Behavioral Health Counselor-Engagement Specialist, Community Support

About the role

Community Support Team

Schedule: Monday-Friday, daytime hours

Required

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Willing to obtain Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) certification within 12 months of hire.
• Valid driver's license.
• Current auto liability insurance.

Field work: meeting with clients in the community or in their homes to provide weekly case management.

The Behavioral Health Counselor - Engagement Specialist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Behavioral Health Counselor - Engagement Specialist delivers direct care to the psychiatric patient. Effectively interacts with the patients and their support network, and with the treatment milieu to facilitate positive patient outcomes. The Behavioral Health Engagement Specialist will perform these tasks in a fashion that assures, embraces, and communicates the pledge, values and policies of Northwestern Medicine.

Responsibilities

• Provide immediate support and intervention to individuals in crisis, both in person and via telehealth.
• Deliver crisis supports individuals at imminent risk of suicide, in need of urgent resources, or experiencing emotional distress.
• Assess individual needs and connect them to appropriate services such as mental health care, substance use treatment, or safe housing.
• Serve as part of a team, collaborating with clinicians and other professionals to ensure comprehensive care.
• Transport individuals to necessary services or safe locations as needed.
• Facilitate support groups and deliver training sessions for staff.
• Conduct follow-up services and home or community-based visits within required timeframes.
• Use lived experience with mental health or substance use to build peer-level connections and trust.
• Respond to crisis situations with empathy and guidance, helping individuals explore solutions and stabilize.
• Collaborate with law enforcement, social service agencies, and Northwestern Medicine departments to coordinate patient support.
• Partner with assigned clinical therapists to provide individual interventions and manage patient crises.
• Monitor and document patient progress toward treatment goals.
• Plan for patient discharge/linkage by securing treatment resources and scheduling follow-up appointments.
• Lead new patient orientations to familiarize individuals with services and expectations.
• Complete intake evaluations and assessments, documenting justification for recommended level of care using placement criteria.
• Cross-train across Behavioral Health Services (BHS) units and pursue professional development opportunities.
• Contribute to Integrated Assessment and Treatment Plans in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
• Ensure all required documentation is completed within designated time limits.
• Communicate effectively and respectfully with team members across clinical disciplines.
• Educate patients on self-help groups and encourage their use as ongoing support systems.
• Demonstrate knowledge of street drugs and substances of abuse, including recognition of withdrawal symptoms.
• Conduct telephone screenings (inquiry calls) and determine appropriate disposition based on contact.
• Apply patient placement criteria to identify appropriate level of care and communicate with Managed Care for pre-certification.
• Report any incidents involving patients or staff that may compromise safety to team lead and manager.
• Support the intake process by handling inquiry calls as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) certification required within 12 months of hire.
• Valid driver's license.
• Current auto liability insurance.
• Annual driving record abstract.
• Ability to travel daily to multiple work sites and community locations.

Preferred

• Minimum of one year of direct experience working with individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness.
• Experience serving on a 590-designated Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT), Community Support Team (CST), and/or Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, providing immediate behavioral health interventions in community settings.

Additional Information

Background Check

If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

• We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.
• Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.

If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.