Acorp Senior Therapist

Salary: $80,060.76 - $95,031.56 Annually
Location : Alexandria, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2024-00208
Department: Department of Community and Human Services
Division: Center for Adult Services
Opening Date: 12/11/2023
Closing Date: 1/1/2024 11:59 PM Eastern
ACORP Senior Therapist
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. About one-quarter square miles in the city have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our ACORP Senior Therapistposition.
An Overview
The ACORP 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 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.
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.
The Opportunity

• Conducts community-based crisis assessments and interventions, formulates diagnoses, and facilitates referrals to appropriate treatment and community supports.
• Provides crisis stabilization in the community.
• Provides consultation, coordination, and support to the Alexandria Police Department Behavioral Health Unit and other members of the criminal justice system.
• 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.
• Conducts pre-admission screening for voluntary/involuntary hospitalizations.
• Consults with staff and community agencies regarding client referrals and clinical and administrative issues.
• Maintains clinical records in accordance with Departmental, City, State, and Federal compliance requirements.
• Participates in staff development and training.

• 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.
Minimum & Additional Requirements
Possession of master's degree in social work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology. Education or related field, at least two years of post-graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to consumers having one or more substance abuse, psychiatric, and emotional disorders, and licensure or 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 licensure at the first available opportunity, but no later than one year after appointment, or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Preferred Qualifications
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.
Notes
This position will require ACORP Clinician to wear a police-issued ballistic vest and ride in a police cruiser to respond to active calls for service. This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: FBI/Federal Records Check, VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry, Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database, and education/certifications.
Schedule:
Workdays are aligned with assigned police shift and include alternating weekends. Hours are 10:00am - 9:30pm.
We are proud to welcome you to explore the City of Alexandria's excellent benefits and programs!
The benefits referenced on this site, may be changed from time to time without notice. Also, temporary and some part-time positions are not eligible for these benefits. For further information, please contact the Benefits Division of the Department of Human Resources at 703.746.3785 or email
01
In Virginia or any other location, have you ever been or are the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect? If yes, list all cases and explain. If no, indicate "N/A."
02
All positions in DCHS require successful completion of pre-employment background checks in the Virginia State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry and national Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database. Some positions require criminal records check, and scrutiny of any found criminal records against the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services list of Barrier Crimes. Some positions require drug testing, and verification of driver's license and education/certifications.
03
To answer yes to this question, you must answer yes to all the following questions:• Do you possess a Master's degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Education or related field?• Do you have at least two (2) years of post-graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to consumers having one or more substance abuse, psychiatric, and emotional disorders?• Do you have licensure or 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 licensure at the first available opportunity, but no later than one year after appointment; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.• Do you possess a valid driver's license?If you answer no to any part of this question you must answer no.

• Yes
• No

04
If you answered "No" to question 3, do you have any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position? (If you answered, "Yes' to question 3, please answer "Yes" to this question).

• Yes
• No

05
Do you have the ability to 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, which is required by all ACORP clinicians?

• Yes
• No

06
Will you be comfortable with wearing a police-issued ballistic vest and riding in a police cruiser to respond to active calls for service?

• Yes
• No

07
Do you have at least two (2) years of post-master's experience providing diagnostic evaluations, assessments, and crisis intervention?

• Yes
• No

08
Are you currently licensed as an LCSW, LPC, or Clinical Psychologist in Virginia?

• Yes
• No

09
Are you bilingual in English/Spanish, French, African, or Middle Eastern?

• Yes
• No

10
Do you have at least two (2) years of experience providing crisis intervention and/or working with clients in a criminal justice setting?

• Yes
• No

11
Do you have at least two (2) years of experience working with individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders?

• Yes
• No

12
Do you have at least one (1) year of experience working with law enforcement agencies?

• Yes
• No

13
As essential personnel, ACORP clinicians are required to work varying shifts, which may include holidays and/or during city closures or other emergencies. Are you available to work varying shifts?

• Yes
• No

Required Question