IPS Counselor

Under the assigned supervisor, the IPS Counselor will provide counseling, advocacy, and case management services to youth and their families during a 6‑month intensive intervention period in a community‑based setting. While in a Placement with caregivers, the Intensive Placement Stabilization, IPS Counselor will provide critical intensive, trauma‑focused therapeutic interventions to caregivers and youth in a non‑traditional and flexible manner, adapting to the availability and needs of the family per their school and work schedules.

The IPS Counselor will utilize strengths‑based and trauma‑focused approaches in developing relationships, assessments, and treatment plans. As part of the Intensive Placement Stabilization Program, IPS Counselors support both the youth and caregivers in strengthening the bond and communication between them and improving their sense of security and permanency. IPS works with both caregivers and children in weekly sessions operating within the framework of Attachment Regulation and Competency (ARC) along with other evidence‑based modalities and frameworks.

• Reports to the Child Abuse Hotline as directed by the Mandated Reporter Act.
• Will provide exceptional customer service to parents, foster caregivers, referring case agencies, and other team members.
• Conducts frequent regional and all‑state in‑person and virtual team meetings with staff, referring case agency and community partners.
• Participates in frequent agency management meetings and work groups.
• Will maintain discretion, as entrusted with a client’s personal information and knowledge of their unique situation. This confidentiality extends to ensuring client data is secure.
• Submits expense vouchers, renewed driver’s licenses, and automobile insurance coverage on the due date.
• Support the creation and maintenance of programmatic information in Microsoft Teams and on the SharePoint site.
• Will assist with updating client demographic and other data in the IPS database.
• Will ensure direct and indirect weekly filing of all IPS documents, notes, Mentoring, and FPSS documents in client files.
• Provide on‑call support after hours on a rotation with all IPS offices in Central, Southern, and Northern regions.
• Provide onsite support to prevent placement disruption.
• Facilitate placement needs of children with collaboration with referring case agency (DCFS/POS).
• Conduct home visits.
• Maintain positive relationships with other agencies and community members as applicable.
• Complete any necessary file documentation and required DCFS database tracking twice monthly.
• Prepare documentation for court proceedings, as needed.

• Provides support and stability services for up to 6 months to families referred.
• Caseloads are approximate 10‑13: 1 ratio.
• Program operates 24/7.
• Position is required to be available Monday – Friday 8:30 – 5pm.
• Position requires sessions outside of normal office hours and at times can be later evenings.
• Position requires rotation of on‑call calendar monthly to offer 24/7 coverage of program needs for crisis (typical schedules are 1 week a month).
• Provides crisis intervention response, assessment, and follow‑up services as deemed appropriate per the program plan.
• Conduct an initial visit within 5 days of referral opening per contractual and programmatic expectations.
• Provides crisis intervention in‑home services in local coverage areas as appropriate to program requirements.
• This position will require day and overnight travel for training opportunities, advocacy for youth and families in community meetings, or staffing and client sessions.
• Provides active guidance/feedback during family contacts (i.e., during sessions, crisis interventions, and other crisis stability events).
• Completion of intake, Mental Health Assessment, DCFS Extension and Discharge processes, and Treatment Planning as outlined in IPS programmatic and contractual expectations.
• Demonstrate the ability to correctly identify emotions, and to mirror regulated feelings in a way that promotes emotional and intellectual development (emotional intelligence).
• Assists in the integration of all services…