Treatment Team Coordinator - Lawrence Hall

WHO WE ARE:

Annually serving over 1,400 youth and families, Lawrence Hall is a community-based organization committed to helping Chicago's youth, families, and communities heal from the adverse effects of childhood trauma. For more than 150 years, Lawrence Hall has been delivering high-quality care throughout the Chicago metropolitan area and is a statewide leader in highly effective, evidence-based, and innovative therapeutic treatment. Their core programs-Child and Family Treatment Center, Therapeutic Day School, Creative Therapies, Foster Care, Transitional/Independent Living Program, Workforce Development, and Community Wellness-have met the changing and complex needs of youth and families by not only becoming more community based, but also by developing more preventative programs that help curb violence in Chicago's communities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Under the direction of the Milieu Treatment Manager, the Treatment Team Coordinator (TTC) will oversee milieu functioning/culture, treatment team functioning, and coordinate the day to day and treatment needs of all youth on the assigned unit in collaboration with the management team. Ultimately responsible for the overall quality of services provided to youth and engages in ongoing quality improvement initiatives: Leads the treatment team and ensures that the treatment plans for youth are implemented and barriers to services both internal and external are addressed. Establishes and upholds the therapeutic milieu which is based upon youth-guided, strengths-based, family-focused, data-driven, and trauma-informed culture on the assigned unit. 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. Responsible for the training and development of their supervisees and possesses the skills to both establish and implement a professional development plan for each employee. Special attention is given to providing each milieu team member with clinical direction, coaching and support in working with youth with significant trauma and abuse histories. Utilization of both verbal and physical intervention skills (individuals age 6 to 21 weighing a minimum of 50lbs). The use of physical intervention requires frequent kneeling and return to standing position without assistance. Requires flexibility as the TTC is on-call 24 hours, 7 days a week. The TTC should spend a significant portion of their time in the Milieu when youth are present.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages all administrative matters pertaining to unit operation, including unit budget, petty cash, allowance system, clothing purchases, school supplies, lunch and transportation monies, household supplies and inventory, maintenance and repair of equipment, etc. as applicable, involving children as part of their learning process
• Coordinates with the clinical services team, specialized services team and other internal and external team members in the provision of services and programs for youth through the therapeutic team approach
• Provides and symbolizes adult security to residents by maintaining discipline and order within the Residential Treatment department, keeping the demands of individual residents in balance with the needs of the Residential Treatment department as a whole
• Maintain fidelity of trauma focused interventions and treatment modalities
• Identify group psycho-educational and skills training curriculums with assistance from the clinical team, trains employees in implementation of group programming, and models for employees effective implementation of group treatment
• Ensures that regular community-based individual and group programming is integrated into the milieu schedule, as well as milieu and community-based activities that allow for family participation
• Supervises the provision of basic living needs, such as food, shelter, clean clothes, bedding, and other personal items
• Creates and maintains a unit culture which is based on youth-guided, strengths-based, family-focused, data-driven, trauma-informed philosophies Promotes professional growth in employees, fostering strengths and redirecting efforts as necessary
• Ensure employees attend trainings as required
• Orients new staff members and volunteers to the program
• Assigns and deploys supervisees in ways that would make best use of their talents and strengths in meeting the needs of youth
• Assists in recruiting and participates in decisions on hiring and termination of employees
• Evaluates the performance of supervisees and makes recommendations for promotions and other personnel actions
• Mediate personnel conflicts with respect and dignity
• Understands the impact of secondary trauma and workplace stress and use strategies to prevent, minimize and/or help employees heal and recover
• Holds regular (at least bi-weekly), documented supervision of supervisees; trains, coaches,develops, and supports their treatment skills
• Leads treatment team meetings and community meetings and documents summary of meetings
• Participates in regular, multi-disciplinary clinical staffings as a representative of the treatment team
• Provides oversight to employees and youth on medication, first aid and works closely with the medical department
• Facilitates and occasionally participates with the residents in both planned and casual recreation, and other activities such as household chores and other work projects
• Informs, educates and instructs personnel on policies and procedures of the agency
• Ensures adequate coverage on assigned unit as per DCFS licensing standards, soliciting for coverage in the event of an opening; Will reorganize schedule in order to cover openings on unit as needed. This includes finding coverage for paid time off, sick time, etc.
• Ensures that proper medical and health care is provided under the direction of the nurse and doctor
• Makes recommendations to administration for policy or program changes
• Participates in conferences, in-service training, and other activities to improve own knowledge and to share knowledge with other employees
• Participates in the development and implementation of continuous quality improvement activities as assigned
• Attend at least two trainings related to being trauma informed in a twelve-month period
• 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
• Ability to work effectively with program participants and family members, employees and vendors in a culturally diverse environment to support healing and recovery
• Assist in facilitation of program trainings as assigned
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 25 years of age
• Must have 2 years of college credit and at least 2 years of full time experience in a residential child care program with demonstrated skill in working with and managing children of the type served in the program OR a Bachelor's degree in social work or related human service field or an academically equivalent Bachelor's degree in social work or a related human service field and 1 year of experience in a congregate care milieu OR a Bachelor's degree that has not been approved as academically equivalent to social work or human service related degree and 3 years in a congregate care milieu OR a high school diploma or a GED with 3 years of experience in a congregate care milieu.
• If the candidate has a high school diploma or GED, he/she shall apply in 6 months and enroll within 12 months of employment as a child care supervisor in a college program where at least 30 credit hours in human services course work is required, and complete the 30 credit hours in human services course work within 2 years of enrollment.
• Demonstrates ability to work cooperatively with administration and persons external to the program
• Knowledge of trauma informed care and prior experience working in settings with youth and families that have been exposed to trauma or experiencing traumatic stress preferred
• Knowledge of youth development, adolescent issues, positive youth development/strengths- based approach preferred
• 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

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Exposure to resident behavior problems that may include physical acting out and requires safe physical management skills
• Exposure to residents with complex mental health issues and/or disorders
• Exposure to youths with various states of cleanliness and hygiene

Highlighted benefits

• Provides full time employees 2 times their salary in term life insurance for no additional cost
• Reimburses your gym memberships up to $20 per month to aid on your overall fitness and health
• Offers 100% match up to 3% on your retirement savings after 1 year of service
• All employees start off with an average of 17-25 days of PTO
• Employee Referral Program gives employees an opportunity to receive up to $1500 for referring candidates
• 9 paid holidays off

Frequently cited statistics show that women and underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Lawrence Hall encourages you to apply even if you do not meet all listed qualifications. We look forward to your application. 

This position meets the FLSA requirements for Exempt.

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V