BH/DS Clinician II

City of Virginia Beach • Pembroke, MA

12d • $60,174 - $93,766

About The Position

The City of Virginia Beach Department of Human Services is hiring three candidates for its Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) Program. The program provides rapid response, assessment, and early intervention to residents and visitors in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Virginia’s Eastern Shore who are experiencing behavioral health crises. Services support people whose crisis or escalating emotional or behavioral symptoms have affected functioning in their family, living situation, community, school, or work environment.

The position responds to acute psychiatric crises among non-hospitalized adults, providing community-based intervention intended to avert hospitalization or rehospitalization by mobilizing community resources and natural supports. The clinician completes assessments, develops preliminary crisis education and prevention planning, delivers therapeutic interventions, and arranges referrals as clients’ needs change. The role requires registration with the Virginia Board of Counseling as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP).

The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., including some holidays and weekends. Afternoon/evening schedules are eligible for shift differential pay under City policy. The position may require hours beyond the regular schedule in response to short-term department needs or City-wide emergencies. Compensation is $60,174.40–$93,766.40, with starting salary potentially negotiable based on qualifications. The selected candidate qualifies for a $4,000 hiring bonus subject to the stated eligibility and payment conditions, and a $5,000 annual stipend paid in installments over 26 pay periods.

Requirements

• Registration with the Virginia Board of Counseling as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP).
• A four-year degree in a human services field, such as psychology, behavioral or mental health, special education, or social work, and three years of relevant experience in fields providing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities; OR an equivalent combination of education above high school, experience, and training totaling seven years in relevant fields.
• Skills in crisis response, electronic health records (EHR), intake processes, mental health, risk assessments, and treatment plans.
• All employees may be expected to work beyond normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in crisis response as a primary job function.
• Experience working with adults with mental health and substance use disorders and completing complex assessments and evaluations.
• Experience assessing risk factors for people in crisis to determine an appropriate level of care.
• Experience assessing risk of self-harm, suicide, and harm to others.
• Experience completing intake assessments, treatment plans, and safety plans.
• Experience providing Mentoring/Mental Health Skill Building and/or Intensive In-Home Services.
• Experience working in varied settings, such as schools, homes, emergency departments, and public agencies.
• Experience providing ongoing psychotherapy and demonstrating knowledge of child/adolescent or adult psychopathology, treatment modalities, crisis intervention, discharge planning, and service coordination.
• Experience working non-traditional hours, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed on a rotating basis.

Responsibilities

• Respond to calls through the Region Crisis Hub System and provide community crisis services to non-hospitalized adults experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis, with the goal of averting hospitalization or rehospitalization by mobilizing community resources and natural support systems.
• Complete clinical documentation and ensure clinical information is filed and billing information is submitted accurately and within required time frames.
• Provide immediate crisis response, including direct face-to-face services with the person in crisis and/or family, collateral contacts, and other billable services.
• Complete intake and crisis-specific assessments, obtain mental health histories, formulate diagnoses, and update diagnoses as needed.
• Develop a preliminary Crisis Education and Prevention Plan (CEPP) with the client and/or family at initial contact.
• Continue assessing changes in clients’ mental status and provide therapeutic crisis interventions and/or referrals based on changing needs.
• Serve specialized populations and/or perform specialized roles.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and life insurance.
• Retirement and savings plans.
• Maternity/paternity and parental leave.
• Holidays and paid leave.
• $4,000 hiring bonus for eligible new hires of original full-time employment or reemployment, paid in installments subject to eligibility and performance conditions.
• $5,000 annual stipend paid in installments over 26 pay periods.
• Shift differential pay for eligible afternoon/evening schedules.
• All full-time employees contribute 5% of annual salary toward their retirement account through a pre-tax payroll deduction.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level