Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed) (Jails)

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.

Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed), as the primary Diversion Clinician. This clinician will be a part of the continuum of diversion efforts in Arlington. The Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed) will be responsible for various diversion efforts at the Arlington County Detention Facility (ACDF). They will provide Jail based restoration to competency services and provide crisis management services to individual's incarcerated at ACDF. This position will work primarily with the booking and processing staff, the arresting officers, and the Magistrate, to identify individuals being brought into ACDF who may have significant mental health concerns and would meet Emergency Custody Order criteria (ECO).

Arlington County DHS 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.

Specific duties include:

• Conducting ECO evaluations to determine if the identified individual can be diverted before they are brought into the facility;
• Coordinating with the Bond Diversion clinician to attempt diversion after the person has been brought into ACDF;
• Participating in regular staffing and planning meetings amongst the various programs that offer diversion services in Arlington;
• Assisting with enhancing the provision of services in the diversion continuum;
• Serving as the primary person of contact for individuals being brought into the ACDF, and triaging to various staff based on client needs; and
• Providing Jail Based Restoration to competency services.

The ideal candidate will have a vast knowledge of the criminal justice system as well as insight into best practices in treating behavioral health needs. The ideal candidate should also be familiar with the sequential intercept model, and MARCUS Alert.

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

Therapists may be hired at one of the following levels:

Minimums:

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); and
• 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 in order 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; and
• Obtain appropriate licensure within three years of hire.

Education: Completion of the requirements for obtaining a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline such as Counseling, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy, or other directly related clinical discipline with internships and practicum requirements specified by the Virginia Department of Health Professions.

Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with one or more of the following:

• Experience working in a correctional setting;
• Experience in case management;
• Bi-lingual (English/Spanish

Special Requirements

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information. A pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry check will also be completed before hire.

Driver's License: The applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence and authorize Arlington County to obtain, or the applicant must provide, a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. An offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.

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 (exception 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: Work shifts are assigned as needed to provide coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Weekend work is required for all shifts. Emergency services with mobile response are considered "essential", and therefore, must be available to provide overnight, weekend and holiday coverage, as well as inclement weather coverage. The primary shift will be Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 PM to 8:00 AM. Some evening, weekend or holiday work will be required.

Working Conditions:

• The employee must be available to work after hours and in emergency situations.

• Work is performed as part of a 24/7 operation and the employee must be available to work shifts as necessary, based on assignment.

• The duties of these positions may be performed in an office environment and, based on assignment, may also be performed at locations throughout the community, including client homes, hospitals, and other facilities.

• The primary location for this position will be the Arlington County Detention Facility.

The selected candidate will be hired at one of the following levels based on qualifications. The salary for each level is below:

• Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed) and Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed): $93,496-$144,892.80 Annually

• Behavioral Health Therapist (Resident/Supervisee): $80,724,123.20 - $125,112 Annually

Your responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire are considered part of the selection process. Please do not enter "see resume" as a response to the questions.

Each section of the application must be completed. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for the completed application.

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.

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