Mental Health Clinician

General Overview

The Mental Health Clinician works within the Program Department at the Cook County Department of Corrections. A Mental Health Clinician will work with a multidisciplinary team of professionals to engage individuals in custody in programming services, provide clinical support, and to address crisis situations as needed. They will provide individual and group interventions, administer assessment measures, develop, and implement crisis related safety plans and provide additional resources for long term sustainability. Utilizing a co-responder approach, clinicians seek to de-escalate and deter violent incidents and provide clinical support to individuals in custody when responding to a crisis. The Mental Health Clinician demonstrates a collaborative attitude in support of mental health services and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office philosophy and mission.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Assess individuals in custody for determination of clinical, socio-emotional and reentry service needs; focuses on diagnostic and functional evaluations and makes recommendations on treatment goals and plans; collects information through interviews and observations.

Provide focused intervention of individuals in custody (IIC); provides consultation and training to Cook County Department of Corrections staff to enhance their skill in providing effective management of impacted IICs.

Provide crisis assessment, crisis intervention, de-escalation, safety planning, referrals, and linkage to care services for individuals in custody.

Develop and implements crisis related safety plans; work with a multidisciplinary team to determine if the individual in custody requires a higher level of care.

Develop relapse prevention plans and helps individuals in custody maintain stability.

Establish a supportive, motivational, and therapeutic relationship with individuals in custody; plans, organizes and leads structured programs, including individual and group therapeutic services; works to effect behavioral changes and helps individuals make healthier life choices.

Guide individuals in custody in the development of skills to assist in dealing with specific problems; assists with the understanding and management of mental health and chemical dependency issues; serves as a representation and coach regarding development of problem solving, decision-making and conflict resolution skills.

Deliver services that are compassionate, trauma-informed, and attentive to the needs and values of each individual in custody.

Gather information about participant’s needs and provide resources for long term sustainability; collaborates with other service organizations or entities, within and outside the Cook County Department of Corrections.

Provide preliminary diagnostic information to related agencies to impact diversion strategies; acts as an advocate in coordinating required services.

Complete and maintains treatment-related paperwork, in accordance with state and federal requirements; writes reports, treatment plans and recommendations, progress reports and other reports, as required.

Refer individuals in custody to community resources, as necessary; works with Cook County Department of Corrections staff to facilitate coordinated releases to assist behavioral health service providers.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment plan in correlation to the individual in custody’s progress in resolving identified problems and meeting identified goals.

Remain informed on new developments in counseling by reading professional literature and attending workshops or seminars.

Demonstrate use of ethics and complies with the standards of practice.

Participate in team / department meetings, in-services, and supervisory sessions as required.

Provide clinical support to sworn staff to process traumatic experiences after serious incidents.

Perform all duties as assigned in accordance with agency policies and procedures.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Possess a thorough knowledge of the principals, practices and techniques of solution focused and / or substance abuse treatment.

Possess a working knowledge of community resources available to mental health and / or substance abuse programs.

Possess a thorough knowledge of trauma informed care and crisis intervention.

Possess knowledge of security procedures for the Cook County Department of Corrections.

Possess advanced proficiency in maintaining highly detailed, efficient, and accurate work-related documentation and record keeping; possess attention to detail.

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Ability to work within the Cook County Department of Corrections, including the ability to work directly with the individual in custody population.

Ability to work cooperatively and professionally with a treatment team.

Possess a strong sense of compassion and patience and an interest in being of service to an underserved population.

Possess a thorough working knowledge of or the ability to grasp and utilize the policies, protocols, systems, procedures and technical vernacular of the department, agency and County, as applicable to assigned duties and responsibilities quickly and effectively.

Ability to meet prescribed deadlines.

Ability to walk long distances or stand for extended periods of time throughout the course of the assigned shift.

Ability to work any shift assigned, including days, afternoons, or midnights; must be capable of working holidays and weekends; must be capable of working mandatory overtime, as required.

Ability to be flexible in work location(s), which may be subject to change.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a master’s or higher degree, from an accredited college or university, in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Social Sciences or a closely related field.

Three (3) or more years of full time, professional work experience in the mental health field.

Two (2) or more years of full time, professional work experience in conducting mental health assessments on adult populations.

Two (2) or more years of full time, professional work experience providing case management in a racially and ethnically diverse environment.

One (1) or more years of full time, professional work experience in a correctional facility, residential, and / or forensic setting.

Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.

Ability to work within the Cook County Department of Corrections, including the ability to work directly with the individual in custody population.

Ability to walk long distances or stand for extended periods of time throughout the course of the assigned shift.

Ability to work any shift assigned, including days, afternoons, or midnights; must be capable of working holidays and weekends; must be capable of working mandatory overtime, as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Possession of a state licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and / or Licensed Social Worker (LSW).

Possession of an active state licensure as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and / or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Possession of certification as a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC).

Three (3) or more years of full time, professional work experience in a community mental health and / or hospital setting, performing mental health counseling and assessments.

Possession of bilingual language skills.

Acquaintance with the laws governing the establishment and operation of the Cook County Department of Corrections, familiarity with municipal and state criminal codes and procedures and knowledge of basic penal management security.

The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.

• Article EE, Civilian Recruitment and Selection Process, of the Sheriff’s Employment Action Manual (SEAM), applies to this employment process and can be found at the following link :

Please note that there are no remote job opportunities, all positions are located onsite .

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office prohibits all unlawful discrimination in its hiring and promotional process.

All Cook County Sheriff’s Office employees must apply on the internal employment page to be considered; the application may be accessed via the SheriffNet site.

I Certify that no Political Reasons or Factors were considered in any decision I made or action I took related to this Employment Action.Further, I do not know of or have any reason to believe that anyone else considered or took action based on Political Reasons or Factors with respect to this Employment Action.

Salary : $35,651 - $37,465