Job Description

Colonial Behavioral Health provides opportunities for recovery to individuals and their family members in the areas of mental illness, substance use disorder, and developmental disabilities. Colonial Behavioral Health serves the citizens of James City County, City of Poquoson, City of Williamsburg, and York County.

We are currently recruiting for a Crisis Counselor position within our Emergency Services program. This position provides Emergency Services and satisfies all Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) certification requirements for the provision of hospital pre-admission screening for voluntary or involuntary hospitalization in accordance with the Code of Virginia.

Job Duties

• Assessment of imminent risk due to mental illness, or co-occurring substance use or intellectual disabilities, including danger to self, others, or inability to care for self due to mental illness.
• Diagnostic evaluation of persons presenting for emergencies, to include mental status, risk, current functioning, and diagnosis.
• Works collaboratively with agency and community clinicians on behalf of crisis disposition and triage.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule

On-call evenings, weekends, and holidays

Qualifications (EEO)

• Knowledge of applicable statutory provisions in the Code of Virginia regarding confidentiality, voluntary and involuntary hospitalization, procedural expectations for preadmission screening.
• Ability to effectively document assessments and service activity, including health information records and service documentation, reports and correspondence.
• Knowledge, skills and abilities in the assessment, diagnosis (DSMV) and intervention to persons with acute mental illness, substance use disorders, intellectual disabilities, and co-occurring disorders. Knowledge and ability to pre-screen persons with acute mental health crises for voluntary and involuntary hospitalization.
• Knowledge of Risk Assessment Criteria (e.g., dangerousness to self /others, inability to care for self due to mental illness), and duty to warn.
• One year of clinical experience with individuals with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder required.
• Valid driver’s license is required.
• Bachelor's Degree in a human services field required.
• Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP A/C) required.
• Master’s Degree in a human services field preferred.
• Resident in Counseling, Resident in Marriage & Family, Licensed Eligible preferred.
• DBHDS Preadmission Screening Certificate preferred.