Family Services Specialist II

Family Services Specialist II

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. About one-quarter square miles in the city have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Family Services Specialist II position.

The Family Services Specialist II provides mental health outreach, case management, supportive counseling, crisis intervention assessment and interventions to older adults with serious mental illness and multiple medical problems as a member of the Older Adult Clinical Services Team (Geriatric Mental Health). Coordinates consumer care and facilitates referrals to various community providers, resources and service agencies. Provides supportive counseling, assessment of needs, risk and interventions for treatment planning. Performs much of the work with this population in consumers residences, senior centers and supportive living facilities.

The ideal candidate should have the ability to be tolerant concerning others; ability to handle crisis and work under pressure; ability to write and speak clearly and to have working knowledge of mental health issues; have knowledge and skills of intervention techniques with individuals, families, groups and other agencies.

The opportunity includes:

• Facilitating consumer access to a variety of mental and physical health treatment providers, including scheduling doctors' appointments for consumers, accompanying them to their appointments and acting as an advocate for the consumer regarding their health care;
• Providing supportive counseling to individuals and groups of older consumers re: life adjustments, stress management skills, psycho-education and interventions designed to enhance decision making and coping skills;
• Providing intensive mental health case management to older adults with serious mental illness (SMI);
• Monitoring consumer's mental health status and compliance with medication and other forms of treatment;
• Communicating regularly with other service providers to coordinate consumer treatment and ensure all needs are being met;
• Linking clients to needed services and exploring community resources including assisting clients in receiving and maintaining entitlements and benefits;
• Working regularly with Adult Protective Services in monitoring and assessing elderly consumers;
• Working regularly with guardians and representative payees on behalf of the consumers including assisting with consumer's finances;
• Providing community education and referral to citizens of Alexandria and other City agencies;
• Working in the community, providing services where the client is and contacts clients when appointments are not kept;
• Maintaining clinical records in accordance with State, City, Departmental, and Federal compliance requirements;
• Performing related work as required.

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 abuse disorders.

Minimum & Additional Requirements:

Master's degree in a human services field and two (2) years of relevant experience. Employees must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of their residence if they are in a position with driving responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

Preference will be given to applicants with experience in behavioral health, case management, or community-based services. Experience working with older adults or individuals with serious mental illness is preferred but not required. Applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in serving older adults and the ability to work effectively with complex behavioral health needs are encouraged to apply.

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; education/certifications; and driver's license.

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00AM – 5:00PM

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.