Senior Therapist / Therapist Trainee - Emergency Services

Senior Therapist / Therapist Trainee – Emergency Services

 

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.

 

This position qualifies for a signing bonus of $3,000 if hired at the Senior Therapist level. Are you searching for a position with purpose; a position that allows you to share your expertise? A position that challenges you? Are you passionate about learning and developing your clinical skills and working with professionals dedicated to supporting your ongoing professional development? If so, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is hiring for Senior Therapist or Therapist Trainee within our Emergency Services Team. 

 

About the Department and Position Overview:

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 use disorders.

The Emergency Services Senior Therapist provides critical telephone and face-to-face crisis interventions, psychiatric stabilizations, and clinical assessments for individuals experiencing mental health crises within Alexandria city limits. The role involves conducting pre-admission screenings and evaluating patients for voluntary hospitalization, civil detention, or less restrictive treatment alternatives. The senior therapist actively consults with care providers, liaises with community agencies, coordinates appropriate referrals, and maintains clear patient records, all while working a flexible schedule that might include evenings, overnights, and weekends.

A Senior Therapist is distinguished from a Therapist Trainee by the greater independence of action allowed in completing work assignments and the requirement for licensure in providing psychotherapy for consumers. The incumbents in this class may serve as clinical supervisor for practicum/intern students, as well as for co-workers seeking licensure. The work is performed under the general supervision of a program or team leader. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

We are seeking licensed Senior Therapists and non-licensed Therapist Trainees for the Emergency Services Division within DCHS. For positions filled at the non-licensed Therapist Trainee level, licensure must be earned within three years of hire. The Department of Community & Human Services will provide supervision to staff in pursuit of licensure. The applicable salary range for each designation is as follows:

• Emergency Services Senior Therapist (Licensed): $78,146.90 - $137,521.28 Annually
• Therapist Trainee (Non-Licensed): $70,883.54 - $124,742,.28 Annually

The Opportunity

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have knowledge of individual and group behavior including thorough knowledge of treatment issues related to psychiatric problems, dual-diagnosis, and chemical dependency; good knowledge of psychopharmacology, psychiatric disorders, alcoholism/drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, and/or elderly and aging; ability to work successfully with a variety of consumers; ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing with other professionals and with the public; ability to plan and supervise the work of interns or students.

Emergency Services Senior Therapists (Licensed) – Master’s degree in human services; at least two years post-graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to clients having psychiatric and/or substance abuse disorders; at least two years post-master's experience providing diagnostic evaluations, assessments, and crisis intervention. Licensed in Virginia as an LCSW, LPC, LSATP, or Clinical Psychologist OR is 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 license at the first available opportunity, but no later than one year after appointment. Senior Therapists in ES must 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. ES clinicians must show comprehensive knowledge of the Code of Virginia pertaining to Emergency Custody Orders, Temporary Detention Orders, Civil Commitment, Mandatory Outpatient Treatment and Duty to Warn. Employees must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of their residence.

Additional Requirements:

As essential personnel, ES Senior Therapists are required to maintain the operation of the program 24/7/365 including holidays and/or during city closures or other emergencies. The position might include shift work that includes overnights, weekends, and holidays.

 

Therapist Trainees (Non-Licensed) - To qualify for a Non-Licensed Therapist Trainee position, you must have possession of Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Education or related field; working toward licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia to be completed within three years of hire. Employees must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of their residence if they are in a position with driving responsibilities.

Current, active clinical license to practice as an LCSW, LPC, Clinical Psychologist, LSATP in Virginia. Fluent and Bilingual in both English and Spanish is desirable but not required. At least two or more years of experience working with individuals experiencing psychiatric crises. At least one year of prior experience working in community settings or with individuals experiencing severe mental illness.

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; education/certifications; and driver’s license.

 

Schedule (On-Site): Monday through Friday, 9:00AM – 5:00PM, Essential Employee.