Empower Lives as a Clinical Assessment Specialist!

Join our dedicated team as a Clinical Assessment Specialist and play a pivotal role in supporting and uplifting children and families during their most challenging times. This crucial position is at the heart of our mission, focusing on conducting comprehensive IM CANS assessments to ensure the well-being and resilience of those we serve.

As the backbone of our assessment process, you will ensure the integrity and thoroughness of supporting documentation, while maintaining strict adherence to IHFS guidelines for every case you handle. Your expertise will pave the way for impactful interventions and support systems tailored to the unique needs of each family.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Clinical Assessment Specialist is committed to supporting and strengthening children and families in their toughest, most vulnerable moments. This position is responsible for all aspects of the IM CANS assessment, ensures the presence of supporting documentation, and ensure compliance with IHFS guidelines for all assigned cases.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed must be representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensure, experience, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Employee must provide their own transportation to conduct agency business.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide in-person and telehealth diagnostic clinical assessments of therapeutic needs and strengths for youth in foster care
• Complete comprehensive, Medicaid-compliant IM CANS for all new intakes
• Engage clients in the development of treatment plan goals, objectives, and interventions
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to ensure accurate clinical assessment with supporting documentation to accurately report mental health and medical functional status of youth
• Assume the task of reviewing and completing each youth’s IM CANS re-assessments within 180 days of the previous assessment
• Complete all clinical documentation and required reports in an accurate and timely manner
• Enter assessment and treatment plan data into HFS portal
• Maintain a working knowledge of the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• Responsible for coordinating the collection of youth’s historical clinical case history as well as current clinical case records and the completion of assigned sections of the IM CANs Health Risk Assessment, Youth Caregiver Assessment and DCFS Addendum Assessment
• Thoroughly research clinical documentation for evidence of co-morbid conditions, trauma experiences, development of strengths, identifies areas of needed support services for youth and youth caretaker.
• Reviews clinical documentation and makes recommendations to clinical team in areas needing improvement to support and validate compliance with first initial IM CANS assessment and updated re-assessment documentation
• Oversees, completes, and ensures the accuracy and the completion of the IM CANS in IFHS portal and updates electronic transmission per IFHS guidelines with in allotted 180-day timeframes
• Maintains annual IATP certification needed to complete IM CANS assessments
• Adhere to the Code of Ethics for Child Welfare Professionals
• Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time

COMPETENCIES

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Problem-solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Technical Skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; shares expertise with others. Demonstrates attention to detail.
• Customer Service: Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; responds promptly to customer needs; solicits customer feedback to improve service; responds to requests for service and assistance, meets commitments.
• Interpersonal Skills: Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others’ ideas and tries new things.
• Oral Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings.
• Written Communication: Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; able to read and interpret written information.
• Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
• Cost Consciousness: Conserves organizational resources.
• Diversity: Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; educates others on the value of diversity; promotes a harassment-free environment; builds a diverse workforce.
• Ethics: Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support: Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization’s goals and values; benefits organization through outside activities; support affirmative action and respects diversity.
• Motivation: Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; measures self against standard of excellence; takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.
• Professionalism: Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follow through on commitments.
• Attendance/Punctuality: Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Dependability: Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Initiative: Volunteers readily; undertakes self-development activities; seeks increased responsibilities; takes independent actions and calculated risks; looks for and take advantage of opportunities; asks for and offers help when needed.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• At least 1 year of experience assessing and diagnosing mental health disorders
• Experience completing IM CANS assessments preferred

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (Includes degrees, licenses and/or registrations)

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: Master’s Degree in counseling/social work or other related field from an accredited educational institution.

LICENSE AND OR REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS: Certification in IM CANS assessment and treatment planning preferred (may be attained post-position offer and within the first 2 weeks of employment)

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

• Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

• Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

• Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have computer and smartphone proficiency, including working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Internet skills, text messaging. Knowledge and/or ability to learn and effectively utilize HFS portal.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently communicates with colleagues, contractors, clients and outside agency contacts. Must be able to convey detailed and accurate information in these situations.

The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, telephone keypad and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands & arms. The employee must occasionally lift &/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds with assistance.

The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Our Children’s Homestead is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical​​​ condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $53,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Work setting:

• In-person
• Office

Ability to Relocate:

• Naperville, IL 60563: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person