, and that resist re-traumatization
• Engage caregivers, parents, family members and others by sharing strengths and challenges experienced by program participants
• Interprets agency's services to assigned young people
• Attends Agency and other professional seminars and conferences to increase professional knowledge and skills
• When necessary, liaison to DCFS or other agency (courts, school districts, etc.), communicating goals and progress toward their accomplishment
• Works with the team on meeting needs of young people for community programs (schools, recreation, jobs, vocational opportunities, medical, etc.)
• Documents contact with young people and family (clinical documentation requirements)
• Participates in psychotropic medication reviews
• Handles psychiatric hospitalization and attending all required staffings
• Uses active and reflective listening skills and affirmations to demonstrate respect and empathy, avoiding negative and derogatory labels that foster disrespect
• Understand that behaviors, responses, attitudes, and emotions are a collection of survival skills often developed in response to traumatic experiences
• Maintain confidentiality of employees, volunteers, and program participants to provide a safe environment
• Attend at least two trainings related to being trauma informed in a twelve month period
• Ability to work effectively with program participants and family members, employees and vendors in a culturally diverse environment to support healing and recovery
• Performs the above tasks under close weekly support, supervision, training, and direction of the supervisor
• Participates in the development and implementation of continuous quality improvement activities as assigned
• Maintains electronic calendar to provide accounting for daily activities and provides permissions for viewing to the appropriate individuals
• Gathers assessment data and enters it into the DCFS Outcomes Module on an ongoing basis
• Completes clinical documentation in accordance with Medicaid timelines and requirements
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in Social Work or related Human Service field with LSW or *LPC upon hire LCSW or LCPC required upon eligibility.
• Knowledge of childhood trauma and prior experience working in settings with youth and families that have been exposed to trauma or experiencing traumatic stress preferred
• Knowledge of youth development, adolescent issues, positive youth development/strength based approach preferred
• Personal vehicle or access to vehicle and proof of insurance
• Valid IL, IN, or WI Driver's license
• No history of child abuse or neglect

*Therapist may be hired without LSW/LPC but must take and pass the exam on the next testing date after hire.

Highlighted benefits

• Provides full time employees 2 times their salary in term life insurance for no additional cost
• Reimburses your gym memberships up to $20 per month to aid on your overall fitness and health
• Offers 100% match up to 3% on your retirement savings after 1 year of service
• All employees start off with an average of 17-25 days of PTO
• Employee Referral Program gives employees an opportunity to receive up to $1500 for referring candidates
• 9 paid holidays off

Frequently cited statistics show that women and underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Lawrence Hall encourages you to apply even if you do not meet all listed qualifications. We look forward to your application. 

This position meets the FLSA requirements for Exempt.