Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor- Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center

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. 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.

03Licensure

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).

04Grade Determinations

In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. 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 degreemental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must belicensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs insubparagraph (c) below. LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinicalpractice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do notlicense an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensedLPMHCs.

Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirementsfor providing clinical supervision. Assignments. This is the full performance grade level for LPMHCs. At this levelthey are licensed to independently practice professional counseling and to providemental health services within the knowledge, theory, and training foundations ofprofessional counseling. LPMHCs may be assigned to any VHA area, consultingwith peers and supervisors as appropriate.

LPMHCs may be involved in programevaluation and/or research activities. 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 family counseling interventions.

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.

05Preferred Experience

Those applicants with experience working in a PRRC program or providing group therapy and case management to individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness. 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.

06Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

A recruitment/relocation incentive may be offered to highly qualified candidate(s). The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) is assigned to the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC). The PRRC provides contemporary psychiatric programs and services, training and education, collaboration, and advocacy, with system-wide impact.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Reviews all data, subjective and objective, to make a clinical assessment of the Veteran, their family, economic, community, and psychosocial support systems.

Clinical interview skills will be used to gather and document data that analyzes and interprets relevant strengths and needs directly related to patient health, care planning, treatment, education, internal/external supports and case management needs in order to identify viable treatment options and support the Veterans' discharge planning goals. Based on the psychosocial assessment, uses professional judgment and independent practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis.

Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the Veteran. Performs insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness and substance use. Makes professional decisions and recommendations for treatment. Treatment is aimed at helping Veterans find practical solutions to their psychosocial problems which may include substance use, psychiatric diagnosis, or other various concerns.

Assessments will reflect a skillful and comprehensive view of the Veteran's current state of functioning and support, as well as high risk factors, acuity, and need for services. This includes Suicide Risk Assessment as appropriate. Consults with other specialists in planning treatment for Veterans and with co-morbidities, and those who may be treated in other specialized programs.

Provides psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture.

Actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team which includes working with the Veteran/family in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team members to develop and implement a recovery plan. This also includes participation in interventions with the team as needed. Employs counseling methods and techniques to maintain a therapeutic relationship that will help the veteran work toward the best way of dealing with his/her problems.

Exercises professional control over the therapeutic relationship so the patient may constructively express feelings yet retains maximum use of his/her capacities for responsible self-direction. Provides Veterans and their families with supportive counseling. Has knowledge in the Recovery Model, the principles of holistic health, and the role of trauma in crisis and mental health exacerbation during brief counseling interventions.

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor demonstrates the ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Provides clinical services to Veterans and family members/significant others in support of the Veteran's treatment. Gives guidance, emotional support, and other assistance.

Throughout the course of treatment in PRRC, the Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor will make referrals to provide consultation/education to Veterans and families on community resources, advance directives and VA benefits. Documents independently in the electronic medical record using appropriate content, formats, and templates.

Documentation includes but is not limited to admission assessments, treatment plans, case management, group notes, discharge notes, hand-off notes, treatment plan updates, and suicide risk assessments. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am to 4:30pm Telework: Available, Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized - As determined by Facility/Agency Functional Statement #: 82752F 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