ACORP - Emergency Services Senior Therapist
This position qualifies for a $3,000 signing bonus. 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 ACORP Emergency Services Senior Therapist position.
An Overview
The ACORP Emergency Services Senior Therapist works in tandem with ACORP Police Officers to provide assessment, crisis intervention, and psychiatric stabilization to persons in the community experiencing a behavioral health crisis. ACORP (The Alexandria Co-Response Program) is a key initiative in the City of Alexandria aimed at working with persons in crisis in ways that promote community stabilization and safety and decrease the need for criminal justice responses and/or psychiatric hospitalization. The ACORP Emergency Services Senior Therapist is responsible for conducting crisis intervention services and responding to behavioral health emergencies through telephone and face-to-face contact. These responses may include interviewing and evaluating persons who are presenting in crisis, pre-admission screening for hospitalization, consulting with other care providers, and linking persons with other community services. The ACORP Emergency Services Senior Therapist responds to police department calls for service, in a police cruiser, alongside other first responders.
What You Should Bring
The ideal candidate should have thorough knowledge of current best practices, including recovery concepts and integrated treatment of individuals who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorder; thorough knowledge of community resources, and ability to access these services; knowledge of the criminal justice system and the ability to assist clients with navigating the system; ability to accurately evaluate clients’ mental status; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with law enforcement agents, clients and their families, employees, other service providers, community groups and the public and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing
The Opportunity
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Conducts community-based crisis assessments and interventions, formulates diagnoses, and facilitates referrals to appropriate treatment and community supports
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Provides crisis stabilization in the community
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Provides consultation, coordination, and support to the Alexandria Police Department Behavioral Health Unit and other members of the criminal justice system
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Ensures that cases presenting with multiple, complex clinical issues have the appropriate risk assessments and case coordination with internal and external resources to ensure client and community safety.
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Conducts pre-admission screening for voluntary/involuntary hospitalizations
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Consults with staff and community agencies regarding client referrals and clinical and administrative issues
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Maintains clinical records in accordance with Departmental, City, State, and Federal compliance requirements
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Participates in staff development and training
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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.
Master’s degree in human services; at least two years post-graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to clients having psychiatric and/or substance abuse disorders; at least two years post-master's experience providing diagnostic evaluations, assessments, and crisis intervention. Licensed in Virginia as an LCSW, LPC, LSATP, or Clinical Psychologist OR is 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 license at the first available opportunity, but no later than one year after appointment. Senior Therapists in ES must complete all the requirements to obtain and maintain a certification as Pre-screeners as required by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services within six (6) months of appointment. ES clinicians must show comprehensive knowledge of the Code of Virginia pertaining to Emergency Custody Orders, Temporary Detention Orders, Civil Commitment, Mandatory Outpatient Treatment and Duty to Warn. Employees must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of their residence.
Additional Requirements:
As essential personnel, ES Senior Therapists are required to maintain the operation of the program 24/7/365 including holidays and/or during city closures or other emergencies. The position requires shift work that includes overnights, weekends, and holidays.
At least two years of post-master's experience providing diagnostic evaluations, assessments, and crisis intervention. Currently licensed as a LPC, LCSW, or Clinical Psychologist in Virginia at the time of appointment; bilingual English/Spanish, French, African, or Middle Eastern; At least two years of experience providing crisis intervention and/or working with clients in a criminal justice setting. At least two years of experience working with individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders. At least one year of experience working with law enforcement agencies.
