Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) – Crisis Stabilization

Job Summary

We are seeking dependable, compassionate, and experienced Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHPs) to join our Crisis Stabilization Services team.

The QMHP will provide direct behavioral health support to individuals experiencing psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, or substance-related crises. This position works as part of an interdisciplinary team to help individuals achieve immediate safety, reduce crisis symptoms, develop coping strategies, and transition successfully to the appropriate level of care.

The QMHP will work under the clinical direction and supervision of an appropriately licensed mental health professional and must practice within the authorized scope of a QMHP registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The ideal candidate will be able to remain calm during high-stress situations, communicate professionally, complete timely clinical documentation, and provide person-centered and trauma-informed crisis support.

Available Shifts

All shifts are eight hours:

• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Overnight shift
• Weekend and holiday availability may be required

Specific shift times will be discussed during the interview.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide direct behavioral health support to individuals experiencing a mental health or substance-related crisis.
• Maintain a safe, structured, respectful, and therapeutic environment.
• Complete screenings, intake activities, orientation, and assigned admission documentation.
• Gather information regarding the individual’s mental health history, physical health conditions, substance use, previous treatment, support system, legal involvement, and current crisis.
• Observe and document the individual’s mood, behavior, appearance, communication, functioning, symptoms, and response to interventions.
• Recognize warning signs of suicide risk, self-injury, aggression, elopement, substance withdrawal, intoxication, psychosis, medication concerns, or medical instability.
• Immediately report significant changes, safety risks, and clinical concerns to the supervising licensed clinician, nurse, or program supervisor.
• Initiate verbal de-escalation and approved crisis-intervention strategies.
• Implement assigned interventions from the individual’s Crisis Education and Prevention Plan, safety plan, treatment plan, or plan of care.
• Assist individuals with identifying triggers, warning signs, coping strategies, natural supports, and community resources.
• Provide psychosocial skills development, crisis education, emotional support, and problem-solving assistance.
• Encourage individuals to participate in treatment, safety planning, discharge planning, and recovery-focused activities.
• Assist with care coordination, referrals, appointment scheduling, and connections to community-based services.
• Communicate with hospitals, community services boards, emergency services, healthcare providers, family members, authorized representatives, and other members of the treatment team as permitted.
• Participate in shift reports, treatment team meetings, clinical consultations, staff meetings, and required training.
• Complete accurate, objective, person-centered, and timely progress notes before the end of each assigned shift.
• Document interventions provided, the individual’s response, identified risks, notifications made, and follow-up actions.
• Complete incident reports and immediately report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, rights violations, injuries, medication concerns, or other serious incidents.
• Follow all confidentiality, HIPAA, Human Rights, infection-control, safety, emergency, and documentation requirements.
• Provide a complete verbal and written handoff to incoming staff.
• Remain awake, alert, attentive, and available throughout the entire shift.
• Perform other duties consistent with the employee’s QMHP registration, education, competency, assigned responsibilities, and program needs.

Crisis Response Responsibilities

The QMHP will:

• Maintain a calm and therapeutic approach during crisis situations.
• Use trauma-informed, person-centered, culturally responsive, and least-restrictive interventions.
• Assist individuals with managing emotional distress, anxiety, depression, agitation, hallucinations, paranoia, anger, grief, trauma responses, and other crisis symptoms.
• Initiate approved verbal de-escalation techniques and request additional clinical or emergency support when needed.
• Follow established protocols for suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, self-harm, aggression, overdose, substance use, elopement, medical emergencies, and other immediate safety concerns.
• Maintain appropriate observation and supervision levels as assigned.
• Contact emergency medical services or law enforcement when directed or when an immediate emergency requires intervention.
• Protect the individual’s dignity, rights, privacy, preferences, and personal property.
• Avoid coercive, punitive, threatening, humiliating, or retaliatory practices.

Clinical Oversight

The QMHP will work under the clinical direction and supervision of an appropriately licensed mental health professional.

The QMHP must:

• Follow clinical assignments and interventions established by the licensed clinician.
• Immediately consult the licensed clinician regarding significant changes, safety concerns, or situations outside the QMHP’s training or authorized scope.
• Participate in scheduled clinical supervision and case consultation.
• Maintain documentation of supervision as required.
• Accept feedback and corrective guidance regarding clinical performance and documentation.
• Not independently perform assessments, diagnoses, treatment planning, or clinical functions reserved for a licensed mental health professional.
• Maintain an active Virginia Board of Counseling QMHP registration throughout employment.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• A current and active Qualified Mental Health Professional registration through the Virginia Board of Counseling.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Education and experience that meet Virginia QMHP registration requirements.
• Experience providing behavioral health services to adults, youth, or individuals with mental health or substance use needs.
• Knowledge of behavioral health symptoms, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and verbal de-escalation.
• Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to psychiatric, behavioral, substance-related, and medical emergencies.
• Strong verbal, written, and electronic communication skills.
• Ability to complete accurate clinical documentation within required timeframes.
• Ability to use an electronic health record system.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining communication with the licensed clinical supervisor and treatment team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Ability to successfully complete required criminal background checks, registry searches, and employment verifications.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification or the ability to obtain certification before providing unsupervised services.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record when transportation responsibilities are assigned.
• Availability to work assigned day, evening, overnight, weekend, or holiday shifts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous crisis stabilization or behavioral health crisis experience.
• Experience working in psychiatric, residential, community-based, or substance use treatment settings.
• Experience supporting individuals with severe mental illness or co-occurring disorders.
• Experience with suicide risk, self-harm, aggression, psychosis, trauma, substance use, or emotional dysregulation.
• Training in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, verbal de-escalation, suicide prevention, and person-centered practices.
• Familiarity with Virginia DBHDS licensing, Human Rights, and serious-incident reporting requirements.

Required Skills

• Ability to remain calm and professional during high-stress situations.
• Ability to establish rapport while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Ability to communicate respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to recognize changes in mental, behavioral, emotional, and physical functioning.
• Ability to follow clinical instructions and established crisis protocols.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and prioritize immediate safety needs.
• Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to receive supervision, feedback, and corrective guidance.
• Ability to maintain accurate, organized, and timely records.

Physical and Work Requirements

Applicants must be able to:

• Remain awake and alert throughout the entire eight-hour shift.
• Sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout the program environment.
• Respond promptly during behavioral, psychiatric, medical, or environmental emergencies.
• Work in an environment where individuals may display agitation, verbal aggression, emotional distress, unpredictable behavior, or other crisis-related symptoms.
• Participate in emergency evacuations and approved crisis-response procedures.
• Complete handwritten and electronic documentation.
• Perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Compensation and Benefits

This is an hourly, non-exempt position.

This position does not include health insurance, paid vacation, retirement benefits, or other employer-sponsored benefits.

Employment hours and schedules are based on program needs, employee availability, qualifications, and performance.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal or Virginia law.

How to Apply

Please submit the following through Indeed:

• Current résumé
• Current Virginia QMHP registration information
• Contact information for professional references

Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview.

License/Registration Required: Virginia Board of Counseling QMHP Registration
Work Location: In person

Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour

Work Location: In person

Salary : $25 - $30