Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (PCMHI)

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. 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 3 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. 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).

An LPMHC employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (4/3/2018) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-11) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting the full qualification requirements.

Grade Determinations: GS-11 LPMHC (Full Performance Level) Requirements: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11 you must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) that demonstrates the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up.

Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices.

Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic interventions, and strategies that address high risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the life span.

Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions.

Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups and families and on the counseling approaches, strategies, and techniques that will best help patients function effectively.

Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services, such as Telehealth.

Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.

Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.

Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.

Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.

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.

Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill.

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

Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions.

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.

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.

Preferred Experience: Prior supervisory experience Experience with Adult treatment in an outpatient clinic Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. Physical Requirements: LPMHC/PMHC services are largely conducted at the facility. The work is generally sedentary.

Simple grasping and fine manipulation is required when using a keyboard to access a computer.

The employee may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations at VA facility.

Employee will use equipment and supplies appropriately and maintain a safe, orderly work area. Demonstrates infection control practices for disease prevention (i.e.

hand washing, universal precautions/isolation procedures, etc.) as required.

The employee may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

The employee must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Major Duties:

The incumbent is assigned to Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) section within MH/BS.

The incumbent is member of MH/BS and embedded into Primary Care (PC) clinics providing the full range of psychological services to Veterans referred by the clinic staff members including brief assessment, diagnosis and (where appropriate) referral for specialized psychiatric services; brief individual, family or couples counseling, time-limited psychotherapy or psychoeducational groups and consultation for the PC team in the clinical management of their patients.

Major duties and responsibilities include: PCMHI CCC Clinical Practice Management: Collaborates with PCPs and the interdisciplinary PACT to support high quality, effective, and coordinated service delivery at the patient and programmatic levels.

Maintains daily open access slots and encourages same day warm handoffs within PACT.

Uses Measurement Based Care in accordance with nationally recommended guidelines for PCMHI Conducts initial functional assessments that are focused on the main reason(s) for referral.

Refers Veterans with more severe or complex needs to the appropriate general or specialty mental health program.

Provides time-limited, brief, evidence-based, individual or group interventions for a broad range of mental health and health behavior concerns within the primary care setting.

Ensures quality of care by successfully completing the national VA PCMHI Competency Training Program and associated ongoing education modules.

Documentation Skills: Writes clear, concise notes that are optimized for collaboration within PACT based on the PCMHI CCC functional assessment and follow-up visit guidelines Notes document important elements for team collaboration as appropriate.

Notes are completed same day or within 24 hours.

Consultation and Interdisciplinary Team-Based Skills: Engages in PACT huddles and meetings to cultivate collaborative team functioning and serve as a subject matter expert for behavioral health considerations Provides education to PACT on mental health and health behavior issues, as well as tips to promote effective patient communication, motivational enhancement, and behavior change Accepts and encourages same day warm handoffs.

Routinely provides feedback to PCP and other PACT members same day as referral.

Works collaboratively with other team members in PCMHI to ensure high quality, effective, Veteran-centered services at the patient and programmatic levels Administration: Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces, as endorsed by supervisors.

Participates in Licensed Mental Health Counselor privileging, educational and peer review activities, in accord with MH&BS and medical center policies.

Supports administrative initiatives and performance improvement activities. Completes required clinical and administrative documentation in a timely manner and in accordance with governing regulations.

Academic/Teaching/Training: Provides staff and student didactic training and consultation as requested in content areas of scholarly and/or clinical expertise.

May provide consultation or training for allied health providers in accord with facility and regulatory standards regarding such training.

Research/ Program Evaluation: May participate in program evaluation and/or research activities Clinical Responsibilities at the GS 11 level: Ability to diagnose mental disorders.

Ability to treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders.

Provides a full range of diagnostic services and uses the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care.

Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including, evidenced based psychotherapies. May be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities.

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

Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

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