Senior Therapist, Emergency Services

Position Overview:

Do you enjoy a fast-paced work environment? Do you have experience working with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis? Are you committed to ensuring that crisis response services meet the needs of clients and families? Are you solution focused and comfortable working both independently and as part of an exciting multidisciplinary team? Do you have an active Clinical License in Virginia and a passion for providing mental health services in acute settings? If so, then you might be the next Emergency Services, Senior Therapist.

As a member of the Emergency Services Team, you will be responsible for conducting crisis intervention and responding to psychiatric emergencies within the City of Alexandria through telephone, tele-video, and face-to-face contact. These responses may include interviewing and evaluating persons who are presenting in crisis, pre-admission screening; consulting with other care providers; evaluating for Civil Detention, voluntary hospitalization, or less restrictive alternatives. You will liaison with other community agencies and make appropriate referrals consistent with the evaluation. In addition, you must maintain clear and concise patient records. Workers must be available to work varying shifts, including evenings, overnights, and weekends.
Examples of Duties:

• Interview consumers who walk into Mental Health Center and individuals who require intervention in the community;
• Determines appropriate disposition based on thorough psychiatric evaluation. Complete written assessments and make appropriate referrals;
• Assesses need for immediate face-to-face interview or referral during telephone conversations;
• Provides liaison/outreach to other community agencies;
• Provides continuity of care for CSB consumers when the CSB is closed (i.e., referrals to emergency room for medication, emergency assessments, and support via the telephone);
• Conducts pre-admission screening for voluntary/involuntary hospitalizations;
• Provides crisis stabilization utilizing phone and face to face contact;
• Determines appropriate response to all calls from the citizens and staff from other agencies;
• Provides clinical assessment and referral services;
• Determines appropriate disposition;
• Formulates diagnoses, assesses risk and mental status;
• Provides clinical intervention in emergency situations at any of the MR/MR/SA homes;
• Coordinates and testifies as representative of CSB in Civil Commitment Hearings;
• Coordinate outpatient treatment for client's committed to Mandatory Outpatient Treatment;
• Provides crisis intervention and emergency services;
• Prepares reports for court proceedings, represents the Department, and testifies as an expert witness on behalf of consumers;
• Provides emergency and crisis intervention services to consumers;
• Participates in staff development and training;
• Maintains clinical records in accordance with State, City, Departmental and Federal compliance requirements;
• Performs related work as required.

What you need to have (Minimum 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.

What makes you a preferred candidate?

Current, active clinical license to practice as an LCSW, LPC, Clinical Psychologist, LSATP in Virginia. Fluent and Bilingual in both English and Spanish is desirable but not required. At least one year of experience working with children and adolescents or in school settings or prior experience in crisis services is valued. At least two or more years of experience working with individuals experiencing psychiatric crises. At least one year of prior experience working in community settings or with individuals experiencing severe mental illness.

Who we are:

As a member of the Division of Clinical and Emergency Services, you will work alongside professionals who are passionate about providing top-notch clinical services to adults with behavioral health disorders. We’re dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals and dedicated to supporting and valuing our staff. We are a community of lifelong learners who collaborate, challenge, and support each other to advance our clinical knowledge and skills, and help our clients achieve the best outcomes.

We are more than a place to work. We are an award winning, dynamic, and multicultural agency with an ambitious blueprint to lead us into the future. Our mission defines what we do for our community, our vision is where we are headed as an organization, and our values guide our actions and decisions.

What we offer you:

In addition to an awesome group of people to work with, the City of Alexandria offers great benefits!

As a full-time employee, of the City of Alexandria, the following are available to you:

• Health Insurance
• Tuition Assistance and Professional Development
• Employee Transportation Benefits Program
• Virginia Retirement System
• Paid Annual and Sick Leave/Sick Leave Bank
• Paid City Holidays
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Spring Health Mental Health Services
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is also a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. Use the following link to access the PSLF website and learn about this program in detail: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service .

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

Current, active clinical license to practice as an LCSW, LPC, Clinical Psychologist, LSATP in Virginia. Fluent and Bilingual in both English and Spanish is desirable but not required. At least two or more years of experience working with individuals experiencing psychiatric crises. At least one year of prior experience working in community settings or with individuals experiencing severe mental illness.

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; Verification of education/certifications; and Driver's license.

Schedule:

Please note that this is a full-time position with 40 hours weekly. Various shifts are available including evening, overnight, weekends and holidays. As an emergency/essential employee, you may be required to remain at work, and will be required to report to work during a time when the City (due to inclement weather, an emergency or other condition) is unable to be fully operational.