This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). Education. Hold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. English Language Proficiency. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English Grade Determinations Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-12 Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior LPMHCs must have five years of post-licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. GS 12 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Ability to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment. Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling, or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial, and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans. Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs. Ability to design system changes based on data. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients, rendering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills. Ability to teach, mentor staff and trainees, and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications. Ability to engage in written and oral communication with leadership/staff and community stakeholders regarding policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and issues pertaining to the practice of the profession. Assignments: Senior LPMHCs provide treatment to patients with complex needs including multiple mental health diagnoses, and numerous psychosocial issues, using independent judgment. LPMHCs at this level provide clinical consultation to less experienced staff which may include coordinating crisis situations. Senior LPMHCs will provide clinical supervision to LPMHC staff and/or LPMHC trainees, and may serve as the subject matter expert for the discipline. Senior LPMHCs develop behavioral health related training curriculum and often conduct trainings for clinical staff. LPMHCs model ethical and professional behaviors and standards to include multicultural awareness. Senior LPMHCs meet routinely with inter- professional team members and leadership to communicate about program and patient issues for in depth problem solving. Senior LPMHCs collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and frequently serve as a liaison. This assignment is to be relatively few in number based on the size of the facility/service and applying sound position management. This assignment must represent substantial additional responsibility over and above that required at the full performance grade level and cannot be used as the full performance level of this occupation. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/106 PART II APPENDIX G43 Preferred Experience: Familiarity with Suicide Prevention and Crisis Mental Health Care; Experience in working with Substance Use Disorders, and Co-occurring mental health disorders; Able to work within an interdisciplinary team (medical providers, psychiatrists, nursing staff, case managers). Specialty Training in Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (EBP). Physical Requirements: This position provides direct services to patients and their families through casework. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses are permitted), keen hearing (aid permitted), clear, distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.
Clinical Responsibilities Incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis & treatment of Veteran patients, including making psychosocial & psychiatric diagnoses because of a complete assessment. Provides individual, group, & family psychotherapy & advanced-level case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans. Develops & implements methods for measuring the effectiveness of psychosocial therapeutic practice & services in specialty areas, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services. Demonstrates the ability to design changes based on empirical findings as well as to provide a flexible work schedule to accommodate emergency or urgent care matters. Interviews Veterans & their family members/significant others to establish facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems & their causes, & the impact of such problems on the Veteran's functioning & health as part of a psychosocial assessment. Independently evaluates the client's situation, including the Veteran's reaction & ability to deal with it, & arrives at a reasoned conclusion. Assesses risk factors & develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the Veteran & family. Makes independent professional decisions & recommendations for treatment. Develops treatment plans in coordination with interdisciplinary team members, including goals for treatment. Independently concludes the appropriate action, even in instances where actions can have a serious impact on the life of the Veteran. Responsible for clinical practice in the areas & programs to which assigned, including promotion of psychotherapy &/or therapeutic services as a key component of treatment. Evaluates his/her practice as a clinician on an ongoing basis through participation in professional peer review, case conferences, or other organized means. Assists & encourages Veterans & their significant others in facing problems, thinking them through, evaluating the situation realistically, considering alternative courses of action, & arriving at plans for using resources to resolve problems. Acts as a community & family liaison by initiating & maintaining necessary contact with the patient, his/her family, VA Healthcare System service programs & personnel, human resource agencies, mental health agencies, & other related resource agencies. Coordination/Administrative responsibilities Develops & provides in-service education to raise awareness of the Medical Center staff of the Veterans' perceptions of their Medical Center experience. Offers consultation to colleagues & students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in specialty areas, rendering professional opinions based on experience & expertise & role modeling effective practice skills. Identifies the elements of clinical or administrative practices that contribute to or create an atmosphere for customer dissatisfaction & recommends changes that will reduce or eliminate justified complaints. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation & proper patient check-out procedures as required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. Demonstrates the ability to teach & mentor staff & students in the special area of practice & to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications. Promotes the transformation of the mental health units of care to reflect home-like & person-centered principles by engaging in direct staff training in person-centered interactions with residents. Promotes communication & interactions between interdisciplinary team members, residents, & their families to facilitate the treatment process. Maintains appropriate records & follow-up data on patients who are their responsibility. Establishes & maintains positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers, & stakeholders within the VA & outside community agencies. Collaborates in the performance improvement processes & complies with performance measures as required by the VHA & for the Mental Health Service Line. Participates in activities that obtain feedback from clients & work to enhance services as needed. Completes the continuing education hours needed for maintaining Professional Licensure. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 07:30am to 4 pm Telework: This position is authorized for telework - situational (ad hoc) &has NOT been authorized as virtual or remote. Location negotiable may be discussed during the interview process to meet the Return To Office requirement. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60757-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSprogramsupport@va.gov , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized