This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
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: United States 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 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-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. An independent license must be obtained within three years of appointment or 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. The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 3 years for a LPMHC that provides care under the clinical supervision of a licensed LPMHC who is at or above the full performance level. This exception only applies at the entry level (GS-9). For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed. Failure to Obtain License: In all cases, LPMHCs must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed within three years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0183 LPMHC series and may result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, 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: Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up. 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. 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. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions. Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, 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: Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. 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. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in Psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is gs-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) Transitional Care Manager LPMHC's primary responsibilities are providing a full range of direct patient care services (e.g., individual and group psychotherapy, discharge planning, care management, admission screening, crisis management) to Veterans with a range of psychosocial stressors and mental health and substance use disorders. Duties include, but are not limited, to: Provide a range of direct patient care services consistent with area of assignment. Demonstrates the ability to balance quantity and quality requirements, agreed upon priorities are maintained, and caseload is effectively managed, with evidence of acceptable work quality by satisfactory supervisory or peer case review ratings. Engage in psychosocial and diagnostic assessments, establishes therapeutic rapport, administers therapeutic interventions (to include individual and group interventions), and ensures continuity of patient care in the development and implementation of the psychosocial treatment and discharge plans, including expected short and long range outcomes, with clients of all ages. Establishes a proactive, resourceful approach to discharge planning. This includes initiating, coordination, and expediting the successful discharge of Veteran clients. Demonstrates the ability to perform and monitor quality professional psychosocial services for the young, middle age, and geriatric patients. Facilitate the admission process for veterans seeking admission into the MH RRTP (including all programming tracks), specifically participating in the screening process for admission and determining which program best meets the veterans' needs. Incumbent possesses the knowledge and ability to perform transitional case management duties, including coordination of the consults and self-referrals to the MH RRTP and collaboration with the MH RRTP Screening Board, to include MH RRTP screening staff across the VISN and VA. Provide veterans with verbal and written educational materials about the MH RRTP programs as appropriate. Complies with all VA policy and Directives with ensuring completed pre- and post-admission documentation and Veteran education. Maintains and communicates a schedule of MH RRTP admissions and discharges, and tracks requirements and program initiatives and quality monitors as specified by accrediting bodies (e.g., CARF, The Joint Commission), Mental Health Service, VA, and other regulatory bodies. Effectively communicates with and utilizes VA network and community agencies to facilitate treatment, discharge planning, and continuity of care, this includes engaging in referrals to VA and community agencies and government programs as needed. Demonstrates regular contact and collaboration with a variety of VA and community agencies and resources in a manner that enhances coordination of comprehensive patient care, and/or problem resolution. Identifies and addresses clinical risk, to include complying with all suicide prevention policies and directives (e.g., RISK-ID). The LPMHC engages in suicide screening, comprehensive suicide evaluations, safety planning, and engages in referrals and/or warm handoffs to ensure Veteran safety needs are met. Incumbent provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint and has a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnosis, disabilities and treatment procedures. Operate a government motor vehicle to transport patients off-site. Work Schedule: Mon thru Fri 8am-4:30pm or Tues thru Sun 8am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact visn10hredrpslrp@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91907-A and 91908-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized