Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinicians (Licensed)

Position Information

This position includes a $2500.00 gross signing bonus at hire and $2500.00 gross at the completion of the probationary period.

Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) is hiring experienced Behavioral Health Clinicians to serve as Emergency Services Clinicians in the Client Services Entry (CSE) Bureau of the Behavioral Healthcare Division (BHD). These employees will provide comprehensive crisis intervention and stabilization to persons with serious mental illness, dual diagnoses, and acute psychiatric and substance abuse-related issues, in order to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and lengthy emergency department stays, and to de-escalate and prevent future crises. Services offered are trauma-informed, culturally competent, strengths-based, needs-driven, and are responsive, adaptive, as well as respectful.

• This position is considered "essential" and is part of a team that provides services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Specific duties include:

• Providing assessments and interventions in multiple settings including home, schools, juvenile justice settings, community organizations, as well as hospital inpatient units and emergency departments;

• Developing and maintaining working relationships with BHD staff and with other agencies including police, courts, schools, magistrates, fire and rescue, VHC Health, and other agencies involved in emergency interventions;

• Conducting diagnostic assessments and risk analyses, utilizing a strengths-based approach;

• Developing and implementing strategies for clients and for families to alleviate crisis including time-limited crisis interventions, short term counseling, and/or intensive care coordination;

• Conducting pre-admission screening for hospitalization or other diversionary services (partial hospitalization, residential, respite, intensive community services), ensuring that services are provided in the least restrictive environments; and

• Ensuring high quality and timely documentation within an electronic record management system by staff.

The ideal candidate is patient, calm, understanding, inquisitive, convincing, while often under pressure to complete tasks under the allowed time limit. They will have proven experience completing documentation in a timely manner to ensure that subsequent staff have the information necessary to follow up on cases. The ability to work under uncertain conditions and unknown hours is also essential for this role.

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.

Selection Criteria

Minimum:

• Master's degree in Counseling, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy, Psychiatric Nursing or other directly related discipline, all of which required a clinical practicum involving diagnostic and treatment services; and

• Considerable post-Master's degree experience providing mental health services, which includes one-year minimum of working with seriously mentally ill individuals in crisis.

Clinicians may be hired at the following levels:

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.

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.

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.

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) (http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/behavioral-health/mental-health-services/protocols-and-procedures);

• 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:

• Providing services to individuals experiencing a behavioral health emergency;

• Working with clients with co-occurring substance use disorders;

• Collaborating with criminal justice partners (particularly law enforcement, correctional officers, and court staff); and/or

• Prescreen certified.

Special Requirements

Driver's License: The applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid 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.

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.

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

This position is funded with ongoing State funds.

The pay ranges listed above are effective June 30, 2024.

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.

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. A cover letter will also be required to be attached to your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

All Behavioral Health Emergency Services Clinicians are 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.

#LI-Onsite

Applicants who have questions or need assistance with the application may telephone (703) 228-3500 or visit the Human Resources Department. Our staff will be happy to work with you to enter your application into the system. Public access computers are available at all County Libraries, and in the Human Resources Department.

The examination process for this position may include: (1) training and experience evaluation; (2) written and oral examination; (3) personal interview; (4) performance test/work sample; and/or (5) physical examination.

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process. Please call the ADA Coordinator at 703-228-3559 (voice) or email pers@arlingtonva.us.

Eligibility for Arlington County Government employee benefits depends on your position type (permanent or temporary) and your status (full-time or part-time).

More detailed information on benefits and conditions of employment is available on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: www.arlingtonva.us/pers.

Permanent, Full-Time Appointments

All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available:

Paid Leave: Vacation leave is earned at the rate of five hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases gradually until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. Paid parental and family leave benefits are also offered. Leave is pro-rated for part-time employees.

Holidays: There are eleven paid fixed holidays each year, as well as two floating holidays. Initial allotment of floating holidays may vary based on when you are hired.

Health and Dental Insurance: Four group health insurance plans are offered - a health maintenance organization, two plans with in-network only coverage, and a high-deductible plan with in and out-of-network coveerage, along with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Group dental insurance is also offered, with two options for coverage. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. The County also contributes to the HSA.

Life Insurance: Basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance may be purchased for yourself, spouse, and/or children.

Retirement: The County retirement program is made up of three parts: a defined benefit (pension) plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457). The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County. You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan. General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. The County also contributes to this plan. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service.

For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)). The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to save for retirement on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit. New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your pay. A variety of investment options are available for the 401(a) and 457 plans.

Other Benefits: The County also offers health care, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other benefits.

Permanent, Part-Time Appointments:

Part-time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week.

Limited Term Appointments:

Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status.

Temporary Regular Appointments:

Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above. They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments:

Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements.

01

I understand that this clinician role is considered "essential" and is part of a team that provides services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and I may be required to work beyond scheduled hours as needed.

• Yes

• No

02

Please indicate if you possess any of the following credentials that are either from the Commonwealth of Virginia or from a State which is transferable to the Commonwealth of Virginia (Check all that apply):

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP)

• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT)

• Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC)

• Prescreen certified for Emergency Services

• Medication Administration Certification

• I am not yet Board Certified but have detailed below my hours until certification required as part of the letter of application.

• None of the above

03

Please ensure your application supports your responses to these questions. Please provide the following: - Highest Level of clinical degree earned: - Date of graduation: - Date(s) of practicum: - Place of practicum: - Responsibilities of practicum:

04

Please indicate if you possess any of the following experiences (Check all that apply):

• Providing services as well as diagnosing and treating individuals who are are experiencing a behavioral health emergency

• Working with clients with co-occurring substance use disorders

• Collaborating with criminal justice partners, particularly law enforcement, correctional officers, and court staff

• Collaborating with community partners, particularly public schools and private hospitals

• TOVA training

• None of the above

05

This announcement may be used to fill similar vacancies in the future. Are you sufficiently proficient in oral Spanish to interview, assess the needs of, counsel, and refer Spanish speaking individuals who have limited English proficiency and are facing a crisis?

• Yes

• No

Required Question

Agency Arlington County

Address 2100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 511

Arlington, Virginia, 22201

Phone 703-228-3500

Website https://careers.arlingtonva.us/