Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Manager)

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.

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

English Language Proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

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.

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).

Grade Determinations: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Manager), GS-13 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-12 grade level.

The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management.

Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process. Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided.

Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs.

Assignments: LPMHCs manage the daily operations of multiple programs, develop and implement program policies and procedures, or serve as chief or principal counselor to a number of LPHMCs.

They are responsible for oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and monitoring of outcomes. They prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national leadership.

Decisions may affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment.

They may be responsible for the program's budget. They may also supervise employees assigned to the program.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 13.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 13.

Physical Requirements: The Incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the incumbent or others.

May carry and lift items weighing up to 20 pounds. The incumbent must possess a current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary.

Major Duties:

The program supervisor position for three programs including Triage and Rapid Evaluation Clinic (TREC), Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR) program and Suicide Prevention Program.

Suicide Prevention Program consists of three different programs: Suicide Prevention Coordinators (SPC), Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinators (CEPC) and REACH VET Coordinator.

Suicide Prevention staff are located at multiple sites across Montana VA.

The incumbent functions in an active role ensuring the TREC, ICMHR, and Suicide Prevention Programs are operated in compliance with VA directives and guidance, as well as standards of Joint Commission (JC), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

The incumbent is responsible for the administrative and personnel functions of all TREC, ICMHR and Suicide Prevention staff, they can function independently and with minimal direct professional supervision.

The incumbent is also responsible for direct service provision within one or more of the programs served.

The incumbent may supervise multidisciplinary staff including Psychologists, Social Workers and or Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors (LPMHC).

They are also responsible for working with other care lines (nursing, pharmacy, psychiatry) who staff support the programs.

Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to: Administrative responsibilities include but are not limited to: Monitoring and updating operations to ensure compliance with standards; completing all mandatory evaluations and reports; completing strategic planning and program improvements; ensuring compliance with EEO policies and program activities; directly administratively supervising clinical staff of various disciplines within TREC, ICMHR, SP and completing associated activities (e.g., completion of ePerformance, Functional Categories, etc.); maintaining good working relationships with Fort Harrison Medical Center ED, Med/Surge Unit, ICU, and other relevant programs; timely reporting of any significant events through chain of command including writing issue briefs when required; reporting to hospital leadership or committees on programs as needed; ensuring program requirements for TREC, ICMHR, and suicide prevention are met; completion of Human Resource tasks monitor performance metrics and serve on quality improvement workgroups Clinical responsibilities include but are not limited to: providing care within TREC or ICMHR Programs diagnosing mental health and high-risk factors related to suicide and suicide prevention; completion of required suicide prevention activities; exercising the full extent of psychologist core privileges; working with courts for civil commitments and other related civil competencies when indicated; supervising interns and graduate counselors provides clinical oversight of suicide prevention program (Veteran Crisis Line follow-ups, safety plan, placement high risk flags) The incumbent must possess a current Driver's License and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30pm Telework: Available ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 61173-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

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