Senior Therapist - Floater

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 work. Approximately one-quarter of the City's square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. Several buildings in these districts are monuments to the past, while being actively used by citizens for homes, businesses, and museums. If you're interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we have an opportunity as a Senior Therapist.

An Overview
The Department of Community and Human Services provides effective and essential safety net services that measurably improve or maintain the quality of life for Alexandrians. The Senior Therapists provides assessment, crisis intervention, and behavioral health treatment to citizens of Alexandria. This position will function in multiple programs within the Center for Adult Services. The senior therapist performs functions throughout the Center, at service locations designated by the Center Director. The position will fill critical staffing/service gaps in the Center and will rotate between teams as needed and depending on where the most critical needs exist. This position will likely provide clinical services in teams including but not limited to Emergency Services, Jail Services, Comprehensive Recovery Team, Intake, and Detox. The position days/hours varies based on the program assignments.

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
Because this position will work in a variety of settings/team, duties will vary and will change based on assignment. Examples include:

• Emergency Services: Interview consumers who walk in to Mental Health Center and individuals who require intervention in the community; determine appropriate disposition based on thorough psychiatric evaluation; complete written assessments and make appropriate referrals; Assess need for immediate face-to-face interview or referral during telephone conversations; Provide liaison/outreach to other community agencies; Provide 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); Conduct pre-admission screening for voluntary/involuntary hospitalizations; Provide crisis stabilization utilizing phone and face to face contact; Determine appropriate response to all calls from the citizens and staff from other agencies.
• ARTC: The mission of the Alexandria Residential Treatment Center (ARTC) is to assist individuals who have serious substance use and/or co-occurring mental health disorders to attain stability, motivation and skills to engage in ongoing recovery. ARTC provides 24-hour monitoring and structured support through intensive and highly structured clinical services in a non-inpatient residential setting in order to engage clients in early recovery treatment. The goal of ARTC is to provide a safe and supportive environment in which individuals in need of intensive, residential treatment achieve stability and are introduced or reintroduced to recovery concepts and skills appropriate to where they are on the stages of change continuum.
• Intake: Provides comprehensive evaluation services to adults in need of behavioral health services; develops initial treatment plans with clients and makes referrals to department and other services to address clients' needs and preferences.
• Comprehensive Recovery Team: Provides intensive case management/clinical recovery coaching services for consumers in the program; Develops and implements service plans with clients, including wellness recovery action plans (WRAP); Provides individual, group, and family counseling, as well as crisis intervention to adult consumers; Performs initial assessments/screenings, provides orientation, and maintains documentation in compliance with applicable standards.
• Jail Services: Provides behavioral health assessment and treatment services to individuals housed at the Alexandria Detention Center; develops client centered individualized service plans and implements case management services; provides crisis intervention and diagnostic evaluations to inmates; conducts supportive individual counseling, group, and family counseling for substance abusers/dependent and mentally ill persons with any accompanying emotional, behavioral or related problems.

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 Masters 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. Must have a valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

Currently licensed 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 least two years or more of experience in clinical assessment, crisis intervention, diagnosis and case management; bilingual (English/Spanish) skills.

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: FBI/Federal Records Check; Sheriff Background Check; VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database; Education/Certifications; and Driver's License.

Schedule: Day/evenings/overnights/weekends. As an Essential Employee, staff will be expected to be at work during weekends, holidays, or inclement weather if they have been scheduled.