Senior Therapist

Female Sober Living Unit Therapist

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. About one-quarter square miles in the city have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. 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

Under minimal direct supervision from the Team Supervisor, the Female Sober Living Unit Therapist provides clinical intervention services to adult inmates who are experiencing psychiatric, behavioral and/or substance abuse related problems in the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center. Duties include triage, psycho-social assessment, diagnostic evaluation, risk assessment, brief counseling, individual and group counseling, specialized case management, and facilitation of temporary detention orders for forensic hospitalization of inmates as needed. The Senior Therapist assigned to the Sober Living Unit (SLU) will have specific responsibilities related to the operation of the SLU program, including identifying and evaluating inmates in population who are prospective clients of the program; provision of group and individual treatment within the program; managing the Therapeutic Community milieu; and developing comprehensive discharge/release plans for clients leaving the program/facility. This position ensures continuity of information flow and consumer care from shift to shift. Communicates thoroughly, relevantly, and in an organized fashion both orally and in writing. The expectation is for the Senior Therapist to conduct the duties of the position independently, requiring minimal supervision.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate should have thorough knowledge of individual and group behaviors, family dynamics, abnormal psychology, and disorders related to substance abuse/dependence. Thorough knowledge of psychiatric interviewing; gathering clinical data; assessments; and DSM-5 diagnosis. Knowledge and experience with clinical risk assessment and writing reports based on clinical formulation. Thorough knowledge and ability to provide case management services to homeless persons who have mental illness and / or substance abuse disorders. Knowledge of the criminal justice, law enforcement systems, and interaction with mental health / substance abuse services. Good skills working with persons having mental illness and with their families. Thorough knowledge of DSM V. An ability to communicate clearly and effectively with other professionals and with the general public, both orally and in writing.

The Opportunity

• Provides crisis intervention and diagnostic evaluations;
  
• Provides individual and group therapy;
  
• Completes biopsychosocial clinical intake evaluations and other clinical assessments;
  
• Performs risk assessment evaluations and provides recommendations for treatment, Security precautions, and housing recommendations based on the clinical impressions;
  
• Provides targeted case management services for individuals in the Detention Center; coordinates services with associated agencies outside the jail;
  
• Provides consultations to Detention Center staff and with other agencies;
  
• Maintains consumer records consistent with all applicable State and Departmental standards;
  
• Performs pre-screening of inmates for detention to State Psychiatric Institutions;
  
• Other duties as assigned by the Team Supervisor.
  

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 have a valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

Possession Virginia clinical license as Psychologist, LPC,or LCSW. At least one year of experience working with confined populations and/or law enforcement agencies. Bi-lingual proficiency with ability to practice in Spanish and English is strongly preferred.

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: FBI/Federal Records Check, Alexandria Sheriff's Office Security Clearance. VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database; education/certifications; and driver’s license.

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM, rotating Saturday