Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

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.

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

02Education

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.

03Licensure

Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-01 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. 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).

04Grade Determinations

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

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 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.

05Preferred Experience

Skilled in: Patient Engagement, Crisis response, interdisciplinary collaboration, recovery oriented, adaptable. Data-informed clinical decision making. Knowledge of community and VA resources. 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-12.

06Physical Requirements

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to: Collaborate with assigned BHIP team through interdisciplinary consultation to ensure veteran needs are met and support optimum clinical care. Provides care coordination (including care management and case management) to Veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care. Communicates within and across care lines to facilitate continuity of care for Veterans; and additional support for veterans between visits.

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.

Provides a full range of services within commonly accepted standards of practice and prioritizes care coordination activities as the primary job function [e.g., needs assessment, chart reviews, care or case management (as needed), discharge planning, outreach, etc.] and other services as appropriate. Complete care coordination needs assessments and recovery biopsychosocial assessments to determine needs, preferences and generalized care plan.

Discuss measurement-based care and SMART goals with Veterans, how they are used and administer tools as appropriate. Independently formulate and implement treatment plans that include measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Discharges (FLOW) Veterans from care when they have reached their identified goals, integrating internal and external support resources for the Veteran.

Monitor ongoing treatment for adherence, medication side effects, and clinical outcomes. Conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate. Educate veterans and staff about BHIP model, to include other initiatives that occur within (MBC, MHTC and FLOW). Participate in treatment and discharge planning with the Veteran and BHIP team.

Provide Veterans and family members with education regarding their mental health care, treatment plan, self-management resources and psychoeducation to support healthcare adherence and relapse prevention. Advocates on behalf of the Veterans, when needed, to ensure delivery of comprehensive, seamless MH service. Links the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities, to maximize recovery, independence, health, and well-being.

Provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to clinical mental and behavioral health. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday, subject to change based on needs of facility Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 01095F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized