Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator) - EDRP Eligible, Remote

Full Job Description

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.

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.

English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Grade Determinations: Experience, Education, and Licensure.

In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

Experience must have been in a major specialty treatment program area such as, but not limited to, Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), mental health intensive case management (MHICM), or other areas of equivalent scope and complexity.

Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency and includes: Professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.

Defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.

Provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas.

Provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress.

Establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment.

Use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions.

Utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices.

Develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence-based psychotherapy.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: In depth knowledge of the program coordinated, and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and or practice guidelines for the program.

Ability to make key decisions in the hiring and identification of top candidates.

Ability to provide leadership in facilitating the process of coordinating program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments and discharges.

Ability to provide subject matter consultation to other colleagues and trainees within the field of counseling working on an interdisciplinary team.

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).

Preferred Experience: Minimum of 3 years experience working with a complex and wide range of psychosocial issues related to the practice of mental health care.

Senior LPMHCs model professional behaviors and uphold high ethical standards. Experience conducting meetings and possess strong communication skills in writing and orally.

Possesses organizational skills, in-depth knowledge of VA policies and procedures and the practice of LPMHCs in the state of Texas. Advanced consultation experience on patient care.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. Major Duties:

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator) is assigned to the Mental Health Service Line of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System and reports directly to the Section Chief, Suicide Prevention Programs.

The position is located at Balcones Height VA Clinic. Maintains a list of patients determined to be currently high-risk for suicide and monitors their care to assure needed services are being received.

As appropriate, consults/collaborates with providers regarding their delivery of care to high-risk veterans. Provides education and facilitates best practice.

Will provide direct patient care for same purpose.

Provides training to clinical and non-clinical staff throughout STVHCS community regarding risk factors, warning signs, treatment options, and resources.

Promotes the use of evidence-based interventions and strategies for suicide prevention.

Responds timely to referrals from the Veteran Crisis Line to include making contact with veterans callers to engage them in treatment; reports back to the Crisis Line about the results of interventions.

Collaborates with providers to support completion of SBORs, Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluations, and consults for consideration of activation of high-risk flag as appropriate.

Incumbent completes SBORs, Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluations, and consults for consideration of activation of high-risk flag as appropriate.

Ensures implementation of Category 1 Flags per Central office Directives. Acts as liaison and trainer to community organizations and veterans organizations.

Assuring that all veterans on the facility tracking list are being followed closely by the appropriate provider on a regular basis as determined by the Tracking any no-show appointments by these patients and following up with the patient as soon as possible to reschedule the appointment.

Maintaining awareness of suicide treatment options and making recommendations to the patient's provider when new options become available.

Obtaining any relevant HIPM clearances to allow transmittal of facility data on suicide attempts and individuals at risk to other offices for research, analysis, and quality assurance purposes; and transmitting the data following cyber security requirements as applicable for this sensitive data.

Provides suicide prevention training to Veterans, staff and community members.

Compiles data, completes required Local, VISN and National reports, develops plans to facilitate meeting required performance measures (SAIL, Director's Performance etc.).

Works across service-lines to facilitate compliance with VHA directives and initiatives related to Suicide Prevention. coordinator and provider. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Telework: This position is remote work eligible and is exempted from return to office requirements.

Remote exempted positions are reviewed semi-annually (every 180 days/6 months) and do not imply permanent remote work status. The selected applicant may be recalled to the office at any time.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54104-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized