Behavioral Health Specialist

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) Behavioral Healthcare Division (BHD) is seeking an experienced Behavioral Health Specialist to serve as a Care Coordinator/Case Manager. The position will provide assistance to severely mentally-ill clients in a monitoring level of service with outreach, engagement, support, and care coordination.

Specific duties include:

• Providing service assessments and planning;
• Performing case management and related administrative duties;
• Collaborating on client treatments with multidisciplinary providers including psychiatrists, medical doctors, therapists, community, and natural supports;
• Providing encouragement of functional skills such as money management and other self-help task skills;
• Conducting visits at clients residences;
• Accompanying the client to various appointments;
• Advocating with providers and other supports to maintain housing; and
• Documenting all treatment needs and services delivered into the departments Electronic Health Record (EHR) in accordance with program standards.

The ideal candidate have the following:

• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure;
• Ability to perform as a team player;
• Strong communication and documentation skills; and
• Familiarity with evidence-based practices, recovery principles, and person-centered care.

This position will mostly be assigned clients in a monitoring level of service. Clients in a monitoring level of service within our Case Management Team are individuals who require lower level of support. At this level, their primary needs have already been addressed, and they are generally stable, but they still require periodic check-ins to ensure their well-being and prevent potential setbacks. The assigned worker partners with the client to track their progress, offers care coordination as needed, and intervenes if emerging issues arise, but the frequency of contact is typically less than for clients needing more intensive case management services.

Minimum:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a clinical discipline such as Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Art Therapy, or other directly related clinical discipline.
• Two years of experience providing behavioral health services.

Licenses: Must meet the criteria of and register with the State as a Qualified Mental Health Professional- Adult (QMHP-A) or Child (QMHP-C) within 60 days of hire (ref: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/docs/QMHP_FAQs.pdf (Download PDF reader))

Substitution: A Master’s degree may substitute for the experience requirement.

Desirables: Preference may be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

• Providing case management services to individuals experiencing high housing barriers and/or seriously mentally ill adults in an outpatient setting; and/or
• Providing services to clients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

Special Requirements

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.

The applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator's license from the applicant's place of residence or the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary work site. If the applicant possesses or acquires a license, the applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or the applicant must provide a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.

Must complete pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry check.

Additional Information

Work Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. with some flexibility within normal business hours. Some telework may be available contingent upon workload and supervisor approval.

This is a grant funded position and is contingent on funding.

Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the selection (or application) process and are required for this position. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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