Job Description:

Job Summary:

The Behavioral Health Specialist is responsible for engaging in 20-24 clinical hours per week.  Provides brief and long-term individual, couples, family-based, and group psychotherapeutic counseling from a variety of treatment approaches.  Deliver of assessment and treatment services may occur through telehealth or client home-based methods in addition to conventional office-based service delivery.  Provides clinical mental health diagnostic evaluation, assessment and treatment for a variety of psychological diagnoses and psychosocial stressors. Treatments include but are not limited to mood disorders with or without suicidal ideation, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders and symptomology, substance abuse and dependence, interpersonal conflict and concerns, and difficulties in change of HIV status and/or HIV medication adherence. Collaboratively creates treatment plans with clients, and reassesses growth towards identified goals over the course of treatment and modifies treatment plans as necessary. Provides emergency and crisis intervention services. Provides behavioral health integration services in the context of HIV primary care and prevention clinics. Documents all pertinent information including the maintenance of treatment notes.

Will be involved in individual and group supervision of clinical interns and part-time staff that may include administrative responsibilities within the clinical internship program. Brings an understanding of psychosocial development, influences of family and community, and cultural, gender, and sexual diversity, as they interact with the provision of holistic medical care. Maintains a close working relationship with other program mental health professionals and service providers, as well as medical providers. May have involvement with program development activities, including the development of psychotherapeutic and/or psychosocial programming, research and program evaluation processes (e.g., production of literature reviews) as well as data collection and evaluation. The role may also involve behavioral health outreach initiatives in order to market the program and build relationships with community partners.

This position is required to work regular evening hours.

This position is wholly funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Responsibilities:

Direct Clinical Services:

• Includes: individual psychotherapy, couples counseling, family psychotherapy, facilitation of 1 weekly community group, and brief intervention/behavioral health support for drop-in program and specialty HIV medical clinics (24-28 clinical hours).

Clinical Documentation:

• Includes: Clinical documentation of services rendered including timely note keeping of client encounters and completion of all reporting responsibilities outlined by various funding sources.

Program Evaluation & Development:

• Works closely with the Manager of Behavioral Health Services in the following areas: development of behavioral health related trainings and presentations for in-house staff and affiliated community agencies, data management pertaining to services rendered, provide writing and research support for grant/funding-related tasks and research initiatives.

Competencies:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills, preferred
• Ability to develop reports and maintain records, preferred
• Ability to exercise discretion and confidentiality while handling sensitive situations, preferred
• Ability to handle tasks requiring a high level of attention to detail, preferred
• Ability to conduct basic research activities including the initiation and completion of a literature review; data collection and organization; identification, design, and modification of behavioral health and psychosocial screening instruments, preferred

Education, Experience, and Certifications:

Education:

• Advanced degree or higher in social work (or equivalent) from an accredited institution (e.g. MSW, DSW, Ph.D), advanced degree or higher in counseling/clinical psychology (or equivalent) from an accredited institution (e.g. MA, Psy.D, Ph.D), or advanced degree in marriage and family therapy (or equivalent) from an accredited institution (e.g. MA, Ph.D), required

Experience:

• A minimum of two years experience working with LGBTQ persons and/or people living with HIV., required (internship/externship experience can be counted towards this requirement)

Licenses and Certifications:

• Licensed in the State of Illinois as an LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, LMT/LMFT, or Licensed Clinical Psychologist, required

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Proficiency in the use of computers especially in Microsoft Word and Adobe, preferred

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements (if applicable):

• Direct patient contact or clinical care setting
• High stress environment
• Irregular work schedule
• Requires domestic travel
• Office environment
• Ability to sit for 4 hours or more
• Ability to tolerate confined spaces
• Ability to travel to various off-campus locations including clientâ™s homes
• Ability to use computers

Required Documents:

The following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• Resume
• Writing Sample
• References

NOTE: When applying, all required documents, including cover letters, MUST be uploaded under the Resume/CV section of the application.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via the Applicant Inquiry Form.

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