Group Home Counselor

Group Home Counselor

Effective Date:
November 26, 2025

• Provide therapeutic services in a congregate care setting, traveling to support youths in homes, schools, hospitals, or other environments.
• Daily direct engagement with youths, including individual counseling, group therapy, and therapeutic activities that promote emotional, behavioral, and social growth and foster independence.
• Creatively engage teenage boys in a therapeutic group home using traditional and non-traditional therapeutic techniques across multiple settings, guiding discussions, goal setting, stabilization, and strengthening support systems.
• Work independently, exercising discretion and sound judgment in counseling, stabilization, and support; perform thorough assessments to understand clients' backgrounds and create personalized treatment plans.
• Function autonomously, managing workload with minimal administrative supervision; conceptualize advanced therapeutic treatment models and utilize them on clients' behalf throughout treatment.
• Complete all required documentation—including high-quality program‑prescribed assessments, treatment plans, confidential client records, and progress notes—in compliance with legal and ethical guidelines within required time frames.
• Navigate electronic health record systems, creating accurate electronic health records.
• Plan and organize work schedule to meet clinical and consultation responsibilities; consult with collateral contacts as needed and ensure confidentiality of clients in accordance with applicable laws and agency policy.
• Provide clinical supervision to students or staff as assigned by the Manager of Clinical Services or the Clinical Director, meeting all placement requirements.
• Meet annual expectations for training and certification; acquire ongoing skills and knowledge through supervisory processes and attendance at meetings and conferences.
• Respond to crises and behavioral escalations using trauma‑informed approaches and techniques; actively participate in debriefings following any crisis intervention.
• Serve as a clinical leader and advocate for youths within the group home, ensuring consistent implementation of trauma‑informed care, restorative practices, and culturally responsive services.
• Maintain evidence of expertise as a trauma‑informed clinical service provider; develop a working knowledge of community resources beneficial to those served.
• Provide professional presentations as requested or required; develop collaborative, ongoing professional relationships with other professionals both within and external to the agency who are involved in the welfare of those served.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Knowledgeable and experienced with evidence‑based and trauma‑informed treatment approaches approved by the agency.
• Experience facilitating group counseling sessions focused on emotional regulation, conflict resolution, healthy relationships, and independent living skills.
• Consistently demonstrate the WIDE (Welcoming, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity) values of LCFS; demonstrate cultural sensitivity and competence and actively address issues affecting historically marginalized groups.
• Complete quality documentation including Individualized Assessments, Treatment Plans, and Medicaid billing notes.
• Knowledge of the Illinois Mental Health Code, Confidentiality Act, and the Illinois Child Abuse and Reporting Act.
• Lead discussions, conceptualize well, communicate effectively; advocate for families and youth; mobilize and educate families about formal and informal resources.

Must meet the qualifications of a Qualified Mental Health Professional as defined in Rule 132 of the Illinois Mental Health Code. One of the following:

• Licensed social worker (LSW) possessing at least a master’s degree in social work and licensed under the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act with specialized training in mental health services or with at least 2 years’ experience in mental health services.
• Licensed professional counselor possessing at least a master’s degree and licensed under the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional…