Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed) (Jails)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed), as the primary Diversion Clinician. This clinician will be a part of the continuum of diversion efforts in Arlington. The Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed) will be responsible for various diversion efforts at the Arlington County Detention Facility (ACDF). They will provide Jail based restoration to competency services and provide crisis management services to individual’s incarcerated at ACDF. This position will work primarily with the booking and processing staff, the arresting officers, and the Magistrate, to identify individuals being brought into ACDF who may have significant mental health concerns and would meet Emergency Custody Order criteria (ECO). 

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.

Specific duties include: 

• Conducting ECO evaluations to determine if the identified individual can be diverted before they are brought into the facility; 
• Coordinating with the Bond Diversion clinician to attempt diversion after the person has been brought into ACDF;
• Participating in regular staffing and planning meetings amongst the various programs that offer diversion services in Arlington;
• Assisting with enhancing the provision of services in the diversion continuum;
• Serving as the primary person of contact for individuals being brought into the ACDF, and triaging to various staff based on client needs; and 
• Providing Jail Based Restoration to competency services. 

The ideal candidate will have a vast knowledge of the criminal justice system as well as insight into best practices in treating behavioral health needs. The ideal candidate should also be familiar with the sequential intercept model, and MARCUS Alert.  

Note: Please refer to the guidelines for registration and licensure set forth by the Virginia Department of Health Professions prior to completing this application.
 

Therapists may be hired at one of the following levels:
 
Minimums: 
Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed):

• Possess one of the following professional licenses from the Virginia Department of Health Professions: LPC, LCP, LMFT, or LCSW.

Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed): 

• Possess a license in a jurisdiction other than Virginia and are performing supervised assessment and evaluation, diagnostic, treatment planning, case management and counseling work while awaiting licensure from the Virginia Department of Health Professions of the following professional licenses related to a behavioral health discipline: (LPC), (LCP), (LMFT), (LCSW); and
• License must be obtained within 90 days of hire.

Behavioral Health (Resident/Supervisee): Perform supervised assessment and evaluation, diagnostic, treatment planning, case management, and counseling work as a trainee in order to obtain one of the following professional licenses related to a behavioral health discipline in the state of Virginia:

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Clinical Psychologist (LCP)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Must meet (apply for and receive) the educational requirements to obtain a temporary license as a Resident in Counseling (for LPC or LMFT) or Resident in Clinical Psychology (for LCP), or register as a Supervisee in Social Work (LCSW) with the Virginia Department of Health Professions within 90 days of hire; and
• Obtain appropriate licensure within three years of hire.

Education: Completion of the requirements for obtaining a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline such as C