LGBTQ Therapist - Lakewood

ROLE SUMMARY

Reports directly to the Vice President of Affirming Care or designated supervisor. Provides direct therapy services to young people, aged 14-17, and their families, within agency policies, including home visits, transportation of young people in agency or personal vehicle, etc. The LGBTQ Therapist caries a caseload of 6 or more LGBTQ identified youth residing in or transitioning from the Lakewood Group Home. Utilization of good verbal and written communication with employees, referring agencies, community resources and young people/families.

Lawrence Hall fosters a culture built upon four core values: Respect, Empowerment, Safety, and Teamwork. These values are deeply embedded within our organization's philosophy of trauma-informed care and directly influence every position.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Carries a selected load of young people, aged 14-17, and families as assigned from the Lakewood-LGBTQ Group Home, focusing on the use of individual, group or family treatment modalities, including the YAP model to support family reunification.
• Engage youth, offering creative approach to encourage youth participation in therapy
• Formulates and frequently reviews treatment plans with supervisor
• Develops and implements treatment plans
• Collaborates with LGBTQ Site Coordinator to ensure delivery of services
• Participates in evaluation and planning of conferences/staffing
• Provides data, information and the treatment goals to treatment team. Works with treatment team, collaterals, and families in completing assessments and developing the treatment plan
• Requires knowledge of typical child and adolescent development and an understanding of trauma exposure and traumatic stress signs and symptoms.
• Requires knowledge of minority stress models, providing therapeutic support to children and young people who are coming out, gender exploration and identity, sexual orientation, and relationship dynamics.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the intersectional identities and experiences of LGBTQIA+ young people, including those related to race, disability, and neurodivergence
• Practice will include using strategies that support healing, recovery, and that resist re-traumatization
• Engage caregivers, parents, family members and others by sharing strengths and challenges experienced by program participants
• Interprets agency's services to assigned young people
• Attends Agency and other professional seminars and conferences to increase professional knowledge and skills
• When necessary, liaison to DCFS or other agency (courts, school districts, etc.), communicating goals and progress toward their accomplishment
• Works with the team on meeting needs of young people for community programs (schools, recreation, jobs, vocational opportunities, medical, etc.)
• Documents contact with young people and family (clinical documentation requirements)
• Participates in psychotropic medication reviews
• Handles psychiatric hospitalization and attending all required staffing meetings
• Uses active and reflective listening skills and affirmations to demonstrate respect and empathy, avoiding negative and derogatory labels that foster disrespect
• Understand that behaviors, responses, attitudes, and emotions are a collection of survival skills often developed in response to traumatic experiences
• Maintain confidentiality of employees, volunteers, and program participants to provide a safe environment
• Attend at least two trainings related to being trauma informed in a twelve-month period
• Ability to work effectively with program participants and family members, employees and vendors in a culturally diverse environment to support healing and recovery
• Performs the above tasks under close weekly support, supervision, training, and direction of the supervisor
• Participates in the development and implementation of continuous quality improvement activities as assigned
• Maintains electronic calendar to provide accounting for daily activities and provides permissions for viewing to the appropriate individuals
• Gathers assessment data and enters it into the DCFS Outcomes Module on an ongoing basis
• Completes clinical documentation in accordance with Medicaid timelines and requirement other duties as assigned

 

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

• Collegiality required – employees must demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively, foster positive relationships, and contribute to a respectful team environment
• Maintain confidentiality to ensure a safe environment for all.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, SharePoint, Word, Excel).
• Understand child and adolescent development, recognize trauma symptoms, and use healing-centered, trauma-informed strategies.
• Engage caregivers and families by collaboratively identifying strengths and challenges.
• Must use verbal and, if needed, protective interventions and physical restraint with youth aged 14-17.
• Must demonstrate proficiency in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), including physical restraint techniques; maintain certification through required biannual recertification and consistently apply TCI principles in the workplace.

 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

 

This is a full-time, on-site position at the Lakewood LGBTQ Group Home, Chicago Illinois. The role requires flexibility to adjust work schedule according to the needs of the program; as well as on-call responsibility for cases in crisis. Provides direct therapy services to young people and their families, within agency policies, including home visits, and transportation of young people in agency or personal vehicle. Physical requirements include the ability to kneel, stand, and participate in physical interventions if required.

 

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

Required:

• Master's degree in Social Work or related Human Service field
• Must obtain LSW or LPC licensure within three months of hire if not currently licensed
• Personal vehicle or access to vehicle and proof of insurance
• Valid Illinois Driver's license
• No history of child abuse or neglect
• Ability to pass background and drug screen

 

Preferred:

• LCSW or LCPC licensure
• One year of experience in the same or similar role
• Knowledge of childhood trauma and prior experience working in settings with youth and families that have been exposed to trauma or experiencing traumatic stress
• Knowledge of youth development, adolescent issues, positive youth development/strength-based approach

 

An ideal candidate will be a member of the LGBTQIA+ community who can assist in affirming LGBTQIA+ youth and staff through effective role modeling and advocacy. We encourage individuals with lived experience to apply.

 

 

 

CLASSIFICATION

• Time Off Schedule: Schedule C
• Department: Affirming Care
• Reports to: Vice President of Affirming Care
• Supervisees: None

 

 

COMPENSATION

Compensation is determined by a base salary for each position, with additional compensation considered based on relevant education and experience

 

Job descriptions are not intended and should not be construed to be all-inclusive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with a job. While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties from particular jobs and to assign other duties as necessary.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V