Job Description

This position includes a $2,500.00 gross signing bonus at hire and $2,500.00 gross bonus at the completion of the probationary period.

Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) is hiring experienced Behavioral Health Therapist to serve as a Crisis Intervention Therapist in the Client Services Entry (CSE) Bureau of the Behavioral Healthcare Division (BHD). These employees will provide comprehensive evaluations, crisis intervention and stabilization to persons with serious mental illness, dual diagnoses, and acute psychiatric and substance abuse-related issues, in order to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and lengthy emergency department stays, and to de-escalate and prevent future crises. Services offered are trauma-informed, culturally competent, strengths-based, needs-driven, and are responsive, adaptive, as well as respectful.

This position is considered "essential" and is part of a team that provides services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs. To learn more about the Department of Human Services and the Behavioral Healthcare Division, please visit DHS.

Responsibilities

Specific duties include:

Providing assessments and interventions in multiple settings including the Crisis Intervention Center, home, schools, juvenile justice settings, community organizations, as well as hospital inpatient units and emergency departments;
Developing and maintaining working relationships with BHD staff and with other agencies including police, courts, schools, magistrates, fire and rescue, VHC Health, and other agencies involved in emergency interventions;
Conducting diagnostic assessments and risk analyses, utilizing a strengths-based approach;
Developing and implementing strategies for clients and for families to alleviate crisis including time-limited crisis interventions, short term counseling, and/or intensive care coordination;
Conducting pre-admission screening for hospitalization or other diversionary services (partial hospitalization, residential, respite, intensive community services), ensuring that services are provided in the least restrictive environments; and
Ensuring high quality and timely documentation within an electronic record management system by staff.

The ideal candidate is patient, calm, understanding, inquisitive, convincing, while often under pressure to complete tasks under the allowed time limit. They will have proven experience completing documentation in a timely manner to ensure that subsequent staff have the information necessary to follow up on cases. The desire and ability to work under uncertain conditions and unknown hours is also essential for this role.

Qualifications

The selected candidate will be hired at 1 of the following levels, depending on qualifications:

Minimum (all levels):

Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline such as Counseling, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy, Psychiatric Nursing or other directly related clinical field, all of which required a clinical practicum involving diagnostic and treatment services.
Two years post-Master's degree experience providing mental health services, which include the application of diagnostic and treatment services. Experience directly related to the position's assignment may be preferred.

For Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinician (Licensed): Licensure by the appropriate board of the Virginia Department of Health Professions, appropriate to the employee's discipline (e.g. LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW) at time of employment.

For Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinician (Resident/Supervisee):

Within 90 days of hire, obtaining a temporary license as a Resident in Counseling (for LPC or LMFT),
Resident in Clinical Psychology (for LCP) or registering as a Supervisee in Social Work (for LCSW) with the Virginia Department of Health Professions (VDHP). Licensure by the appropriate board of Virginia Department of Health Professions must be obtained within 3 years of hire.

For Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinician (Non-VA Licensed): Licensure in another jurisdiction at time of employment and licensure by the appropriate board of the Virginia Department of Health Professions, appropriate to the employee's discipline (e.g., LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW) must be obtained within 90 days of employment.

Licenses/Certifications: All Levels:

Possession or obtainment of:

Preadmission Prescreening Clinician Certification from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Development Sciences (DBHDS) within 60 days of employment (90 days for on-call, temporary employees)
TOVA training from Arlington County within one year of employment
Medication Administration Certification from a CSB-approved vendor within 90 days of employment
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license from the incumbent's place of residence according to the Arlington County Driver Policy.

Substitution: Directly related higher level clinical degrees may substitute for the Master's Degree education requirement and one year of experience.

Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with experience or certification in one or more of the following:

Providing services to individuals experiencing a behavioral health emergency;
Working with clients with co-occurring substance use disorders;
Collaborating with criminal justice partners (particularly law enforcement, correctional officers, and court staff); and/or
Prescreen certified.

Special Requirements

Driver's License: The applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver's license. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain or provide a copy of their official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information. A pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry check will also be completed before hire.

Employment restrictions: To ensure that dual relationships are avoided and that employees who are also clients do not relate to their service provider as co-professionals, employees will not be hired by the County to provide or support services to the team or program in which they are current clients:

You cannot concurrently receive behavioral health services from Arlington County Community Service Board (CSB) programs while employed in an Arlington County CSB program (exception Crisis Intervention services).
At least 24 months must have passed between receipt of CSB services from Arlington County and employment in an Arlington County CSB program.

Additional Information

This position is funded with ongoing State funds.

Work Hours: Work shifts are assigned as needed to provide coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Weekend work may be required.

*Emergency services with mobile response is considered “essential”, and therefore, must be available to provide overnight, weekend and holiday coverage, as well as inclement weather coverage.

Arlington County Government

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Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinician (Licensed)