Emergency Services - Senior Therapist (PRN)

Emergency Services - Senior Therapist (PRN)

Salary

$51.11 Hourly

Location

Alexandria, VA

Job Type

Part-Time

Job Number

2027-00531

Department

Department of Community and Human Services

Division

CENTER FOR ADULT SERVICES

Opening Date

08/26/2026

Closing Date

9/9/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Bargaining Unit

N/A

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Senior Therapist (PRN)

Emergency Services

Do you enjoy a fast-paced work environment? Do you have experience working with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis? Are you committed to ensuring that crisis response services meet the needs of clients and families? Are you solution focused and comfortable working both independently and as part of an exciting multidisciplinary team? Do you have an active Clinical License in Virginia and a passion for providing mental health services in acute settings? If so, then you might be the next Emergency Services, PRN Senior Therapist.

The City of Alexandria offers more than a place to work; we are a dynamic, award-winning, multicultural City with an ambitious blueprint to lead us into the next century. In City government, our MISSION defines what we do for our community, our VISION is where we are headed as an organization, and our VALUES guide our actions and decisions.

The Opportunity

The Department of Community and Human Services provides effective and essential safety net services that measurably improve or maintain the quality of life for Alexandrians. The Emergency Services Sr. Therapist provides assessment, crisis intervention, and psychiatric stabilization to residents of Alexandria, as well as to other persons who are within Alexandria city limits while experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Emergency Services program is part of the Center for Adult Services. The center is overseen by the Alexandria Community Services Board which provides compassionate and effective services that support self-determination, recovery and resiliency for Alexandria residents affected by mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse disorders.

As a member of the Emergency Services Team, you will be responsible for conducting crisis intervention and responding to psychiatric emergencies within the City through telephone, telehealth and in-person services. These responses may include; interviewing and evaluating persons who are presenting in crisis, pre-admission screening; consulting with other care providers; evaluating for Civil Detention, voluntary hospitalization, or less restrictive alternatives. You will liaison with other community agencies and make appropriate referrals consistent with the evaluation. In addition must maintain clear and concise patient records. Clinicians must be available to work varying shifts, including days, evenings, overnights and weekends.

Emergency Services PRN Sr. Therapists are also offered the opportunity to cross train as an ACORP Emergency Services Senior Therapist and work in tandem with ACORP Police Officers to provide assessment, crisis intervention, and psychiatric stabilization to persons in the community experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The ACORP Senior Therapist responds to police department calls for service, in a police cruiser, alongside other first responders

Responsibilities Include:

• Interview clients who walk in to our Mark Center Drive office and individuals who require intervention in the community. Determine appropriate disposition based on thorough psychiatric evaluation. Complete written assessments and make appropriate referrals;
• Assess need for immediate face-to-face evaluation or referral during telephone conversations;
• Provide liaison/outreach to other community agencies;
• Provide continuity of care for CSB clients when the CSB is closed (i.e. referrals to emergency room for medication, emergency assessments, and support via the telephone);
• Provides consultation, coordination, and support to the Alexandria Police Department Behavioral Health Unit and other members of the criminal justice system
• Conduct pre-admission screening for voluntary/involuntary hospitalizations;
• Provide crisis stabilization utilizing phone and face to face contact;
• Determine appropriate response to all calls from the citizens and staff from other agencies;
• Provides clinical assessment and referral services; Determines appropriate disposition;
• Formulates diagnoses; assesses risk and mental status;
• Provides clinical intervention in emergency situations at any of city residential programs;
• Prepares reports for court proceedings, represents the Department, and testifies as an expert witness on behalf of the CSB;
• Provides emergency and crisis intervention services to consumers;
• Participates in staff development and training;
• Maintains clinical records in accordance with State, City, Departmental and Federal compliance requirements;
• Performs related work as required.

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

Bilingual (English/Spanish) is desirable but not required. At least one year of experience working with children and adolescents or prior experience working in community settings or with individuals experiencing severe mental illness. At least two or more years of experience working with individuals experiencing psychiatric crises. Current, active clinical license to practice as an LCSW, LPC, Clinical Psychologist, LSATP in Virginia. Ability to work at least 20 hours per week during training to earn DBHDS Prescreener Certification and interest in working at least 2 shifts/month thereafter. Flexibility to work day, evening, overnight and weekend shifts is especially desirable.

Notes

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; Verification of education/certifications; and Drivers license.

Schedule:

Hours are PRN and will vary based upon departmental needs and candidates' availability. Some telework hours may be available. Emergency Services operates 24/7/365. As an emergency/essential employee, you may be required to remain at work, or report to work during a time when the City (due to inclement weather, an emergency or other condition) is unable to be fully operational.

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.

• I Understand.

03

To answer "Yes" to this question, you must answer "Yes" to all the following questions: • Do you have a Master's degree in human services? • Do you have at least two (2) years post-graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to clients having psychiatric and/or substance abuse disorders? • Do you have at least two (2) years post-masters experience providing diagnostic evaluations, assessments, and crisis intervention? • Are you licensed in Virginia as an LCSW, LPC, LSATP, or Clinical Psychologist OR are you 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? • Have you completed all of the requirements to obtain and maintain a certification as Pre-screeners as required by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or are you able to do so within six (6) months of appointment? • Do you have 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 have a valid driver's license? • Do you have the ability to maintain the operation of the program 24/7/365 including holidays and/or during city closures or other emergencies? If you answer "No" to any part of this question you must answer "No".

• Yes
• 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).

• Yes
• No

05

Are you Fluent and Bilingual in both English and Spanish?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have at least one (1) year of experience working with children and adolescents or prior experience working in community settings or with individuals experiencing severe mental illness?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have at least two (2) or more years of experience working with individuals experiencing psychiatric crises?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have a current, active clinical license to practice as an LCSW, LPC, Clinical Psychologist, LSATP in Virginia?

• Yes
• No

09

Are you available to work between 8am-8pm Monday through Friday, onsite at 4850 Mark Center Dr to complete prescreener training?

• Yes
• No

10

Do you have the flexibility to work day, evening, overnight and weekend shifts?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Alexandria

Address City Hall

421 King Street,

Alexandria, Virginia, 22314

Phone 7037463784

Website http://alexandriava.gov/jobs