Team Leader - Stroger Linkage

The Team Leader, Stroger Linkage is a part of the management structure of the Assertive Community Linkage Team under the Cook County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) project aimed at reducing Emergency Department (ED) use. The Team Leader reports to the Program Director (Crisis Response) and is responsible for the direct supervision of the Linkage Team in order to ensure quality service delivery to members, functioning as the senior clinician or "player coach" of the team.

The Assertive Community Linkage Team works with high utilizers of the Stroger Hospital ED, who have multiple presentations due to unmanaged mental health and/or substance use conditions. This team will work closely with the staff of CCHHS, Stroger Hospital, and the Thresholds Crisis Team at Stroger Hospital to locate and assertively pursue engagement with assigned individuals. The team will provide mental health and care coordination services in the community and will assist people with applying for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Income (SSI/SSDI) and other public benefits. The team will help people access resources, including short-term or emergency housing. The team will also work to link people with community-based primary healthcare and psychiatry, will assist people with getting prescriptions filled, and will coordinate transportation to follow-up medical appointments. The Assertive Community Linkage team will also work closely with Thresholds Evaluations Department to monitor member engagement and outcomes and report to CCHHS.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for the supervision, productivity and coaching of the Linkage Team.
• Ensures that the Linkage Team function optimally in order to meet expectations of Cook County Health and Human Services (CCHHS).
• Actively leads and oversees the activities of Linkage Team members providing community support, transition linkage, case management and other services and support provided by the treatment team.
• Coordinates with Stroger Hospital and Thresholds Crisis Team to identify members to target for engagement.
• Develops relationships with inpatient psychiatric hospitals to facilitate discharge planning for assigned members.
• Assesses member's personal, medical, social, emotional, and environmental situation to plan for transition from the hospital, linkage and treatment course.
• Identifies and investigates available resources in the community.
• Helps to establish and implement best practice protocols.
• Makes recommendations regarding additional training needed for staff. Provides direct hands-on training.
• Attends leadership meetings, trainings and works with the Program Director to enhance leadership skills to best support and guide the team.
• Provides individual and group supervision to team members to problem solve, train, monitor, and guide their clinical case management and service delivery responsibilities.
• Facilitates team meetings to ensure quality service delivery to members and to identify team strengths or areas of needed improvement.
• Supports staff with time management to ensure scheduling and priorities appropriately match member needs while meeting documentation requirements.
• Ensures all Thresholds procedures regarding the handling of any linkage funds are followed and that both the members and Thresholds administration are assured that all safeguards, reports and accounting meet the highest standards.
• Maintains the quality, validity and confidentiality of personal health information and individual case records according to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), privacy practices and Thresholds standards.
• Assists with building positive rapport and demonstrating effective communication CCHHS staff, external collateral, bureaucracies, and natural supports to support comprehensive, quality care.
• Conducts annual evaluations in a timely manner for all team staff. Develops specific goals and objectives and provides the method and opportunity for each team staff to succeed in their professional development.
• Assists with onboarding new employees and other administrative processes, which include performance reviews, disciplinary actions, interviewing, and hiring decisions. Participates in the hiring sequence of the agency and make recommendations on the hiring or termination of team staff.
• Performs other related duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm

MARGINAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participates in the implementation of Thresholds emergency plans related to extreme weather or other emergency condition.
• Provides back up to all transition related services and activities being conducted by the Transition Team.

EDUCATION

• High School Diploma or GED plus 5 years of supervised clinical experience in the mental health field required.
• Bachelor's degree in social work, counseling, psychology or closely related field preferred.
• Master's degree in social work, counseling, psychology preferred.

EXPERIENCE

• One (1) - two (2) years clinical experience.
• Leadership experience preferred.
• Computer proficiency, including the ability to use email, navigate and enter notes into electronic medical records and working knowledge of pertinent software.
• Strong interpersonal skills and knowledge of group dynamics required.

SKILLS/CERTIFICATIONS

• LSW, LPC preferred.
• Current and valid Driver's License required.
• Daily access to a personal vehicle is required for the program as well as a willingness to provide transportation to clients in a personal vehicle.
• Must obtain and maintain $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 liability insurance coverage. Subject to validation every 6 months.
• Must be 23 years of age and must meet all insurance carrier's requirements. Subject to annual Department of Motor Vehicles license verification.

WHAT SETS THRESHOLDS APART

• Competitive pay - Base salary: $63,600 - $70,900
  
  
  
  • Commensurate with education, licensure, and supervisory experience
  
  
  
  
• Generous PTO (9 federal holidays, 8 days of sick leave, 15-22 days personal and vacation)
• Dental insurance, vision insurance,choice of 4 medical insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
• Public service loan forgiveness
• Supervision for clinical licensure at no cost (LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC)

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