Community Based Therapist - Pathways 2 Peace

About Enlace Chicago:

Enlace Chicago is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of the residents of the Little Village Community by fostering a physically safe and healthy environment in which to live and by championing opportunities for educational advancement and economic development.

Job Summary:

As a member of the Enlace Chicago Mental Health Services Team, the Community Based Therapist (CBT) is responsible for providing trauma-engaged, culturally sensitive therapy services to individuals, adolescents and families at the highest risk of gun and community violence. The CBT will provide time-limited, goal-directed and solution-focused individual, group, and family therapy tailored to the client’s needs. Services will be provided on site at an Enlace office or at one of our partner sites. CBTs build relationships and collaborate with partner agencies, clinical treatment providers, care coordinators, and other supports to determine a proper continuum of care for participants.

Reports to: Mental Health Services Supervisor

Accountable to: Director of Mental Health Services

Communicates with: Community Safety Staff, participants, families, community partners, community stakeholders.

Informs: Little Village Community

Status: Full Time

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide individual and group therapy services to individuals referred for services to a wide array of participant presentations across the behavioral health spectrum.
• Plan, coordinate, and implement treatment services and other clinical activities for identified clients, while being aware of cultural, ethnic, and environmental differences.
• Participates in the facilitation of staff capacity building in the form of consultation and facilitation of professional development workshops in order to promote trauma-informed and culturally-informed practices cross departmental and for partner agencies.
• Participate in monthly case consultation and debrief meetings with other providers to ensure continuity of care
• Maintain required case notes and documentation on services rendered and perform other administrative duties, as required by the agency or funders.
• Provide comprehensive case management to participants and make referrals to resources that meet critical needs including food, educational opportunities, immigrants' rights, tenants' rights, and housing or clothing assistance.
• Engage in crisis intervention with participants/family members, including developing and implementing safety plans.
• Build and maintain relationships with local organizations, leaders, and affiliates.
• Facilitate workshops for community members on topics related to mental health.
• Provide leadership and advocacy in the areas of clinical practice, education, health services, program evaluation, program development, and training.

Competencies

• Mental Health Expertise:
  • Extensive knowledge of mental health conditions and best practices for psychological treatment and familiarity with privacy, health and safety laws.
  • Well-developed listening and interview skills to explore client needs and administer treatment plans.
  • Strong oral communication skills to counsel and advise clients.
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective treatment plans.
  • Organization skills to maintain up-to-date, easy-to-navigate client files.
• Ethical and Professional Conduct:
  • Adhere to ethical guidelines set by the professional code of conduct.
  • Maintain confidentiality and respect client privacy.
  • Recognize and manage potential ethical conflicts in practice.
• Cultural Competency:
  • Demonstrate awareness and understanding of diverse cultures, identities, and experiences.
  • Effectively work with clients from various backgrounds, including consideration of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.
  • Interpersonal sensitivity to cultural and environmental differences found in individuals from a high risk community.
• Communication and Collaboration:
  • Establish rapport and build trust with clients through active listening and empathetic communication.
  • Collaborate with other professionals (e.g., medical providers, educators, community agencies) to coordinate client care.
  • Clearly document client interactions and progress in agency electronic health records.
• Emotional Intelligence:
  • The ability to recognize and understand your own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This includes understanding how your behavior impacts others.
  • The ability to understand other people's feelings and see things from their point of view.
  • The ability to effectively manage and respond to an emotional experience. Exhibit consistent ability to stay calm and composed in challenging situations.
  • Ability to communicate and interact effectively with others in a social context.
• Advocacy and Social Justice:
  • Understand and advocate for clients' rights and needs within the healthcare system and community.
  • Engage in policy advocacy to promote social justice and address systemic barriers.
• Professional Development:
  • Participate in ongoing continuing education to maintain licensure and stay current with best practices.
  • Seek supervision and consultation to enhance clinical skills and address complex cases.

Additional competencies

Ability to:

• Work independently, plan and effectively organize tasks and projects.
• Show openness to learning; regularly seeing challenges and change as opportunities to learn and adjust
• Adapt\ability to organizational change
• Act as a role model for others throughout the organization on matters of professionalism.

Required Knowledge and Experience:

• A Master's degree in Social Work, Clinical Psychology, Marriage And Family, Forensic Psychology, Criminal Justice and/or other related fields, required.
• 1-2 years of Counseling/Social Work experience.
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), preferred.
• Must have access to reliable transportation to perform essential job functions.
• Connection to the Little Village community is preferred.
• Ability to speak/write/read in English/Spanish is required.

Compensation: Enlace Chicago offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Application Process:

Enlace Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Deadline for submission: Open until filled.