Mobile Outreach Support Team (Most) Behavioral Health Therapist Iii (Licensed)

This position includes a $1500.00 gross signing bonus at hire and $1500.00 gross bonus at the completion of the probationary period.

Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Behavioral Health Therapist III (Licensed) for the Arlington County Mobile Outreach Support Team (MOST). The candidate will have a supervisory/management role over staff performing MOBILE OUTREACH to the community as a part of a team with the expectation that the team will respond to urgent/crisis BEHAVIORAL HEALTH needs in the community to include conducting welfare checks, partnering with the police and first responders to divert people from arrest and/or hospitalization when appropriate, and conducting outreach to people in need.

*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 clinical and administrative supervision to MOST staff, serving as main point of contact, conducting chart audits to ensure compliance, and managing any concerns related to staff;

• Responding to calls from first responders to assess needs, de-escalate and make referrals;

• Working with Emergency Services, Path Forward, New Hope Housing, Police, Fire/EMS, ECC, TOW and other partners as needed to identify people in need and to coordinate services;

• Engaging with people who may be in distress, assessing their needs and determining a plan for stability;

• Conducting welfare checks for people connected to Behavioral Health services in the county as well as referrals from first responders;

• Assisting in the implementation and expansion of the MOST program;

• Managing information about participants of MOST to ensure that all contacts are recorded;

• Assisting the Program Manager with generating and maintaining accurate program specific statistical data; and

• Utilizing Microsoft Office Suite and various software such as electronic health records to document cases and interactions.

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.

The ideal candidate is patient, calm, organized, understanding, inquisitive and is a leader that cares about making a positive interaction within their community as well as within their team. They will have experience and the capability to adapt to changing situations every day and will be able to encourage out-of-the box solutions to a multitude of problems as they arise.

Minimum:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical field such as Counseling, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy, or other directly related clinical field; and

• Considerable post-Master's degree experience providing clinical therapy and other mental health services, which includes the application of diagnostic and treatment services, with at least one year providing services related to BEHAVIORAL HEALTH crises and completing clinical documentation and diagnostic reviews.
  

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

• Knowledge of solution focused crisis counseling, the Stages of Change Model, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma informed care;

• Previous training in team supervision, crisis response, and/or disaster BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; and/or

• Bilingual verbal ability in English and Spanish.

Licenses/Certifications: The applicant must possess, or obtain within 90 days of employment, and maintain professional licensure (LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW) from the appropriate board of the Virginia Department of Health Professions.

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.

Work Hours: 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday with some flexibility and differing hours depending on programmatic need. Work is performed as part of 24/7 operation and the worker must be able to work shifts as necessary, including after-hours and during emergency situations as necessary.

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.

The official title for this position is Behavioral Health Therapist III.

All Behavioral Health Therapist III's 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.

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