Critical Care Unit Senior Therapist - Jail Services

City of Alexandria, Virginia; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Tuition Assistance & Professional Dev.

Employee Transportation Benefits

Virginia Retirement System

Paid Annual and Sick Leave

Paid City Holidays

Dental and Vision Insurance

Long Term Disability Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Spring Health Mental Health Services

Life and AD&D Insurance

Job summary

You will join the City of Alexandria as a Critical Care Unit Senior Therapist in the Adult Jail Services, delivering crisis intervention, diagnostic evaluations, and both individual and group therapy to inmates. The role involves biopsychosocial assessments, risk evaluation, and coordination with external agencies, with a focus on high-quality clinical care in a detention setting.

The team emphasizes professional growth, advanced clinical training, and career advancement opportunities, with a

Qualifications

• Masters degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Education or related field.
• Two years post‑graduate direct clinical services experience with substance use, psychiatric, or emotional disorders.
• Licensure or license eligible as LPC, LCSW, LSATP or Clinical Psychologist in Virginia; must obtain licensure within one year.
• Possession of license or license eligibility by appointment; equivalent experience may apply.

Responsibilities

• Provides crisis intervention and diagnostic evaluations.
• Provides individual and group therapy.
• Completes biopsychosocial clinical intake evaluations and other clinical assessments.
• Performs risk assessment evaluations with treatment, security, and housing recommendations.
• Provides targeted case management for individuals in the Detention Center; coordinates external agency services.
• Provides consultations to Detention Center staff and other agencies.
• Maintains consumer records in accordance with state and departmental standards.
• Performs pre-screening of inmates for detention to State Psychiatric Institutions.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Individual & group therapy

Biopsychosocial assessments

DSM-5 knowledge

Education

Master's degree in Social Work / Mental Health Counseling / Psychology / Education

Job description

Position Overview

• Provides crisis intervention and diagnostic evaluations;
• Provides individual and group therapy;
• Completes biopsychosocial clinical intake evaluations and other clinical assessments;
• Performs risk assessment evaluations and provides recommendations for treatment, Security precautions, and housing recommendations based on the clinical impressions;
• Provides targeted case management services for individuals in the Detention Center; coordinates services with associated agencies outside the jail;
• Provides consultations to Detention Center staff and with other agencies;
• Maintains consumer records consistent with all applicable State and Departmental standards;
• Performs pre-screening of inmates for detention to State Psychiatric Institutions;
• Other duties as assigned by the Team Supervisor.

Critical Care Unit Senior Therapist

Jail Services

Position Overview

This position qualifies for a signing bonus of $3,000. Are you searching for a position with purpose; a position that allows you to share your expertise in psychotherapy; a position that challenges you? Are you passionate about helping people with behavioral health challenges transform their lives and achieve recovery? If so, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is hiring for a Critical Care Unit (CCU) Senior Therapist position in our Adult Jail Services department. We are a department dedicated to not only serving our clients and families but also dedicated to supporting and valuing our staff. We provide extensive development and learning initiatives, a competitive wage and benefits package, and the facilitation of advanced clinical training and career advancement opportunities.

Examples Of Duties

• Provides crisis intervention and diagnostic evaluations;
• Provides individual and group therapy;
• Completes biopsychosocial clinical intake evaluations and other clinical assessments;
• Performs risk assessment evaluations and provides recommendations for treatment, Security precautions, and housing recommendations based on the clinical impressions;
• Provides targeted case management services for individuals in the Detention Center; coordinates services with associated agencies outside the jail;
• Provides consultations to Detention Center staff and with other agencies;
• Maintains consumer records consistent with all applicable State and Departmental standards;
• Performs pre-screening of inmates for detention to State Psychiatric Institutions;
• Other duties as assigned by the Team Supervisor.

About The Jail Services Team

Under minimum supervision from the Team Supervisor, the CCU Senior Therapist provides clinical intervention services to adult inmates who are experiencing psychiatric, behavioral and/or substance abuse related problems in the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center. Duties include triage, psychosocial assessment, diagnostic evaluation, risk assessment, brief counseling, individual and group counseling, specialized case management, and facilitation of temporary detention orders for forensic hospitalization of inmates as needed. The Senior Therapist evaluates and arranges for diagnostic assessment and treatment for individuals with severe mental illness, who may be housed in the CCU, in booking, or other areas in the jail. Possesses excellent knowledge of diagnostic assessment and treatment of incarcerated individuals with mental illness/substance use disorders. Develops and maintains excellent rapport with other professional staff of the Detention Center and related community agencies. Ensures continuity of information flow and consumer care from shift to shift. Communicates thoroughly, relevantly, and in an organized fashion both orally and in writing. The expectation is for the CCU Senior Therapist to conduct the duties of the position independently, requiring minimal supervision.

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate will have thorough knowledge of individual and group behaviors, family dynamics, abnormal psychology, and disorders related to substance use. Thorough knowledge of psychiatric interviewing; gathering clinical data; assessments; and DSM-5 diagnosis. Knowledge and experience with clinical risk assessment and writing reports based on clinical formulation. Thorough knowledge and ability to provide case management services to homeless persons who have mental illness and / or substance use disorders. Knowledge of the criminal justice systems and law enforcement systems, and interaction with services for mental health / substance use disorders. Good skills working with persons having mental illness and with their families. Thorough knowledge of DSM-5. An ability to communicate clearly and effectively with other professionals and with the general public, both orally and in writing.

Who We Are

You will work alongside professionals who are passionate about providing top‑notch clinical services to adults with behavioral health disorders. We’re dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals and also, dedicated to supporting and valuing our staff. We are a community of lifelong learners who collaborate, challenge and support each other to advance our clinical knowledge and skills, and help our clients achieve the best outcomes.

What We Offer You

In addition to an awesome group of people to work with, the City of Alexandria offers great benefits!

As a full‑time employee of the City of Alexandria, the following are available to you:

• Health Insurance
• Tuition Assistance and Professional Development
• Employee Transportation Benefits Program
• Virginia Retirement System
• Paid Annual and Sick Leave/Sick Leave Bank
• Paid City Holidays
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Spring Health Mental Health Services
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is also a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. Use the following link to access the PSLF website and learn about this program in detail: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Possession of Masters degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Education or related field; at least two years of post‑graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to consumers having one or more substance abuse, psychiatric, and emotional disorders; and 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; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

At least one year of clinical experience with jail/forensic population. Possession of Virginia clinical license as Psychologist, LPC, or LCSW. Fluent & Bilingual in both English and Spanish.

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 and Verification of education/certifications; and Driver’s license.

This position is located within the Alexandria Detention Center and must pass additional background investigation from the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office (ASO), to include a polygraph conducted by the ASO.

Schedule (On‑Site):

Monday through Friday, 8:00AM – 4:30PM, rotating Saturday, 1/2-day shift.

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 Alexandria's excellent benefits and programs!