Behavioral Health Senior Clinician -Jail & Court Based Services

About the role

This senior clinician position supports the efforts of Diversion First. You’ll be part of a team of diverse professionals helping individuals who have had contact with the criminal justice system transform their lives and achieve recovery. The role is based at the Fairfax County Courthouse and primarily involves conducting structured clinical interviews, completing comprehensive diagnostic assessments, and preparing initial treatment recommendations for CSB programs using client-specific needs and American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria. Assessments may take place at the Fairfax County Courthouse or at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

This position also monitors some clients who have been referred to the CSB’s Mandatory Outpatient Treatment (MOT) and provides Outpatient Restoration Services to individuals deemed not competent to stand trial.

Work hours are Monday–Friday during program hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is located in the Fairfax County Courthouse.

Responsibilities

• Performs complex evaluations and makes independent diagnoses using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders;
• Provides individual, family and group treatment;
• Maintains a diverse caseload of clients with acute, chronic mental illness;
• Approves and/or implements therapeutic treatment plans;
• Conducts intensive clinical interventions;
• Provides family therapy in a residential setting;
• Recommends, monitors, and coordinates clinical care to non-Community Services Board clients;
• Prepares court-ordered diagnostic and forensic evaluations, including competency to stand trial, sexual abnormality, presentencing, and sanity at time of offense;
• Provides discharge planning and coordination of after-care service plans for clients leaving state, local, and private psychiatric hospitals;
• Collaborates with service professionals as participant/lead of Interdisciplinary Team (IDT);
• Consults with professionals on a variety of problems including delivery of needed services for clinically complex cases;
• Provides liaison to community agencies to facilitate communication and service provision for clients requiring multiple services;
• Monitors and analyzes the impact of psychotropic medication on client's functioning and mental status;
• Provides risk assessments for dangerousness to self and others;
• Provides crisis stabilization and crisis management.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college with a master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or nursing; plus two years of clinical experience.
• Possession of a current license to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia in one of the following: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner, or Licensed Nurse Practitioner.
• CPR/First Aid certification (required within 3 months).
• Valid motor vehicle driver's license with fewer than six demerit points (or equivalent in another state) and maintained throughout employment with CSB.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least two years of experience providing behavioral health services in community settings.
• Experience working within the criminal justice system (e.g., courts, jail, probation).
• Experience with providing behavioral health services to individuals receiving treatment with mental health disorders, substance use disorders (SUD), and/or co-occurring disorders (COD).
• Experience with and ability to interpret and follow work processes and procedures; work well with other service agencies; and work well in a team environment.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; and strong clinical skills and abilities.

Skills

• Extensive knowledge of the principles, theories, and methods of the psychological and social development of the individual.
• Thorough knowledge of intake procedures, social history development, and interviewing techniques.
• Thorough knowledge of major schools of treatment of emotionally and socially disturbed individuals.
• Knowledge of psychiatric, psychological, and/or sociological terminology and concepts.
• Ability to conduct mental health assessments and apply treatment approaches/modalities.
• Ability to formulate diagnoses for clients with acute, chronic, severe mental illness.
• Ability to diagnostically interpret data obtained from psychological test results, social histories, and interviews.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, public and private sector organizations, community groups, and the general public.
• Ability to monitor and analyze the impact of psychotropic medications.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Benefits

• Fairfax County offers a highly competitive wage and benefits package.
• Foreign language skills stipend of up to $1,600/year (full-time) for qualified bilingual employees.
• Licensure supervisors may receive a stipend of $1,500 paid out biweekly over a 12-month period for supervising Department of Health licensure candidates.
• Reimbursement for job-related licenses and/or certifications once per year.

Physical Requirements

• Position requires work inside the Fairfax Adult Detention Center (ADC), which is not barrier-free.
• Must be able to walk significant distances within multiple buildings, climb stairs, and comply with security and safety regulations.
• Ability to attend offsite meetings and trainings.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; and observe, process, and document clinical information.
• Ability to access, input, and retrieve computer data.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Underfill Opportunity

This vacancy may be underfilled at the level of Behavioral Health Clinician in Residence (S26, $76,983.71 - $134,721.60). The employment standards for the Behavioral Health Clinician in Residence are:

• Graduation from an accredited college with a master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or nursing; plus two years of clinical experience.
• Ability to register as a licensed eligible mental health professional within 90 days of the appointment and qualify for licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia within 3 years of employment in one of the following: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner, or Licensed Nurse Practitioner.

Upon completion of an underfill agreement, the employee will be elevated to the level of Behavioral Health Senior Clinician.