Victim Support Services Crisis Counselor

General Overview

Under the direct supervision of the Director of the Victim Support Services in the Cook County Sheriff’s Special Victim’s Division, the Victim Support Services (VSS) Crisis Counselor will provide case management, support, follow up, supervision, and assistance for minors in crisis and any other victims including adults that Victim Support Services Unit deems necessary. The VSS Crisis Counselor is responsible for engaging with youth by using trauma-informed care. The VSS Crisis Counselor will provide continued case management and follow up with outside social service agencies to ensure the youth is receiving the services that they need amongst other responsibilities. The VSS Crisis Counselor will be required to assist with adult human trafficking and domestic violence victims the Unit encounters when and if youth in crisis are not present.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Provide case management, support, follow up, supervision, and assistance for minors in crisis and any other victims including adults that Victim Support Services Unit deems necessary.

Communicate effectively and professionally with Cook County Sheriff’s Police, Department of Children and Family Services, and Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services regarding youth in limited custody.

Follow up regarding behavioral health, medical treatment, and other services that youth were connected with when necessary.

Provide case management tasks to connect youth to resources and services needed with outside social service agencies.

Collaborate with outside agencies to communicate youth’s needs, and concerns; helps advocate on behalf of minors in crisis when needed.

Continue to monitor the status of youth’s progress on care plans and coordinate, where appropriate, with treatment providers, social service agencies, and the youth’s support network.

Provide crisis intervention and safety planning with youth in distress.

Perform daily routine age-appropriate childcare responsibilities, as assigned, meal preparation, or assisting with children(s) basic needs while awaiting social service agency as indicated.

Submit timely and accurate case notes, reports, and other information as requested during the duration of each youth’s stay.

Reinforce emergency rules to ensure safety and security of the youth awaiting the arrival of Department of Children and Family Services or Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services.

Interact with, initiates, and encourages children in structured therapeutic, social, and recreational activities.

Assume responsibility for the direct supervision of children awaiting the arrival of Department of Children and Family Services or Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services.

Provide recommendations to Director of Victim Support Services on improving and streamlining program processes, operations, and outcomes.

Practice a victim centered approach when working with minors and adults that are human trafficking, sexual assault and / or domestic violence survivors.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Experience in providing crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques with youth who are a risk to self-and / or others.

Knowledge and experience navigating the Department of Children and Family Services, and Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services.

Experience with providing case management and working with social service agencies.

Ability to establish and maintain appropriate rapport and boundaries with youth; work with integrity and treat others with respect.

Ability to provide appropriate role modeling and direction to minors in their daily routines.

Ability to provide a safe environment, compassion, and exhibit patience when engaging with youth in crisis.

Ability to communicate effectively with tact and courtesy with a diverse population.

Ability to facilitate group therapy sessions and utilize various therapy modalities and treatment strategies to meet the needs of youth in limited custody.

Ability to motivate, encourage and portray an optimistic attitude.

Ability to engage, exhibiting a victim centered approach with youth who have experienced domestic violence and human trafficking situations.

Ability to be victim centered while directly engaging with youth that have a history of trauma.

Highly detailed, efficient, and accurate documentation and record keeping skills. Requires strong writing skills, including the ability to translate reports, documents, and progress notes into succinct, clear sentences.

Ability to meet prescribed deadlines, collaborate as part of a team, and respond well to supervisor direction and follow up.

Ability to follow the chain of command and office policies at all times.

Ability to work in high stress situations.

Be prepared with a positive, flexible attitude including a great understanding of working in a mission driven environment.

Thorough working knowledge of or ability to grasp and utilize policies, protocols, systems and procedures of the agency, department, and County, as they are applicable to assigned duties and responsibilities quickly and effectively.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduationfromanaccreditedcollegeoruniversitywithamaster’s degree in social workorcounseling.

MustbecurrentlylicensedbytheStateofIllinoisasaLicensed SocialWorker(LSW),and / orLicensedProfessionalCounselor (LPC). Professionalworkexperienceand trainingmustbe inaccordancewithcertificationrequirementsas setforthin Illinois Departmentof ProfessionalRegulations.

Excellentwrittenand oralcommunicationskills are necessarywitha positive attitude.

One (1) or more years of crisis intervention experience within the mental health field and treatment providers.

CPR & First Aid Certified and / or must obtain within 90 days of hire date.

40-Hour Domestic Violence trained and / or must obtain within 90 days of hire date.

Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite.

Possession of a valid driver’s license, proof of vehicle insurance and the ability to operate a motor vehicle while providing own means of transportation.

Willingness to attend seminars, trainings, and meetings about topics relevant to youth, youth in care, and other trainings if applicable.

Must be willing to travel to and from various job site locations if needed.

Required to be capable to work any shift assigned, including days, afternoons, or midnights; must be capable of working holidays and weekends; must be able to work unplanned assignments when needed, as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Possession of bilingual language skills- English / Spanish preferred.

Experienceinamanagedcareenvironmentorworkingwithyouthandvulnerable populations.

Experience working with various law enforcement agencies, other social service agencies, and or justice involved individuals.

Experience working direct services with human trafficking or domestic violence survivors including minors.

Lived experience as a survivor of domestic violence or human trafficking that has had trauma focused therapy or worked with a certified domestic violence advocate.

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 : $74,154