Part -Time Temporary PRN (As Needed/On-Call) Crisis Center Therapist II, Grade 24

Therapist II

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.

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking to hire temporary intermittent part-time substitute PRN (as needed) Therapist II to serve in the 24 Hours Crisis Center of Behavioral Health and Crisis Services.

This work includes intervening with individuals experiencing psychiatric emergencies involving suicidal and/or homicidal ideation/plans, individuals with severe and persistent mental illness who are decompensating, homeless individuals and families, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or other violent crimes and other emotional or situational crises.

Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is recruiting PRN Therapist II to work in the Behavioral Health Crisis Center on a as needed basis. The Behavioral Health Crisis Center is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The PRN Therapists must work flexible hours to cover leave for permanent staff (who are essential workers for the Department of Health and Human Services during county emergencies) and assigned as needed.

Crisis Center Therapist II positions are responsible for providing telephone, walk-in, mobile outreach crisis intervention and residential crisis services 24 hours a day.

Duties Include:

• Application of crisis intervention principles and methods in the assessment, diagnosis, prevention, psychotherapeutic treatment, and case management of children who present to the Crisis Center as a walk-in, school referral or MCT.
• Provide adolescent screenings through the SASCA program.
• Substance use and mental health screenings to include drug screenings, referrals and case management and conducting counseling groups.
• Have knowledge and experience in treating clients with a wide variety of mental health disorders and substance use issues. Some screenings may be conducted at a school site.
• Able to collaborate with agencies focused on children such as Child Welfare Services, Dept of Juvenile Services and Montgomery County Public Schools.
• Collaboration and coordination with other county agencies and community partners to accomplish integration of services, linkages to treatment and response to community wide emergencies, critical incidents and disaster behavioral health situations.

The Crisis Center is a 24/7 program, and staff's schedule are subject to change. The selected PRN Therapist II candidate is required to work day shifts, weekends, evenings, or overnight shifts depending on the program needs and to cover shifts for merit staff who are essential workers. These PRN positions are budgeted for 4 hours a week and more hours may be required based on program needs.

The selected candidate will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment background check, medical exam, and drug screening.

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.

LICENSE REQUIREMENT:

• 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 Psychologist

Preference for interview will be given to qualified candidates with the following experience:

• At least 2 years of clinical experience as a mental health practitioner treating individuals of any age with co-occurring disorders, persistent mental health issues, behavioral issues, and/or victimization and trauma.
• Professional experience in a crisis center, emergency room and/or other 24/7 settings providing urgent behavioral health services.
• Experience working in a residential treatment setting or in an inpatient hospital psychiatric 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 outreach response to psychiatric emergencies and/or on-scene support involving unexpected deaths.