Arlington County’s Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Behavioral Health therapist(Licensed) to join the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Program and become a part of a multi-disciplinary team that will work primarily in the community providing an array of Mental Health/Substance Use services. This position will spend about 75% of the time primarily providing treatment, rehabilitation, and skill building out in a community setting, with some intervention directed or performed by staff with specialty training and skills.
The goal of ACT is to promote independence, rehabilitation, and recovery, with an emphasis on home visits and coordinated, interdisciplinary support to prevent homelessness, unnecessary hospitalization, and other negative outcomes. This role involves working as part of an interdisciplinary team, attending daily team meetings, collaborating with team members and other service providers, and delivering the majority of services independently in clients’ homes, shelters, or other community locations. ACT is a highly collaborative, evidence-based model of treatment in which each team member works with all clients assigned to the team.
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.
We are seeking licensed Behavioral Health Therapists for various divisions within DHS. 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. The applicable salary range for each designation is as follows:
- Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed) : $91,644.80-$142,043.20 Annually
- Behavioral Health (Resident/Supervisee):$79,123.20-$122,657.60 Annually
- Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed): $91,644.80-$142,043.20 Annually
Responsibilities
Specific duties include:
- Conducting comprehensive assessments of mental health history, functioning, and service needs to evaluate the presence of mental/substance abuse disorders;
- Provide individual and/or group therapy sessions, when appropriate.
- Performing ongoing assessments of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and providing problem solving, skill training, and supervision to assist clients with ADLs;
- Skill building and supporting clients to obtain the necessities of daily living including personal hygiene and grooming, medical and dental healthcare, legal and advocacy services, financial support such as entitlements and housing subsidies, supported housing, money management services, and transportation;
- Providing symptom education to enable clients to identify symptoms and teach behavioral symptom management techniques;
- Documenting client progress and treatment plans in electronic management system;
- Coordinating with outside inpatient services to establish linkages to outpatient treatment, self-help programs, outpatient services, and residential facilities; and
- Participating in on-call crisis intervention, covering nighttime hours on a rotating basis and serving as a backup to evening and weekend staff.
Qualifications
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 in possession of one or more of the following:
- Experience serving clients with dual diagnosis;
- ACT or similar experience providing community based services; and/or
- Experience assessing emergent needs or crisis situations.
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.
Must meet the criteria of a Qualified Mental Health Professional- Adult (QMHP-A) or closely related license per the Virginia Board of Counseling regulations within 60 days of hire. https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Counseling/PractitionerResources/ApplicationsandForms/
Driver’s License: The applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license. If the applicant possesses or acquires a driver’s license, the applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain or provide a copy of their official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant’s driving record.
Must complete pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry check.
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: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with some worked evenings, weekends, and rotating Holidays required. Limited telework opportunities available upon supervisor approval.
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. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
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.
This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon funding availability.
