Emergency Services Team Leader

This position qualifies for a signing bonus of $3,000. 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 Emergency Services Team Leader position.

An Overview

The Emergency Services Team Leader is responsible for managing the Emergency Services Program, a 24/7/365 code mandated essential service. In addition, the Team Leader oversees the Civil Commitment Hearings Process and the Mandatory Outpatient Treatment (MOT) program. The Team Leader provides both direct clinical and administrative supervision to the ES team and indirect (on call) after-hours supervision. The ES Team Leader also provides support to the Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT).

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate should have Thorough knowledge of current social, psychiatric, economic and health problems; thorough knowledge of individual and group behavior; thorough knowledge of the literature in the field of social work, psychology, substance abuse, or psychiatric nursing, including treatment methods used in cases of psychiatric disorders, alcoholism, delinquency, drug addiction, etc.; thorough knowledge of mental illnesses; intellectual disabilities, corrections, vocational rehabilitation, and/or substance abuse; ability to apply professional methods and practices; ability to work successfully with consumers and to aid them in the constructive use of their own capabilities; ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with other professionals and with the public; and the ability to plan and supervise the work of a team of professional mental health/substance abuse staff performing psychological assessment and diagnosis and psychotherapy work and related services.

The Opportunity

• Provides direct clinical and administrative supervision to Therapist Supervisors and Emergency Services Senior Therapists & Community Services Specialist.
• Establishes goals and objectives for all program components, prepares program reports, and evaluates programs' effectiveness.
• Ensures that cases presenting multiple, complex clinical issues have the appropriate risk assessments and case coordination (with internal and external resources) to ensure client and community safety;
• Plans and organizes the work of a team and determines work methods and priorities;
• Makes case assignments and provides clinical guidance on case dispositions;
• Consults with staff and community agencies regarding client referrals, and clinical and administrative issues;
• Provides clinical training to staff and outside agencies;
• Provides coverage in the absence of the Division Chief;
• Plans, organizes and approves the work of the Team, including prioritization of services based on ethical guidelines, use of evidence based practices, and general clinical direction for the Team;
• Sets performance standards for staff;
• Monitors individual and team compliance with qualitative and quantitative standards that include: quality of clinical work, clinical outcomes, client satisfaction, medical records compliance with federal, State and insurance regulations, staff productivity and stakeholder satisfaction;
• Collaborates with key stakeholder;
• Participates in intra-Departmental committees;
• Prepares quarterly and annual reports to be submitted to DCHS
• Assures all programs and services are in compliance with local, state, federal and processional licensing certification and accreditation requirements
• Reviews other reports including grant reports;
• Synthesizes input from clinical staff, clients, stakeholders, research, State and federal guidance, etc. in planning programming;
• Evaluates programs to ensure effective and efficient service delivery and develop plans to address identified gaps in services;
• Recruits, hires, trains, provides clinical and administrative supervision and leadership to team;
• Motivates independent clinical professionals to perform as a team at a high level of effectiveness and client satisfaction;
• Approves schedule, leave and time cards, counsels, conducts discipline, recommends performance improvement plans or termination;
• Ensures that clinical records conform to Department, CARF, Medicaid and State licensing standards and accurately reflect assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment progress and discharge;
• Establishes State Performance outcome measures and assures that team meets them;
• Works with fiscal staff and clinical staff to increase revenues through provision and proper documentation of billable services;
• Provides emergency back up coverage to maintain essential program functions during periods of staffing shortages or staff illness
• 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 use disorders.

Possession of an M.S.W., M.A., M.S. N. or a PH.D. degree from an accredited school. Three years of experience managing Crisis Programs. Three years of experience providing mental health and/or substance abuse services, including diagnostic evaluations, crisis intervention, and case management to adults or children in a community setting. 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. The ES Manager must complete all the requirements to obtain and maintain a certification as Pre-screeners as required by the Department of Behavioral Health and Disability 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.

Additional Requirements

As essential personnel, ES Manager 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. As required by DBHDS, the Manager must provide 24/7 On Call supervision to Senior Therapists as directed by the Division Chief.

Possession of an Independent Clinical License as an LCSW, LPC or Clinical Psychologist; possession of a valid driver’s license; at least three (3) years of supervision experience.

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; education/certifications; and driver’s license.

Schedule: Day shifts with some weekend/evening hours as needed. Occasional overnight coverage and on-call coverage.