Crisis Center Therapist I / II, Grade 23/24

Please note: The salary range above represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be as follows based on the candidate's qualifications and experience. If filled at the Therapist I, Grade 23, the hiring range is $76,742 - $102,178. If filled at the Therapist II, Grade 24, the hiring range is $80,070 - $118,454.

WHO WE ARE

Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, D.C., and with over one million residents, is the most populous County in the State of Maryland. The County is also the most diverse County in the State and ranks among the top ten most diverse Counties in the nation. Montgomery County contains many major U.S. government offices, scientific research and learning centers, and business campuses. The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for delivery of the County's public health and human services that meets the needs of our community's most vulnerable children, adults and seniors. The Department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations. With over 2,000 employees, the Department of Health and Human Services is the largest County Department. As a Department , we believe health and wellness of the county can only be achieved by ensuring that every resident has fair opportunities to reach their fullest potential. This means access to quality housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, human services, safe neighborhoods, and healthy food. HHS provides critical services for residents who face a variety of obstacles in achieving their full potential. HHS plays an essential role in building a healthy and strong community.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking a Therapist I/II to serve in the 24 Hours Crisis Center of Behavioral Health and Crisis Services. We are looking for an enthusiastic behavioral health professional who enjoys working with a diverse population of all ages and has experience working with individuals with a wide range of behavioral health conditions. If you have inpatient behavioral health, emergency room, residential or group home experience or have worked on a mobile crisis outreach team, our clients could benefit from your skills. Client and community-focused individuals who enjoy working as part of a team in a dynamic setting are encouraged to apply. T his position is designated as Essential. The individual selected for this position will be considered an Essential Employee. Essential employees must report to work during a period of general emergency or liberal leave. The Therapist I/ II (T I/II) is a full performance-level clinical counseling professional working at the Crisis Center.

Primary responsibilities include:

Application of crisis intervention principles and methods in the assessment, diagnosis, prevention, psychotherapeutic treatment, and case management of individuals and/or families involved in one or more of the four therapeutic components at the 24-hour Crisis Center. This T II position is considered essential and works as a multidisciplinary team member sharing direct service responsibilities with other Crisis Center staff. Duties include serving in each of the four therapeutic components of the Crisis Center consisting of Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams (MCOT), Residential Crisis Services (RCS), walk-in clinical assessments and telephone crisis work. MCOT duties include some community outreach, working at any of the satellite locations and conducting clinical assessments outside and/or inside client's homes, on the street, often going up and down multiple steps or uneven terrain in inclement weather or poor conditions. MCOT staff also provide on-scene support at critical incidents and county wide emergencies or disasters. RCS duties include individual, family, group therapy and oversight / monitoring of a therapeutic milieu for voluntary adult clients. May also include assisting with any residential tasks as needed (example - preparing meals, preparing rooms, conducting rounds). Walk-in clinical assessments are conducted with a wide variety of clients of all ages with co-occurring disorders, all psychiatric diagnoses and multi-layered problems or situations. Telephone crisis work includes assessment of risk, a variety of referrals, information and collaboration/coordination with agency partners and after-hours backup for other county programs. The selected candidate will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment background check, medical exam and drug screening.

Therapist I Level:

Education :

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in clinical or counselling psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, nursing, or a related Behavioral science field.

Experience :

None Equivalency :

None License Requirement :

One of the following licenses, issued by the State of Maryland, must be held and maintained by the employee: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC); or Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist (LGMFT).

Driver's License Required :

Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid driver's license from the applicant's state of residence.

Therapist II Level:

Education:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in clinical or counseling psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, nursing, or a related behavioral science field.

Experience:

Two (2) years of professional experience rendering therapeutic counseling, social work, nursing or psychology services, as pertinent to one's professional licensing.

Equivalency:

None.

LICENSE REQUIREMENT

One of the following licenses, issued by the State of Maryland, must be held, and maintained by the employee: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC); Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapy (LCMFT); Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC); Licensed Certified Social Worker/Clinical (LCSW-C); Licensed Registered Nurse in the United States, certified as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in the State of Maryland; or

Licensed Psychologist Note:

There will be no substitutions for this requirement.

Driver's License Required :

Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid driver's license from the applicant's state of residence. The applications of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevancy of training, and experience in the following areas: Clinical experience as a mental health practitioner treating individuals with co-occurring disorders, persistent mental illness and/or victimization and trauma. Professional experience in a Crisis Center , emergency room, and/or other 24/7 setting providing urgent behavioral health services such as a stabilization unit, residential treatment settings, and/or impatient hospital health setting. Experience providing crisis intervention services during community-wide emergencies such as natural disasters, serious accidents, and/or other emergency situations that might include fatalities. Experience providing mobile crisis outreach services in behavioral health emergencies. Preference for interviews may be given to candidates will experience in the following areas: Experience working in crisis intervention or on a mobile crisis outreach team Experience working in an inpatient behavioral health setting Experience working in an emergency department conducting clinical behavioral health assessments Experience working as a co-responder with law enforcement Multilingual proficiency in Spanish, French, or Amharic Preferred