Behavioral Health Specialist (Clarendon House)

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.

Please note: This position includes a $2500.00 gross signing bonus at hire and $2500.00 gross at the completion of the probationary period.

Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking an experienced Behavioral Health Specialist to serve as Case Manager at Clarendon House, the psychosocial rehabilitation program serving adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders. The position is in the Behavioral Healthcare Division and will provide assigned clients with outreach, engagement, support, coordination, and direct case management services. The Case Manager will apply knowledge of trauma-informed care and experience working with clients who have both mental health and substance use disorders to serve clients with assertive outreach and engagement strategies. The position is also responsible for the assessment of suicidality and for delivering basic safety and crisis prevention planning while collaborating with multidisciplinary providers on the Clarendon House team including psychiatrists, therapists, day program staff, peer support specialists, and community and natural supports. At least 50% of services take place out in the community. 
 

Responsibilities

Major Job Duties:

• Providing service and risk assessments to link clients to resources in the community;
• Determining when and how to intervene in a clinical and/or housing crisis; 
• Collaborating with clients to reduce challenges or barriers to successfully maintain their current housing or transition to another appropriate housing program; 
• Providing encouragement of functional skills such as money management and other self-help task skills; 
• Accompanying the client to and advocating with providers and other support systems on behalf of the client to maintain housing and medical treatment needs; 
• Documenting all treatment needs and services delivered in the Electronic Health Record (EHR); and
• Meeting policy requirements for accurate and timely clinical documentation and productivity standards.

The ideal candidate will be flexible, able to work under pressure, perform as a team player, possess strong communication and documentation skills and be familiar with evidence-based practices, recovery principles, and person-centered care.

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. 
 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: 

• 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; and 
• Licenses/Certifications: Meet the criteria of and register with the State as a Qualified Mental Health Professional- Adult (QMHP-A) within 60 days of hire. (ref: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/docs/QMHP_FAQs.pdf)

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

Desirable Qualifications: Preference may be given to applicants with experience in one or more of the following:

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

Special Requirements

Please note: A complete application includes an attached resume which highlights how your background and experience align with the qualifications of the position. 

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

Driver's License: Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicant’s driving record. Alternatively, 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 worksite.

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. 
   

Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions. Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position. These responses are considered part of the selection process. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please do not write "see resume" as a response to the questions. 

In accordance with § 19.2-392.15, applicants are not required to provide information regarding sealed arrests, charges, or convictions in response to any questions or inquiries during the hiring process.

Additional Information

Work hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. Hours may be flexible within normal business hours with some telework available upon approval by the supervisor. 
 
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.  
 

This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan. For more information on Arlington County’s generous benefits and retirement plan, click here.

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

The official title of this position is: Behavioral Health Specialist. 

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