Senior Therapist, Forensic Services

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Senior Therapist position.

An Overview

The Senior Therapist will provides assessment, treatment planning, coaching, linking, and monitoring to individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse disorders and who have a history of involvement or are currently involved in the criminal justice system, in order to assist them with their recovery process, reduce time spent in jail, decrease recidivism and prevent further penetration into the criminal justice system. The Senior Therapist provides support in the coordination of jail diversion services between mental health and a variety of community systems and partners.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate should have thorough knowledge of individual and group behavior including thorough knowledge of treatment issues related to psychiatric problems, dual-diagnosis, and chemical dependency; good knowledge of psychopharmacology, psychiatric disorders, alcoholism/drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, and/or elderly and aging; ability to work successfully with a variety of consumers; ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing with other professionals and with the public; ability to plan and supervise the work of interns or students.

The Opportunity

• Conducts evaluations and formulates assessments, diagnoses and treatment plans for individuals appropriate for jail diversion services;
• Completes clinical intakes, service recommendations and referrals within the agency as well as to community-based programs;
• Gathers and organizes data; prepares written reports as necessary to monitor progress and trends in jail diversion initiatives;
• Attends meetings and participates on committees as needed for the purpose of developing collaborative treatment approaches;
• Provides individual, psychoeducational groups and motivational treatment to consumers identified for jail diversion services;
• Provides case management services to consumers diagnosed with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring behavioral health disorders.
• Maintains clinical records in accordance with State, City, Departmental, and Federal compliance requirements;
• Works in conjunction with criminal justice partners to identify and assess individuals who may be referred for jail diversion program participation;
• Assist clients with navigation of complex systems including but not limited to: criminal justice, benefits, medical, transportation, and behavioral health;
• Assist with providing education and information to community partners;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

About the Department

The Center for Adult Services (CAS) provides programs and services in Aging; Adult Protective Services; Clinical & Emergency Services; and Community & Residential Support Services for seniors and for persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders. CAS provides compassionate and effective person-centered services based on best practices. Our teams support self-determination, safety and recovery for Alexandria residents affected by abuse, neglect, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse disorders.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Possession of Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Education or related field; at least two years of post-graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to consumers having one or more substance abuse, psychiatric, and emotional disorders; and licensure or license eligible (has completed all required education and supervision as required by applicable board) as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP) or Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia at the time of appointment; if license eligible, the employee must obtain Virginia licensure at the first available opportunity, but no later than one year after appointment; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Employees must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of their residence if they are in a position with driving responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

Two years post graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to consumers with emotional, behavioral, psychological and/or chemically dependent disorders; Licensed or license eligible as a LPC, LCSW, or Clinical Psychologist in Virginia at the time of appointment (if license-eligible, the employee must obtain Virginia license at the first available opportunity, but no later than one year from appointment); Fluent and Bilingual in English/Spanish, French, African, or Middle Eastern; At least two years of experience working with consumers who have criminal justice involvement; At least two years of experience working with individuals with a serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders.

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: FBI/Federal Records Check; VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database; and education/certifications.

Schedule:

Monday through Friday, with some evenings required.