ACORP - Emergency Services Senior Therapist
Salary
$98,865.52 - $125,564.66 Annually
Location
Alexandria, VA
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
2026-00462
Department
Department of Community and Human Services
Division
CENTER FOR ADULT SERVICES
Opening Date
07/10/2026
Closing Date
8/9/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Bargaining Unit
N/A
ACORP - Emergency Services Senior Therapist
This position qualifies for a $3,000 signing bonus. The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our ACORP Emergency Services Senior Therapist position.
An Overview
The ACORP Emergency Services Senior Therapist works in tandem with ACORP Police Officers to provide assessment, crisis intervention, and psychiatric stabilization to persons in the community experiencing a behavioral health crisis. ACORP (The Alexandria Co-Response Program) is a key initiative in the City of Alexandria aimed at working with persons in crisis in ways that promote community stabilization and safety and decrease the need for criminal justice responses and/or psychiatric hospitalization. The ACORP Emergency Services Senior Therapist is responsible for conducting crisis intervention services and responding to behavioral health emergencies through telephone and face-to-face contact. These responses may include interviewing and evaluating persons who are presenting in crisis, pre-admission screening for hospitalization, consulting with other care providers, and linking persons with other community services. The ACORP Emergency Services Senior Therapist responds to police department calls for service, in a police cruiser, alongside other first responders.
What You Should Bring
The ideal candidate should have thorough knowledge of current best practices, including recovery concepts and integrated treatment of individuals who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorder; thorough knowledge of community resources, and ability to access these services; knowledge of the criminal justice system and the ability to assist clients with navigating the system; ability to accurately evaluate clients' mental status; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with law enforcement agents, clients and their families, employees, other service providers, community groups and the public and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing
The Opportunity
About the Department
The Center for Adult Services (CAS) provides programs and services in Aging; Adult Protective Services; Clinical & Emergency Services; and Community & Residential Support Services for seniors and for persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders. CAS provides compassionate and effective person-centered services based on best practices. Our teams support self-determination, safety and recovery for Alexandria residents affected by abuse, neglect, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse disorders.
Minimum & Additional Requirements
Master's degree in human services; at least two years post-graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to clients having psychiatric and/or substance abuse disorders; at least two years post-masters experience providing diagnostic evaluations, assessments, and crisis intervention. Licensed in Virginia as an LCSW, LPC, LSATP, or Clinical Psychologist OR is license eligible (has completed all required education and supervision as required by applicable board) as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP), or Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia at the time of appointment; if license eligible, the employee must obtain Virginia license at the first available opportunity, but no later than one year after appointment. Senior Therapists in ES must complete all the requirements to obtain and maintain a certification as Pre-screeners as required by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services within six (6) months of appointment. ES clinicians must show comprehensive knowledge of the Code of Virginia pertaining to Emergency Custody Orders, Temporary Detention Orders, Civil Commitment, Mandatory Outpatient Treatment and Duty to Warn. Employees must possess a valid drivers license issued by the state of their residence.
Additional Requirements:
As essential personnel, ES Senior Therapists are required to maintain the operation of the program 24/7/365 including holidays and/or during city closures or other emergencies. The position requires shift work that includes overnights, weekends, and holidays.
Preferred Qualifications
At least two years of post-masters experience providing diagnostic evaluations, assessments, and crisis intervention. Currently licensed as a LPC, LCSW, or Clinical Psychologist in Virginia at the time of appointment; bilingual English/Spanish, French, African, or Middle Eastern; At least two years of experience providing crisis intervention and/or working with clients in a criminal justice setting. At least two years of experience working with individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders. At least one year of experience working with law enforcement agencies.
Notes
This position will require ACORP Clinician to wear a police-issued ballistic vest and ride in a police cruiser to respond to active calls for service. This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: FBI/Federal Records Check; VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database; and education/certifications.
Schedule: TBD
The City of Alexandria is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, military status, or disability.
We are proud to welcome you to explore the City of Alexandrias excellent benefits and programs!
Click here to learn more about Employee Benefits
Click here to learn more about the Citys Employee Development Program
The benefits referenced on this site, may be changed from time to time without notice. Temporary and some part-time positions are not eligible for these benefits. For further information, please contact the Talent Acquisition Team of Human Resources at DHR.TA@alexandriava.gov.
01
In Virginia or any other location, have you ever been or are the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect? If yes, list all cases and explain. If no, indicate "N/A."
02
All positions in DCHS require successful completion of pre-employment background checks in the Virginia State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry and national Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database. Some positions require criminal records check, and scrutiny of any found criminal records against the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services list of Barrier Crimes. Some positions require drug testing, and verification of driver's license and education/certifications.
03
To answer "Yes" to this question, you must answer "Yes" to all the following questions: • Do you possess a Master's degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Education or related field? • Do you have at least two (2) years of post-graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to consumers having one or more substance abuse, psychiatric, and emotional disorders? • Do you have licensure or license eligible (has completed all required education and supervision as required by applicable board) as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP) or Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia at the time of appointment? (if license eligible, the employee must obtain Virginia licensure at the first available opportunity, but no later than one year after appointment. • Have you or are you able to complete all of the requirements to obtain and maintain a certification as Pre-Screeners as required by the Department of Behavior Health and Developmental Services within six (6) months of appointment? • Can you show comprehensive knowledge of the Code of Virginia pertaining to Emergency Custody Orders, Temporary Detention Orders, Civil Commitment, Mandatory Outpatient Treatment and Duty to Warn? • Do you possess a valid drivers license? • As essential personnel, ES Senior Therapists are required to maintain the operation of the program 24/7/365 including holidays and/or during city closures or other emergencies. The position requires shift work that includes overnights, weekends, and holidays. Are you able to accommodate this request and work varying shifts? If you answer "No" to any part of this question you must answer "No".
04
If you answered "No" to question 3, do you have any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position? (If you answered, "Yes to question 3, please answer "Yes" to this question).
05
Do you have at least two (2) years of post-masters experience providing diagnostic evaluations, assessments, and crisis intervention?
06
Are you currently licensed as an LCSW, LPC, or Clinical Psychologist in Virginia?
07
Are you Fluent and bilingual in English/Spanish, French, African, or Middle Eastern?
08
Do you have at least two (2) years of experience providing crisis intervention and/or working with clients in a criminal justice setting?
09
Do you have at least two (2) years of experience working with individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders?
10
Do you have at least one (1) year of experience working with law enforcement agencies?
Required Question
Employer City of Alexandria
Address City Hall
421 King Street,
Alexandria, Virginia, 22314
Phone 7037463784
Website http://alexandriava.gov/jobs