Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Full Job Description

The Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Coordinator (IPVAP-C) is a Program Coordinator whose primary responsibilities are to provide clinical evidence-based services including, assessments and interventions; program development; Veteran, family, Caregiver and staff education on intimate partner violence; community outreach; resource development; continuous quality improvement activities; and evaluation/consultation.

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 degree in mental health 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; and Marriage and Family Therapy.

A doctoral degree in mental health counseling may not be substituted for the master's degree in mental health counseling. Licensure.

Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-101 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment.

(1) Exception. Non-licensed LPMHCs who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate LPMHC under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B).

The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a LPMHC that provides care under the supervision of a licensed LPMHC 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. (2) Failure to Obtain License.

In all cases, LPMHCs must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment.

At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the unlicensed LPMHC with the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired, and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline.

Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-101 LPMHC series and may result in termination of employment. (3) Loss of Licensure.

Once licensed, LPMHCs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment.

Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS-101 LPMHC occupation and may result in termination of employment. 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 3j.

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 Qualifications: Minimum 2 years of experience in addiction specific program.

Grade Determinations: Experience, Education, and Licensure.

In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11).

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-Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to meeting the KSAs for GS-11 level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: GS-12 1.

In depth knowledge of the program coordinated, and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and or practice guidelines for the program. 2.

Ability to make key decisions in the hiring and identification of top candidates. 3.

Ability to provide leadership in facilitating the process of coordinating program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments and discharges. 4.

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

References: VA Handbook 5005/42, Part II, Appendix G43 Physical Requirements: Light Lifting (under 15 lbs); Light carrying (under 15 lbs); Straight pulling (1hr); Walking (2hr); Standing (2hr); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Hearing aid permitted.

Environmental Factors: Working closely with others; Working alone. Major Duties:

The Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Coordinator develops and implements the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program specific to his/her area of assignment and ensures compliance and collaboration with local facility and the VA Central Office Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program initiatives.

The incumbent administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to Veterans, families, Caregivers and VA employees impacted by intimate partner violence.

The incumbent participates in direct Veteran, family, Caregiver, and VA employee contacts to identify and assess risk, safety, supports and the development and application of directed clinical treatment interventions.

The incumbent conducts Veteran, family, Caregiver and VA employee interventions to facilitate the identification of intimate partner violence, psychiatric illness, emotional distress and social needs as treatment issues.

The incumbent provides referrals to VA medical and mental health treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits, as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs.

If appropriate, the incumbent provides referrals or consults.

The incumbent serves as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes Veterans, their families, Caregivers and VA employees encounter when interacting with government and community agencies.

As an Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Coordinator, the incumbent stays abreast of current federal and state legislation directed at Veterans, their family members, caregiver and/or VA employees who experience and/or use IPV.

The incumbent will collaborate with the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), Mental Health and Specialty Care clinicians to provide Veteran and staff education on intimate partner violence.

Coordination will include hands-on training of staff in a trauma informed approach to screening, prevention and intervention services for those who have experienced, used or are at risk for intimate partner violence.

The incumbent will develop a library of IPV assistance information material for distribution through the various inpatient/outpatient and specialty clinic settings.

Educational material must be specific to the age group serviced in the clinic, i.e.

Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson disease in the general and geriatric settings and PTSD and TBI information in the general, OEF/OIF/OND, post-deployment and Polytrauma Center settings.

The incumbent serves as a liaison between the VA and community agencies.

Participates in IPV assistance activities in the local community and state to promote and recognize the role of individuals who use and/or experience IPV.

I The incumbent provides referrals to VA medical and mental health treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits, as well as community-based social services and other non-VA entitlement programs.

If appropriate, the incumbent provides referrals or consults, or in some cases direct admission of a Veteran to other VA programs including but not limited to the Domiciliary, Inpatient psychiatric treatment, Inpatient Substance Use Treatment Program Community Residential Care Program.

The incumbent serves as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes Veterans, their families, Caregivers and VA employees encounter when interacting with government and community agencies.

As an Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Coordinator, the incumbent stays abreast of current federal and state legislation directed at Veterans, their family members, caregiver and/or VA employees who experience and/or use IPV.

T The incumbent will collaborate with the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), Mental Health and Specialty Care clinicians to provide Veteran and staff education on intimate partner violence.

The incumbent will develop a library of IPV assistance information material for distribution through the various inpatient/outpatient and specialty clinic settings.

Educational material must be specific to the age group serviced in the clinic, i.e. The incumbent serves as a liaison between the VA and community agencies.

Participates in IPV assistance activities in the local community and state to promote and recognize the role of individuals who use and/or experience IPV.

Invites state and community IPV related agencies to participate in the local VA IPV Assistance Advisory Board.

The incumbent performs a wide range of services and provides technical assistance to state, local, and private agencies, and universities.

Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday - excluding Federal Holidays Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required