Behavioral Health Specialist I - Community Residential Services - Housing

Behavioral Health Specialist I - Community Residential Services - Housing

Salary

$63,732.03 - $111,531.06 Annually

Location

CSB GARTLAN CENTER, 8119 HOLLAND ROAD ALEXANDRIA (MN25), VA

Job Type

FT Hourly W BN

Job Number

26-01380

Department

Community Services Board

Opening Date

09/05/2026

Closing Date

9/18/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade

S22

Posting Type

Open to General Public

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Announcement

Make a meaningful difference where it matters most.

This position works as a compassionate and dedicated behavioral health specialist as a part of our Community Residential Services Division on the Housing Support Team.

In this role, you will provide hands-on support and engagement services to adults with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring conditions, helping individuals maintain stable housing and build the skills needed to live as independently as possible in the community.

What You'll Do

As a Behavioral Health Specialist I, you will play an important role in supporting individuals in Permanent Supportive Housing and other community-based housing settings. Your work will include:

• Build meaningful relationships with individuals through consistent engagement, support, and encouragement.
• Provide counseling, direct observation, and individualized assistance to support residents stability and well-being.
• Assist individuals with activities of daily living and independent living skills that may be barriers to maintaining housing.
• Provide coaching and encouragement related to household cleanliness, organization, and appropriate reporting of maintenance or site concerns.
• Encourage residents to work directly with housing providers and landlords to address financial concerns, lease requirements, and landlord/tenant issues.
• Assist with and/or transport residents to appointments and community-based services when appropriate.
• Monitor and respond to program needs, promptly notifying the Mental Health Supervisor or designee of emergencies and major incidents involving program participants.
• Review client information and the Electronic Health Record (EHR) for updates related to clinical needs and services.
• Complete timely and accurate progress notes and documentation in the EHR in accordance with agency guidelines.
• Maintain accurate time and attendance records and other required program documentation.

Why Join CSB?

This is more than a behavioral health position-it is an opportunity to help individuals remain housed, strengthen their independence, and achieve greater stability in their lives.

If you are someone who is patient, compassionate, resourceful, and motivated by helping others succeed in the community, we invite you to apply and become part of the Fairfax-Falls Church CSB team.

Join us in supporting housing stability, independence, and recovery-one person at a time.

Here are some of the benefits CSB employees enjoy:

• Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home - including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others. We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity. A foreign language skills stipend of up to $1600/year (full-time) may be given for qualified bi-lingual employees.
• 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 CSB Careers Page.

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.)

• Functions as an active member of a treatment team;
• Functions as a co-leader in groups;
• Assists with data gathering for needs assessment;
• Contributes to the development of individual service plans, with consideration given to the nature and severity of the behavioral health and psychosocial needs, individual strengths and preferences, and support systems;
• Makes interventions as outlined in the service plan;
• Brings forward timely information on individuals progress and evolving needs to the treatment team;
• Provides individual supportive counseling and skill-building involving specific concerns;
• Conducts admission and orientation into the program/services;
• Provides individual and group psycho-educational sessions for clients, family members, and significant others;
• Maintains and updates information on community resources for individuals, families, and other concerned persons;
• Provides skill building to clients in developing and practicing daily living, recovery, and self-advocacy skills;
• Observes client behavior and provides de-escalation techniques;
• Maintains client records in accordance with state and department regulations;
• Maintains all appropriate program logs and information;
• Provides program coverage and supervises program activities;
• Transports and accompanies individuals to various appointments.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of the principles, theories, and methods of the psychological and social development of individuals;
• Knowledge of substance use disorders and the physiological, psychological and social impacts;
• Knowledge of public and private community based resources;
• Knowledge of social history development and interviewing and treatment techniques appropriate for individuals with substance use and/or mental illness/ serious emotional disturbance (SED);
• Ability to recognize behavioral symptoms of mental illness/ serious emotional disturbance (SED) and substance use, and developmental disabilities;
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with clients;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the general public;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to maintain records and prepare reports;
• Ability to assist with initial screening of the severity of individuals substance use/mental health symptoms, treatment, and support needs.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelors degree in psychology, social work, sociology, nursing, public health or a related field;

OR a bachelor's degree and a valid Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) or Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) certification.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

Valid motor vehicle drivers license with fewer than six demerit points (or the equivalent in another state) and maintained throughout employment with CSB.

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.

This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• One or more 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 (QMHP).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to climb stairs, walk, stand, bend, and independently drive agency vehicles as needed to carry out job duties. Ability to lift and carry up to 15lbs, observe client behavior/appearance, review and write progress notes in Electronic Health Record (EHR) and staff log. 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. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

#LI-AP1

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
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click here for a summary of our benefits.

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

For additional details please visit the Countys benefits webpage.

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
• Associates degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

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
• Sociology
• Public health
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04

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".

05

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

06

Do you currently possess a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

07

Have you worked with adults who have any of the following conditions? Check all that apply.

• Serious mental illness
• Co-occurring disorders
• Substance use or abuse
• Intellectual disability
• None of the above

08

How many full-time equivalent years of experience do you have working in a behavioral health setting?

• 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

09

Have you worked with adults in any of the following settings? Check all that apply.

• Intensive treatment group home
• Hospital emergency department
• Psychiatric unit
• Community-based behavioral emergency services
• Crisis stabilization unit
• Detoxification facility
• None of the above

10

How many full-time equivalent years of experience do you have working in a community-based behavioral services setting?

• 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

11

Are you able to use your personal vehicle for transportation related to this position including home visits?

• Yes
• No

12

Are you able to walk upstairs and carry at least twenty pounds with or without reasonable accommodations?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Fairfax County

Address 12000 Government Center Pkwy. Suite 270

Fairfax, Virginia, 22035

Phone 703-324-3311

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/fairfaxcounty/default.cfm