Behavioral Health Therapist-MOST (Licensed)

Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed) for the Arlington County Mobile Outreach Support Team (MOST) within the Client Services Entry Bureau. As part of a team that provides mobile outreach to the community, this position responds to urgent/crisis behavioral health needs in the community to include  conducting mental health assessment, providing crisis intervention and stabilization, short-term counseling, assisting individuals and their families with identifying resources, and linking individuals to services as needed, conducting welfare checks, partnering with the police and first responders to divert people from arrest and/or hospitalization when appropriate.

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: 

• Responding to calls from 911 and first responders to assess needs, determine appropriate level of care, de-escalate and make referrals;
• Providing clinical intervention services for clients experiencing a behavioral health crisis;
• Conducting evaluations and risk assessments, utilizing a strength-based approach;
• Conducting screenings for hospitalization or other diversionary services (e.g. partial hospitalization, residential, respite, intensive community services), ensuring that services are provided in the least restrictive environment;
• Working with Emergency Services, Path Forward, New Hope Housing, Police, Fire/EMS, ECC, TOW and other partners as needed to identify people in need and to coordinate services;
• Engaging with people who may be in distress, assessing their needs and determining a plan for stability;
• Conducting welfare checks for people connected to Behavioral Health services in the county as well as referrals from first responders;
• Managing information about participants of MOST to ensure that all contacts are recorded;
• Assisting the Program Manager with generating and maintaining accurate program specific statistical data; and
• Utilizing Microsoft Office Suite and various software such as electronic health records to document cases and interactions.

The ideal candidate is patient, calm, organized, understanding, inquisitive and is a leader that cares about making a positive interaction within their community as well as within their team. They will have experience and the capability to adapt to changing situations every day and will be able to encourage out-of-the box solutions to a multitude of problems as they arise.

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)