Behavioral Health Specialist II - Emergency Services & Crisis Care

Salary : $70,711.26 - $117,851.76 Annually
Location : FAIRFAX (HH12), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 25-00871
Department: Community Services Board
Opening Date: 04/19/2025
Closing Date: 5/2/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S25
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

$2,500 Sign-On Bonus*
Seeking an energetic, flexible, and engaging mental health technician to work in a large multidisciplinary Emergency Services unit serving individuals with mental health/co-occurring disorders in psychiatric crisis. Must have strong communications and time-management skills, ability to work collaboratively across programs, agencies, and with the community to meet the needs of at risk seriously mental ill individuals and be able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a program that provides specialized services such as assessment for temporary detention, evaluation for hospitalization, critical incident stress management, and short-term crisis intervention treatment. Must be able to work with individuals of all ages with a recovery-based orientation and able to provide support and direction regarding referrals and resources within Fairfax County and the community.

Here are some of the benefits CSB employees enjoy:

• *This position includes a $2,500 signing bonus for fully qualified new merit county employees or employees transferring from Fairfax County Public Schools.
• The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home () and CSB recognizes that staff competence speaking a variety of languages is necessary to meet client needs. We encourage candidate's bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply. A foreign language skills stipend of up to $1,300/year (full-time) may be given for qualified bi-lingual employees.
• The CSB provides clinical supervision for employees who are registered as licensed eligible mental health in one of the following areas: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
• In addition, to recognize and reinforce the importance of professional development and enhance future recruitment of licensed professionals, if approved, the licensure supervisors will receive a stipend of $1,500 paid out biweekly over a 12-month period whether for one or more Department of Health licensure candidates,
• License/Certification Reimbursement - Reimbursement for job related licenses and/or certifications once per year.
• To find out more about the benefits of working with Fairfax County Government, please visit the

Note: This position is located at the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health (8221 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA).

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Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Makes behavioral health diagnoses using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, International Classification of Diseases or other diagnostic tools as required;
• Maintains a diverse caseload of clients with a variety of substance use, developmental disabilities and/or mental illnesses;
• Develops client and/or family centered therapeutic treatment plans, with consideration given to the nature and severity of the behavioral health problem, family, cultural and employment related circumstances, legal involvement, individual and family histories, physical condition, and other pertinent factors;
• Implements therapeutic treatment plan under clinical supervision;
• Conducts independent behavioral health intakes and assessments;
• Provides individual, group, and/or family treatment under supervision;
• Collaborates with service professionals inside and outside of the Community Services Board;
• Adapts and modifies treatment interventions as indicated;
• Provides case management, outreach and engagement services as needed;
• Conducts wellness and health promotion services;
• Maintains all electronic health records according to federal, state and department regulations, ensuring that records of clients on their caseload are complete, accurate and comprehensive;
• Advocates on behalf of clients regarding rights and needed services;
• Develops and maintains cooperative relationships with representatives of community groups and public and private agencies;
• Assesses and monitors the impact of medication on client's functioning and consults with medical professionals as needed;
• Administers medication as ordered by a physician in accordance with department regulations;
• Provides crisis stabilization and crisis management with support and supervision as needed;
• Provides ongoing risk assessments for dangerousness to self and others with support and supervision as needed;
• Provides entry, navigation and/or referral services for individuals, families and other concerned persons;
• Prepares and administers behavioral health educational curricula;
• Testifies in court to regarding client's services, progress and recommendations as required.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, nursing, counseling, or a related field, plus 1,500 hours of clinical experience;
OR a bachelor's degree and a valid Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) certification or Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) certification plus 1,500 hours of clinical experience;
OR a master's degree in psychology, social work, nursing, counseling, or a related field plus 500 hours of clinical experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• MANDT Certifications within six months of appointment and annually thereafter.
• First Aid and CPR certification, within 90 days of appointment and maintained throughout CSB employment.
• Valid motor vehicle driver's license with fewer than six demerit points (or the equivalent in another State) and maintained throughout employment with CSB.
• Qualified Mental Health Professional - Adult (QMHP-A) (Required within 6 months of hire.)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, a driving record check, and sanction screening to the satisfaction of the employer. A TB screening upon hire and annually thereafter.
• Additional Work Schedule Requirements: Position is responsible for providing 24-hour shift coverage, to include awake overnights, weekends.
• This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, social work or nursing.
• Minimum of two years of post-degree experience working with adults who suffer from serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders in an intensive treatment group home, hospital emergency department or psychiatric unit, community-based behavioral emergency services, and/or crisis stabilization setting.
• Certified by the Virginia Board of Counseling as a Qualified Mental Health Professional - Adult.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to communicate clearly with others; make clinical observations; run/climb several flights of stairs; lift up to 20 lbs.; review clinical records, write clinical notes and complete pre-detention and pre-admission evaluation forms; and use keyboard driven equipment. Ability to drive a county vehicle. Ability to work 5 - 16 hour shifts to include awake overnights and participate in recreational activities and prepare meals. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.

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Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Commuter Benefit Program
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Flexible Spending Program
• Deferred Compensation

Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.

• No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered that you have a degree in the previous question, please indicate your area of study below. If you do not have a degree, please select "not applicable."

• Psychology
• Social work
• Counseling
• Nursing
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

03

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list the discipline of your degree. If this question does not pertain to you or you do not possess a degree, enter "N/A".
04

Are you certified in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) or as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC)? Please list certifications on your application also.Details regarding QMHP can be found on https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/counseling_QMHP.htm.Details regarding CSAC certification can be found on https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Counseling/ApplicantResources/CSACapplicationinfo/.

• Yes, QMHP
• Yes, CSAC
• No
• No, but eligible

05

How many hours of clinical experience do you have?(Clinical experience means providing direct clinical services. Additional education may not substitute for clinical experience.)

• None
• Less than 500 hours
• 500 to less than 1500 hours
• 1500 or more hours

06

Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

07

Please indicate which of the following license(s) you possess in the Commonwealth of Virginia. If you are not licensed but eligible for licensure (includes reciprocity) please check that response.

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Licensed Professional Counselor
• Clinical Psychologist
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner
• Eligible to register as a licensed eligible mental health professional in one of the above areas (A registered licensed eligible mental health professional has been approved by the applicable Virginia health regulatory board as a supervisee in clinical social work or a resident in clinical psychology, professional counseling, substance abuse treatment practice, or marriage and family therapy.)
• None of the above

08

In the previous question if you are Licensed Eligible in the Commonwealth of Virginia, please indicate below which of the following steps you have taken toward licensure. Check all that apply.

• Registered as a licensed eligible mental health professional
• Currently seeking supervision for licensure
• Completed less than 1 year of supervision toward licensure
• Completed more than 1 but less than 2 years of supervision toward licensure
• Eligible to apply for endorsement of out of state license in Commonwealth of Virginia
• None of the above

09

How many full-time equivalent years of experience do you have working with individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

10

Are you willing to work 16 hours, one weekend out of four (may be 8 hours Saturday & 8 hours Sunday or a 16 hour shift on either a Saturday or Sunday), shifts to be determined by supervisory scheduling?

• Yes
• No

11

Are you willing to work a minimum of 4 holidays per year? (Shifts are 8-16 hours depending on coverage needs.)

• Yes
• No

12

As a 24-hour service, are you willing to work overnight shifts if needed?

• Yes
• No

13

Are you willing to work evenings (1-3 weekly)?

• Yes
• No

14

This position is considered "essential/emergency" which requires the incumbent to report to work regardless of the county's operating status (open or closed). Are you able to report to work in time of emergencies?

• Yes
• No

Required Question