Behavioral Health Specialist

This position is located in the Youth and Family Engagement Division (YFED), Cadet Corps Branch located at 2405 Martin Luther King Ave, S.E. Washington, DC 20020.

There is only one city in the country that can say it is the Nation’s Capital – Washington, D.C. Given that distinction, The Metropolitan Police Department is the premiere law enforcement organization in the city. We receive over 22 million visitors a year, have almost 700,000 residents, and 21,000 private business. The Department consists of more than 4,200 members: approximately 3,550 sworn members and over 650 civilian employees. We are one of the most diverse and highly trained departments in the country. We have the honor of safeguarding and protecting not only our nation’s residents, but also people from all over the world.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) offers an attractive benefits package. The benefits package includes competitive compensation, health insurance, prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, short and long term disability and life insurance, as well a strong retirement benefit and savings options. Employees are also eligible for our employer contributed 401a plan after one year of employment. Additional perks such as discounts on wireless carriers, gym memberships, amusement park tickets and much more! Additional information can be found at: DCHR Benefits

This position is located in the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Executive Office of the Chief of Police (EOCOP), Office of the Patrol Operations Chief (OPOC), Youth and Family Engagement Division (YFED), Cadet Corps Branch.

The Incumbent Will Be Responsible For The Following

• Conducts initial and ongoing comprehensive mental health evaluations of cadets identifying behavioral health related conditions including anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and related issues to determine cadets’ fitness for duty in accordance with MPD and fitness-for-duty (FFD) standards required for law enforcement. Identifies behavioral health risks and develops and monitors individualized care plans to address identified concerns and analyzes cohort-specific data to identify recurring issues and implement targeted behavioral health interventions.
• Provides ongoing behavioral health solution-focused short-term individual and group counseling to support cadets experiencing emotional or behavioral difficulties in managing stress, trauma, and personal challenges to address immediate behavioral health concerns.
• Follows cadet cohorts to monitor and track their behavioral health progress and identifies trends within cohorts, assesses group dynamics, evaluates program effectiveness, addresses emerging mental health concerns, ensuring individualized care and group wellness and facilitates regular check-ins with cohorts to address emerging concerns and promote a supportive environment.
• Collects, analyzes, and reports data on behavioral health services and outcomes to improve program effectiveness of behavioral health programs and recommends improvements and targeted interventions, ensuring programs are data-driven and aligned with organizational goals.
• Prepares detailed reports, maintains case documentation files (manually or electronically), and tracks counseling outcomes. Collaborates with leadership to address challenges, integrates behavioral health services into overall Cadet Corps Branch operations and adjusts strategies accordingly to achieve desired outcomes.
• Designs and implements wellness program initiatives tailored to cadet needs, incorporating evidence-based practices.
• Collaborates with MPD training staff to integrate behavioral health education topics into the Cadet Corps curriculum and delivers training sessions on stress management, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and other key behavioral health topics to promote mental health awareness of behavioral resources.
• Facilitates outreach initiatives in Cadet Corps Branch to promote awareness of behavioral health resources, and develops and delivers training programs on mental wellness, stress management, and resilience-building for cadets and staff.
• Monitors compliance with best practices in behavioral health and ensures compliance with all applicable behavioral health standards, policies, and regulations and maintains accurate and confidential records in accordance with District regulations and ethical standards and federal laws.
• Serves as a liaison with Cadet Corps leadership, internal MPD resources, external mental health providers, and community organizations to integrate behavioral health services into the Corps' operations and coordinates with external behavioral health professionals for complex cases requiring long-term care or specialized care.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of mental health principles, counseling techniques, and crisis intervention strategies.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in District and federal laws governing mental health services and confidentiality.
• Ability to analyze regulations, policies, and standards and apply findings to improve processes and design, implement, and evaluate wellness and resilience-building programs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to build rapport with cadets and effectively collaborate with stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain high ethical standards and integrity and sensitivity to and understanding of diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences.
• Proficiency in maintaining physical and electronic records and case files in accordance with established protocols.
• Ability to assess complex behavioral health situations and determine appropriate interventions.
• Demonstrated ability to convey technical concepts effectively in both oral and written formats and to handle sensitive information confidentially.
• Proficiency in using mental health assessment tools, data analysis methods, and program evaluation techniques.
• Proficiency in Office 365 tools (Word, Excel, Outlook) and demonstrated in-depth knowledge of behavioral health principles, crisis intervention techniques, and evidence-based counseling methods.
  
  

Education

A Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or a related field from an accredited institution is required.

Licensures, Certifications And Other Requirements

Licensure in the District of Columbia as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or equivalent or to be licensed a Psychologist or Psychiatrist is required.

Work Experience

Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least CS-12 level, or its non-District equivalent, gained from the public or private sector. Specialized experience for this position includes but not limited to: experience in mental health counseling, conducting data analysis and reporting; identifying opportunities to offer health and wellness services based on employee needs; and the ability to train and present information to an audience. Previous experience working with youth or law enforcement populations is preferred.

Work Environment

Work is performed in an office setting, with occasional travel to training or field sites during critical incidents or training exercises. May involve exposure to emotionally charged stressful or emergency situations and requires maintaining a high level of professionalism and emotional resilience.

Other Significant Factors

This position is located in the Youth and Family Engagement Division (YFED), Cadet Corps Branch located at 2405 Martin Luther King Ave, S.E. Washington, DC 20020.

Promotion Potential: No Known Promotion Potential.

This position is considered an “Emergency” per DPM Chapter 12. An emergency employee who has been designated and activated will be called in to work, required to stay at work, or required to telework, if approved to do so, during the particular emergency situation. Responds to critical incidents and provide crisis intervention and support as needed.

This Position Is Deemed As “Protection Sensitive” Pursuant To Chapter 4 Of The D.C. Personnel Regulations, In Addition To The General Suitability Screening And Criminal Background Check (pre-employment And Periodic), Individuals May Be Subject To The Following Checks And Tests

• Traffic record check (as applicable);
• Pre-employment drug and alcohol test (as applicable);
• Consumer credit check (as applicable);
• Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test;
• Random drug and alcohol test;
• Return to duty or follow-up drug and alcohol test; and
• Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.
  
  

The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer: 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, disability. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, which is also prohibited. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited.

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