Behavioral Health Therapist (Mobile Outreach)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please note: This position includes a $2500 gross sign-on bonus upon hire and a second $2500 gross sign-on bonus after probation has been met.

Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed) for the Arlington County Mobile Outreach Support Team (MOST) within the Client Services Entry Bureau. As part of a team that provides mobile outreach to the community, this position responds to urgent/crisis behavioral health needs in the community to include conducting mental health assessment, providing crisis intervention and stabilization, short-term counseling, assisting individuals and their families with identifying resources, and linking individuals to services as needed.  The position will be responsible for conducting welfare checks and partnering with the police and first responders to divert people from arrest and/or hospitalization when appropriate. Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. 

Although positions may be filled at the Non-VA Licensed or Resident/Supervisee, licensure must be earned within three years of hire. The Department of Human Services will provide supervision to staff in pursuit of licensure. 

Major Job Duties:

• Responding to calls from 911 and first responders to assess needs, determine appropriate level of care, de-escalate and make referrals;

• Providing clinical intervention services for clients experiencing a behavioral health crisis;

• Conducting evaluations and risk assessments, utilizing a strength-based approach;

• Performing screenings for hospitalization or other diversionary services (e.g. partial hospitalization, residential, respite, intensive community services), while ensuring that services are provided in the least restrictive environment;

• Working with Police, Fire/EMS, ECC, Emergency Services, and other partners as needed to identify people in need and to coordinate services;

• Engaging with people who may be in distress, assessing their needs and determining a plan for stability;

• Conducting welfare checks for people connected to Behavioral Health services in the county as well as referrals from first responders;

• Managing information about participants of MOST to ensure that all contacts are recorded;

• Assisting the Program Manager with generating and maintaining accurate program specific statistical data; and

• Utilizing Microsoft Office Suite and various software such as electronic health records to document cases and interactions.

The ideal candidate is patient, calm, organized, understanding, inquisitive that cares about making a positive interaction within their community as well as within their team. They will have experience and the capability to adapt to changing situations every day and will be able to encourage out-of-the box solutions to a multitude of problems as they arise.

Arlington County 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.
 

Please note: Please refer to the guidelines for registration and licensure set forth by the Virginia Department of Health Professions prior to completing this application.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline such as Counseling, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychology, or other directly related clinical discipline with internships and practicum requirements involving diagnostic, treatment application of diagnostic, and treatment services  with internships and practicum requirements specified by the Virginia Department of Health Professions.; and

Therapists may be hired at one of the following levels:

Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed):

• Possess one of the following professional licenses from the Virginia Department of Health Professions: LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW.

 Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed):

• Possess a license in a jurisdiction other than Virginia and are performing supervised assessment and evaluation, diagnostic, treatment planning, case management and counseling work while awaiting licensure from the Virginia Department of Health Professions  of the following professional licenses related to a behavioral health discipline: (LPC), (LCP), (LMFT), (LCSW);

• Virginia clinical license must be obtained within 90 days of hire.

 Behavioral Health (Resident/Supervisee):

• Perform supervised assessment and evaluation, diagnostic, treatment planning, case management, and counseling work as a trainee as required to obtain one of the following professional licenses related to a behavioral health discipline in the state of Virginia:

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Must meet (apply for and receive) the educational requirements to obtain a temporary license as a Resident in Counseling (for LPC or LMFT) or Resident in Clinical Psychology (for LCP), or register as a Supervisee in Social Work (LCSW) with the Virginia Department of Health Professions within 90 days of hire;
• Obtain appropriate clinical licensure within three years of hire.

Starting salary is commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate selected.

Salary: The applicable salary ranges for each designation are:

• Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed): $96,304-$149,240 Annually

• Behavioral Health (Resident/Supervisee): $83,158.40-$128,876.80 Annually

• Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed): $96,304-$149,240 Annually

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

• Preadmission Prescreening Clinician Certification from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Development Sciences (DBHDS); and/or

• Bilingual verbal ability in English and Spanish.  

Special Requirements

• Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It will include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You will be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

• Driver's License: Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicant’s driving record. Alternatively, the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite.

• Must complete pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry check. 

• State of Virginia Child Welfare and Neglect Central Registry checks will be required. 

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 (except for 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: 

Work hours: Monday – Friday, 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., with some flexibility and differing hours depending on programmatic need. The employee must be able to work shifts as necessary, including after-hours and during emergency situations as necessary. This position is not a remote/telework position.

Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions. Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position. These responses are considered part of the selection process. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please do not write "see resume" as a response to the questions. 
 

This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

For more information on Arlington County’s generous benefits and retirement plan, click here.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment. 

In accordance with § 19.2-392.15, applicants are not required to provide information regarding sealed arrests, charges, or convictions in response to any questions or inquiries during the hiring process.

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