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 (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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. NOTE: It is VHA policy that a LPMHC who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record. English Language Proficiency: LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). All persons employed in VHA in as LPMHC on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Grade Determinations: Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, 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. Preferred Experience: Those candidates with the following are highly preferred. Well versed with the MHRRTP admissions and MHRRTP policies. At least two years of specialized experience in residential care. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary (1-2 hours) in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings. Use of fingers may be required to operate computers. There may be occasional light lifting/carrying (15 pounds or less) requirements to relocate boxed materials from one area to another, equipment and room set-up, and ambulation related to physical inspections of the facilities clear speech, hearing, and emotional stability) and environmental factors.
The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) will be assigned to the Orlando VA Medical Center's Mental Health Residential Treatment Program (MHRRTP) service Veterans with complex substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health diagnoses, and/or complex psychosocial issues related to homelessness. This role requires knowledge of screening, assessment, diagnosis, evidence-based treatment recommendations, and systems of care for Veterans with mental health diagnoses, as well as psychosocial determinants of mental health needs and homelessness. The selected will need to be knowledgeable and experienced in National MHRRTP policies and requirements associated with Suicide Prevention and functions independently during weekends to provide services related to admissions, Psychosocial Assessments, crisis intervention, and weekend psychotherapy groups using Evidence-Based Practices (EBP). Some of the duties include, but are not limited to; Meets routinely with inter-professional team members and leadership to communicate about program and patient issues for in depth problem solving. Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders and frequently serves as a liaison. Provides expert consultation and guidance to colleagues, expands clinical knowledge in the profession. Has knowledge of, and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness. Expert skills in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs. Provides 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 incorporate complex multiple causations 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. Teaches or provides orientation to less experienced LPMHCs, develops innovations in practice interventions, and provides clinical supervision to LPMHC staff and/or LPMHC trainees. 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. Experience in providing specialized MH RRTP treatment and successfully obtained VA certificates, or equivalent training and consultation. Has advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Engages 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. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: The primary tour of duty will include either a Saturday or Sunday, work schedule will be 8am to 4:30pm. The selectee may also be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis, based on the needs of the service and patient care. (Will include weekends with either Fri-Sat off, or Sun-Mon off) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - MHRRTP GS-12, 82634F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact (VISN8CCOE@va.gov), the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.