POSITION SUMMARY

The Dual Diagnosis Specialist is responsible for providing integrated, person-centered mental health and substance use screening, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and safety planning, crisis intervention, counseling, care coordination, and recovery support services to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Services may be delivered individually or in groups in office settings and will address mental health, substance use, trauma, and co-occurring needs within the therapist’s scope of practice.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides individual, group, and family therapy for mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders in office, community, home-based, telehealth, or other approved settings using developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and evidence-based practices.
• Completes comprehensive biopsychosocial and substance use assessments, including screening for co-occurring disorders, trauma exposure, withdrawal risk, suicide risk, self-harm, violence risk, and other safety concerns; determines service needs and makes referrals when a higher or different level of care is indicated.
• Develops, implements, reviews, and updates individualized, measurable treatment plans in collaboration with the client and, when appropriate, the parent, guardian, family, or other members of the care team.
• Uses evidence-based and recovery-oriented approaches appropriate to client needs, which may include motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral interventions, relapse-prevention strategies, psychoeducation, harm-reduction principles, skills training, and family-focused interventions.
• Provides crisis assessment and intervention; develops and updates safety, crisis, relapse-prevention, and recovery plans; follows agency procedures for emergency response, mandated reporting, and coordination with crisis or emergency services.
• Monitors client progress, treatment response, substance use patterns, barriers to recovery, medication adherence concerns, and changes in risk; adjusts interventions and treatment goals within scope of practice.
• Coordinates care with prescribers, primary care providers, hospitals, withdrawal-management and residential programs, recovery support providers, schools, child welfare, courts, probation, and other community partners after obtaining required authorizations.
• Facilitates referrals and warm handoffs for psychiatric care, medication-assisted treatment or medications for substance use disorders, medical evaluation, peer recovery support, mutual-aid resources, housing, transportation, and other social supports.
• Participates in multidisciplinary case consultation, clinical supervision, utilization review, quality-improvement activities, and scheduled case staffing to support coordinated and clinically appropriate services.
• Maintains timely, accurate, and professional clinical records, including assessments, diagnoses when permitted, treatment plans, progress notes, discharge or transition summaries, releases of information, and required outcome measures.
• Protects client privacy and maintains professional boundaries in accordance with HIPAA, applicable substance use confidentiality requirements, agency policy, ethical standards, and legal requirements.
• Ensures services are authorized, documented, coded, and submitted in accordance with payer, Medicaid, managed care, grant, and agency requirements; supports accurate billing for self-pay and insured clients.
• Maintains assigned caseload and meets productivity, documentation, and service-delivery expectations while providing timely follow-up, engagement, transition, and discharge planning.
• Completes other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in clinical assessment, treatment planning, counseling, crisis intervention, case management, organization, and time management, including application of the ASAM Criteria.
• Ability to recognize and respond to mental health symptoms, substance intoxication or withdrawal concerns, relapse risk, suicide or self-harm risk, and other urgent safety needs within established protocols.
• Knowledge of co-occurring disorders, stages of change, recovery-oriented care, trauma-informed practice, harm-reduction principles, and evidence-based behavioral health interventions.
• Effective interpersonal, facilitation, de-escalation, documentation, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish therapeutic rapport, engage individuals who may be ambivalent about treatment, maintain professional boundaries, and collaborate effectively with families and multidisciplinary partners.
• Ability to work effectively across disciplines and provide culturally responsive, recovery-oriented services that respect each client's identity, lived experience, strengths, and recovery goals.
• Knowledge of evidence-based practices and treatment modalities applicable to mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders.
• Ability to participate effectively within a multidisciplinary treatment team and engage in ongoing clinical supervision, consultation, and professional development.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a closely related behavioral health field from an accredited program is required.
• Current Illinois Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential issued through the Illinois Certification Board (ICB) must be obtained within 90 days of hire.
• Clinical license or license eligibility appropriate to the discipline and services provided is preferred; the employee must practice within applicable supervision, credentialing, and scope-of-practice requirements.
• Experience providing assessment and therapy for mental health and substance use disorders is preferred, including experience with co-occurring conditions, trauma, crisis intervention, and recovery-oriented treatment.
• Experience facilitating individual, family, and group services and coordinating care across behavioral health, medical, social service, justice, school, or community systems is preferred.

CARE & TCI

Hoyleton has adopted the CARE (Children and Residential Experience), developed by Cornell University, to guide our culture and practice. CARE is grounded in six core principles: Developmentally Focused, Family Involved, Relationship Based, Ecologically Oriented, Competence Centered, and Trauma Informed. 

Completion of CARE and TCI training is an internal requirement for all staff and must be completed upon hire. Ongoing application of these principles is expected and essential to successful job performance. 

TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention). Employees must:

• Pass the written test annually
• Pass the physical test every six months (if applicable to their role)

Consistent participation and application of both CARE and TCI principles drive company culture and are essential to job performance.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position operates in a professional office setting at the Fairview Heights headquarters with occasional travel to other agency sites based on role responsibilities.

The role involves periods of walking, standing, or sitting, and may occasionally require climbing stairs, bending, kneeling, or lifting materials up to 50 pounds, depending on job duties. 

The position may involve working with individuals experiencing mental health symptoms, substance use disorders, emotional distress, crisis situations, or other behavioral health concerns and requires adherence to agency safety practices, professional boundaries, and de-escalation protocols.

Minimal exposure to environmental factors such as noise, dust, or varying indoor/outdoor temperatures may occur depending on program needs and client-related activities. 

BENEFITS

• Medical insurance with company funded Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Dental and vision insurance
• Paid vacation, sick, and personal days
• 10 company holidays and 1 floating holiday
• Monthly cell phone reimbursement
• 6 weeks paid parental leave
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to 5% employer match
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Optional supplemental benefits including: voluntary life, short-term disability, long-term disability, accident, and critical illness coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available to employees and their household members for additional support
• Tuition reimbursement to encourage continued learning and growth
• BenefitHub Perks Program offering valuable employee discounts

GRANT- FUNDED POSITION NOTICE

This is a grant-funded position. The organization is committed to sustaining successful programs and the valuable work they provide. Continued employment in this role is contingent upon the availability and renewal of grant funding.