The Cheyenne VA Health Care System, Mental Health Service Line (MHSL) is recruiting for a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery Case Manager position in Fort Collins, CO.
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g.) 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-0101 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. Exception. VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure. This exception only applies up to the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-9 (Entry Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure. The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one year of experience(post-master's degree) or for LPMHCs at the master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in paragraph 3.b., and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (c) below. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1. Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up. 2. Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices. 3. Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic interventions, and strategies that address high risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the life span. 4. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 5. Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups and families and on the counseling approaches, strategies, and techniques that will best help patients function effectively. 6. Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services, such as Telehealth. 7. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA. 8. Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling. 9. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (c) below. LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1. Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. 2. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. 3. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments, review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation. 4. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. 5. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. 6. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 7. Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. 8. Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. References: VA Handbook 5005/106 Part II Appendix G43The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a range of GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Typically, the employee sits comfortably indoors to do the work. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking; standing; sitting, bending; carrying of light items such as papers, books, small parts; or driving an automobile; etc. Use of fingers, both hands required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16", hearing (aid permitted), clear distinctive speech.
Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf The incumbent functions as an entry level Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) on an integrated interdisciplinary team located at the Cheyenne VA Health Care System (CVAHCS). The incumbent serves a caseload of up to 10 Veterans who experience severe and persistent mental illness, including Schizophrenia and Major Affective disorders, who have frequent or long-term hospitalizations and who live in the community. Duties include but are not limited to: Assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans, identifying their strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Provides recovery-oriented care-planning for assigned Veterans, incorporating the Veteran's goals, preferences, and strengths including interventions for building adaptive and social skills, increased self-care, independent living, employment, crisis resolution, and practical problem solving. Provides frequent and clinically intense individual services in the Veteran's home or community, as warranted by Veteran's clinical needs at a given time. Facilitates psycho-educational, therapeutic, and supportive counseling groups related to the treatment of specific SMI psychiatric disorders. Provides crisis intervention when indicated, including evaluation, assessment, triage, and disposition of patients experiencing behavioral health emergencies. Participates in periodic interdisciplinary review of ongoing treatment of assigned Veterans. Assures timely access to general medical care services for both routine and acute visits; assists Veterans in receiving recommended preventive services; and assists Veterans in accessing and adhering to recommended general medical treatments (within the scope of licensure). Provides education and assistance with Advanced Directives to Veterans who wish to complete them. Assists Veterans with achieving integration into their communities. Assists Veterans with connecting or reconnecting with family members, caregivers, and other natural supports. Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community. Provides subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans, offering professional opinions based on experience, expertise, and role modeling effective clinical and case management practice skills. Establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff, to facilitate understanding of recovery-oriented interventions specific to the Veteran population. Attends Mental Health Service Line and LPMHC Discipline meetings and other mandatory meetings regularly. Travels regularly to provide services in Veteran's homes and in the community, including VA and non-VA locations within the Cheyenne VAHCS catchment area. May conduct or assist in carrying out planned quality management studies or research projects. Is required to maintain current BLS and First Aid certification and remain current on all licensures. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Negotiable Telework: This is not a telework position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 442-52519-A; 442-52520-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized