Emergency Services - Senior Therapist (PRN)

Senior Therapist (PRN)

Emergency Services

Do you enjoy a fast-paced work environment? Do you have experience working with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis? Are you committed to ensuring that crisis response services meet the needs of clients and families? Are you solution focused and comfortable working both independently and as part of an exciting multidisciplinary team? Do you have an active Clinical License in Virginia and a passion for providing mental health services in acute settings? If so, then you might be the next Emergency Services, PRN Senior Therapist.

The City of Alexandria offers more than a place to work; we are a dynamic, award-winning, multicultural City with an ambitious blueprint to lead us into the next century. In City government, our MISSION defines what we do for our community, our VISION is where we are headed as an organization, and our VALUES guide our actions and decisions.

The Opportunity

The Department of Community and Human Services provides effective and essential safety net services that measurably improve or maintain the quality of life for Alexandrians. The Emergency Services Sr. Therapist provides assessment, crisis intervention, and psychiatric stabilization to residents of Alexandria, as well as to other persons who are within Alexandria city limits while experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Emergency Services program is part of the Center for Adult Services. The center is overseen by the Alexandria Community Services Board which provides compassionate and effective services that support self-determination, recovery and resiliency for Alexandria residents affected by mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse disorders.

As a member of the Emergency Services Team, you will be responsible for conducting crisis intervention and responding to psychiatric emergencies within the City through telephone, telehealth and in-person services. These responses may include; interviewing and evaluating persons who are presenting in crisis, pre-admission screening; consulting with other care providers; evaluating for Civil Detention, voluntary hospitalization, or less restrictive alternatives. You will liaison with other community agencies and make appropriate referrals consistent with the evaluation. In addition must maintain clear and concise patient records. Clinicians must be available to work varying shifts, including days, evenings, overnights and weekends.

Emergency Services PRN Sr. Therapists are also offered the opportunity to cross train as an ACORP Emergency Services Senior Therapist and work in tandem with ACORP Police Officers to provide assessment, crisis intervention, and psychiatric stabilization to persons in the community experiencing a behavioral health crisis.  The ACORP Senior Therapist responds to police department calls for service, in a police cruiser, alongside other first responders

Responsibilities Include:

• Interview clients who walk in to our Mark Center Drive office and individuals who require intervention in the community. Determine appropriate disposition based on thorough psychiatric evaluation. Complete written assessments and make appropriate referrals;
• Assess need for immediate face-to-face evaluation or referral during telephone conversations;
• Provide liaison/outreach to other community agencies;
• Provide continuity of care for CSB clients when the CSB is closed (i.e. referrals to emergency room for medication, emergency assessments, and support via the telephone);
• Provides consultation, coordination, and support to the Alexandria Police Department Behavioral Health Unit and other members of the criminal justice system
• Conduct pre-admission screening for voluntary/involuntary hospitalizations;
• Provide crisis stabilization utilizing phone and face to face contact;
• Determine appropriate response to all calls from the citizens and staff from other agencies;
• Provides clinical assessment and referral services; Determines appropriate disposition;
• Formulates diagnoses; assesses risk and mental status;
• Provides clinical intervention in emergency situations at any of city residential programs;
• Prepares reports for court proceedings, represents the Department, and testifies as an expert witness on behalf of the CSB;
• Provides emergency and crisis intervention services to consumers;
• Participates in staff development and training;
• Maintains clinical records in accordance with State, City, Departmental and Federal compliance requirements;
• Performs related work as required.

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 disordersMaster’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 requires shift work that includes overnights, weekends, and holidays. 

Bilingual (English/Spanish) is desirable but not required. At least one year of experience working with children and adolescents or prior experience working in community settings or with individuals experiencing severe mental illness. At least two or more years of experience working with individuals experiencing psychiatric crises. Current, active clinical license to practice as an LCSW, LPC, Clinical Psychologist, LSATP in Virginia. Ability to work at least 20 hours per week during training to earn DBHDS Prescreener Certification and interest in working at least 2 shifts/month thereafter. Flexibility to work day, evening, overnight and weekend shifts is especially desirable.

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; Verification of education/certifications; and Driver's license.

Schedule:

Hours are PRN and will vary based upon departmental needs and candidates’ availability. Some telework hours may be available. Emergency Services operates 24/7/365. As an emergency/essential employee, you may be required to remain at work, or report to work during a time when the City (due to inclement weather, an emergency or other condition) is unable to be fully operational.