Behavioral Health Specialist II - Entry, Assessment, & Referral

Behavioral Health Specialist II - Entry, Assessment, & Referral

Salary

$73,567.94 - $128,743.89 Annually

Location

MERRIFIELD CENTER, 8221 WILLOW OAKS CORPORATE DR., FAIRFAX (HH12), VA

Job Type

FT Salary W BN

Job Number

26-01748

Department

Community Services Board

Opening Date

11/07/2026

Closing Date

11/20/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade

S25

Posting Type

Open to General Public

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Announcement

This position works within our Entry and Referral clinical assessment team. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural team serving adults and youth seeking services for substance use disorders, serious mental illness, and co-occurring disorders, including individuals with developmental disabilities and/or physical illnesses.

Serves as an initial point of contact for individuals seeking CSB services. Must be able to complete phone and in-person triage screenings, identify service needs, and connect individuals with appropriate CSB and/or community resources. The position assesses individuals' needs, including those who are court-ordered, and provides information regarding registration, screening, and assessment processes.

Provides professional and clinically appropriate engagement to culturally and socio-economically diverse clients, including a large Latinx population. Duties include triage, outreach, collateral contacts with community partners, and case coordination throughout various phases of clinical care.

Applicant must be computer literate and familiar with electronic health records, spreadsheets, and databases. Timely electronic documentation that meets state, local, and federal performance contract expectations is essential. A strong commitment to program development and an approach of "nothing is impossible" are required.

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 Spanish or 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Note: To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video "CSB Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Providing Care."

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.)

• Conducts independent behavioral health intakes and assessments;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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 clients services, progress and recommendations as required.

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 behavioral health services and social development of the individual;
• Knowledge of evidence based behavioral health treatment methods;
• Knowledge of psychological, physiological and psychiatric terminology, theories and practices;
• Knowledge of assessment processes, methods of gathering social history and interviewing techniques;
• Knowledge of existing public and private agencies and community resources;
• Ability to formulate diagnoses and appropriate treatment plan;
• Ability to perform behavioral health and risk assessments and apply evidence based/informed treatment approaches/modalities;
• Ability to manage a caseload;
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with clients;
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, public and private
• organizations, community groups, and the general public;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to maintain records and prepare reports.

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:

None

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry 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:

• Experience working with individuals, families, and community members with mental health, substance use, and developmental concerns.
• Experience working in a community-based treatment program.
• Experience with effectively communicating with diverse bilingual/multi-lingual populations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to walk, stand, bend and carry, up to 10 pounds of case files. Ability to operate desktop computer and use a keyboard. Ability to access, input, and retrieve computer data. 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-NW1

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 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, such as individual or group clinical therapy/counseling, clinical assessments, milieu management, or mental health skill building. Additional education may not substitute for clinical experience.)

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

06

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

07

How many full-time equivalent years of experience do you have providing behavioral health services to those with acute Mental Health, Intellectual Disabilities, Co-occurring disorder (COD) and substance use disorder (SUD) in a community outpatient 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

08

How many full-time equivalent years of paid experience do you have working in a community-based treatment program for substance abuse or co-occurring substance abuse and 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

09

Which of the following language access tools have you used in a behavioral health setting?

• iSpeak posters
• Language Access Resource Guide
• Solicit assistance from bilingual peer employees
• Language access vendor interpreter services
• Proficient in another language other than English
• Other
• None of the above

10

If you indicate "proficient in another language or other" in the previous question. Please specify. If not applicable, please enter N/A.

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