ACORP - Emergency Services Senior Therapist

$3,000 signing bonus for this position.

About the Role

The ACORP Emergency Services 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 Emergency Services 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. The ACORP Emergency Services Senior Therapist responds to police department calls for service, in a police cruiser, alongside other first responders.

Responsibilities

• 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

Requirements

• 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 requires shift work that includes overnights, weekends, and holidays
• This position will require the 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

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 languages
• 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

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.