Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinician (Resident/Supervisee) (Jails)

  • Arlington County, VA
  • Arlington, Virginia
  • Full Time

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 Emergency Services Clinician to work in the Arlington County Detention Facility as part of a behavioral health treatment team. This professional position is responsible for performing psycho-social assessments, managing crises, making clinical placement decisions, assisting with re-entry planning and working on an interdisciplinary team to meet the needs of people detained at the Arlington County Detention Facility (ACDF). The population served is ethnically and culturally diverse.

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:

  • Making assessment of clients presenting symptoms to identify service needs;

  • Managing behavioral health crises in the Detention Facility;

  • Completing Emergency Custody Orders and pre-screen assessments as needed;

  • Collaborating with mental health professionals to develop treatment plans, risk assessments, and crisis stabilization;

  • Linking clients to resources in the community;

  • Documenting treatment plans and progress to ensure compliance with clinical, funding, and program licensing regulations and standards; and

  • Communicating effectively with security staff, medical personnel and other stakeholders.

The selected candidate will be hired at 1 of the following levels, depending on qualifications:

Minimum (all levels):

  • Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline such as Counseling, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychology, Psychiatric Nursing or other directly related clinical field, all of which required a clinical practicum involving diagnostic and treatment services; and

  • Two years' post-Master's degree experience providing mental health services, which include the application of diagnostic and treatment services.

AND

For Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinician (Licensed):

  • Licensure by the appropriate board of the Virginia Department of Health Professions, appropriate to the employee's discipline (e.g. LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW) at time of employment.

For Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinician (Resident/Supervisee):

  • Within 90 days of hire, obtaining a temporary license as a Resident in Counseling (for LPC or LMFT), Resident in Clinical Psychology (for LCP), or registering as a Supervisee in Social Work (for LCSW) with the Virginia Department of Health Professions (VDHP). Licensure by the appropriate board of Virginia Department of Health Professions must be obtained within 3 years of hire.

For Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinician (Non-VA Licensed):

  • Licensure in another jurisdiction at time of employment and licensure by the appropriate board of the Virginia Department of Health Professions, appropriate to the employee's discipline (e.g., LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW) must be obtained within 90 days of employment.

Licenses/Certifications For All Levels:

Possession or obtainment of:

  • Preadmission Prescreening Clinician Certification from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Development Sciences (DBHDS) within 60 days of employment (90 days for on-call, temporary employees) ( );

  • TOVA training from Arlington County within one year of employment; and

  • Medication Administration Certification from a CSB-approved vendor within 90 days of employment.

Substitution: Directly related higher level clinical degrees may substitute for the Master's Degree education requirement and one year of experience.

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

  • Bilingual verbal ability in 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.

Prescreen Certification: Prescreen Certification: Application, requirements, and instructions for obtaining a Preadmission Prescreening Clinician Certification from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Development Sciences can be found on the Virginia DBHDS Webpage. ( )

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 Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM.

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 Emergency Services Clinician (Licensed) and Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinician (Non-VA Licensed): $93,496-$144,892.80 Annually

  • Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinician (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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Job ID: 485067157
Originally Posted on: 7/13/2025

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