Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed)

Positions may include a $2500 gross sign-on bonus upon hire and a second $2500 gross sign-on bonus after probation has been met.

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.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking experienced clinicians to serve as part-time and full-time, Behavioral Health Therapists at Clarendon House, the psychosocial rehabilitation program in the Behavioral Healthcare Division of DHS. Clarendon House is a community-based rehabilitation program working with adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders. The program provides a wide array of services to clients to include psychoeducation, advocacy and case management, medication and psychiatric care, rehabilitation skills training, etc. To learn more about this program click here

These positions will be spent at the day program working directly with adults with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders and are responsible primarily for the formulation and continued development of psycho educational curriculum in collaboration with program staff and the provision of consultation and training to staff on evidence-based educational methods. In addition, the employees are responsible for running psycho educational and socialization groups, providing therapy services, crisis intervention, completing required psychosocial assessments and submitting authorizations to managed care organizations (MCOs) and participating in the day-to-day operation of the psychosocial day program. 

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 are:

• Planning and developing community living skills curriculum and psycho educational methods in working with individuals with SMI;
• Working with program staff and serving as consultant and trainer in evidence-based teaching methods, aimed at the effective education of clients in a wide range of functional skills;
• Providing quality clinical and rehabilitative services to clients in the program;
• Conducting in-person psychoeducational groups;
• Assisting clients in learning about self-care, transportation, symptom self-management, employment, social relationships, health promotion, housing and independent living, and family relationships;
• Maintaining clinical record documentation of psychosocial assessments, service plans and progress notes for clients on caseload;
• Reviewing and signing assessments and providing clinical reviews to insurance companies requesting more information in order to approve authorization coverage;

• Providing individual therapy to clients with SMI and/or co-occurring disorders;

• Collaborating with interdisciplinary team members to provide support to clients in the program; and

• Providing oversight and collaboration with program volunteers and student interns. 

 

The ideal candidate will be flexible, perform as a team player, possess strong documentation skills and be familiar with evidence-based practices, psychosocial rehab, recovery principles, and person-centered care.

Qualifications

Although positions may be filled at the Non-VA Licensed or Resident/Supervisee, licensure must be earned within three years of hire. The Department of Human Services will provide supervision to staff in pursuit of licensure. 

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);
• Virginia clinical 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 as required 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;
• Obtain appropriate clinical licensure within three years of hire.

 

Education (ALL levels): Completion of the requirements for obtaining a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline such as Counseling, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy, or other directly related clinical discipline with internships and practicum requirements specified by the Virginia Department of Health Professions.

Bilingual: This announcement may be used to fill Bilingual positions. Bilingual positions require employees to be proficient in speaking and understanding Spanish

Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with one or more of the following:

• Contains current mental health professional license (LPC, LCP, LMFT, LCSW)
• Experience working in a psychosocial rehabilitation setting
• Experience providing therapy to adults with SMI
• Experience conducting annual/bi-annual clinical assessment reviews
• Bi-lingual (English/Spanish)

 

Special Requirements

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information. A pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry check will also be completed before hire. 

 

Employment restrictions: To ensure that dual relationships are avoided and that employees who are also clients do not relate to their service provider as co-professionals, employees will not be hired by the County to provide or support services to the team or program in which they are current clients:

• You cannot concurrently receive behavioral health services from Arlington County Community Service Board (CSB) programs while employed in an Arlington County CSB program (exception Crisis Intervention services).
• At least 24 months must have passed between receipt of CSB services from Arlington County and employment in an Arlington County CSB program.

 

Additional Information

 

Work Hours: Program hours of operation are 8:30am-5pm M-F and this position is eligible for telework with approval from supervisors.

 

These positions may be hired on a full-time or part-time basis. Some positions may be grant funded and dependent on funds. 

 

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.

The applicable salary ranges for each designation are below:

• Behavioral Health Therapist (Licensed): $96,304-$149,240 Annually
• Behavioral Health (Resident/Supervisee): $83,158.40-$128,876.80 Annually
• Behavioral Health Therapist (Non-VA Licensed): $96,304-$149,240 Annually

 

Your responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire are considered part of the selection process. Please do not enter "see resume" as a response to the questions. Each section of the application must be completed. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for the completed application. A cover letter will also be required to be attached to your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

#LI-Hybrid