Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor-Healthcare for Homeless-Substance Use Disorder

Full Job Description

The Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Specialist is assigned to the St. Cloud VA Health Care System.

Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors (LPMHC) provide case management, resource linkage, clinical and crisis interventions to Veterans and their families in resolving the psychosocial, emotional, and economic problems associated with the stresses of illness.

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.

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Education - Master's or doctoral degree in one of the following: 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 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (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.

Grandfather Provision: 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: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade.

The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

GS-11 LPMHC (Full Performance Level) Requirements: In addition to meeting the basic requirements and the GS-9 KSAs, 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: GS-09 LPMHC 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.

GS-11 LPMHC Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Qualification Standard Preferred Experience: Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Experience The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position.

Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Major Duties:

CLINICIAL FUNCTIONS: A. Conducting behavioral health and mental health biopsychosocial assessments. B.

Making sound professional judgments regarding clinical impressions, treatment approaches, and treatment planning. C.

Coordinating with internal and external professionals to ensure appropriate transitions of care and appropriate/ necessary treatment is provided/offered to Veterans. D.

Establishing and maintaining knowledge of VA and Veteran's benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies.

E. Providing advocacy to overcome potential barriers to access care/services and when it is in the best interests of the Veteran. F.

Provides goals of care discussions, as well as education and assist in the completion of Advance Directives; Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation release of information forms; and Guardianship documentation.

G. Assesses for signs and symptoms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. H.

Conducts practice in accordance with the VA and discipline specific ethical requirements and practices within the limits of current licensure or certification. I.

Completing on-call duties, as assigned and per policy, which may include transportation of a Veteran. ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS A.

Possesses and demonstrates ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds. B.

Possesses skills in using computer systems and the internet for Veterans who choose this modality to communicate. C.

Serves on supervisor approved committees, work groups, and task forces at the local facility, VISN or national level. D. Attends and participates in all required administrative and clinical meetings.

E. Maintains accurate, timely, and complete clinical records in accordance with professional practice and VA administration guidelines. F.

Maintains data and statistical compilations to comply with accreditation bodies such as CARF and Joint Commission, and VA health care systems policies and procedures. G.

Participates in Professional Practice Evaluation processes as applicable. H.

Performs other duties as assigned and can, at times, assist other incumbents or perform special assignments to meet the needs of the healthcare system. ROLE-SPECIFIC TASKS A.

Provides direct SUD services for Veterans engaged in homeless programs of the Health Care System and rural regions of the catchment area, including Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Alexandria, Brainerd, and Montevideo.

B. Provides outreach services in the community and rural regions of the catchment area, including Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Alexandria, Brainerd, and Montevideo. C.

Develops comprehensive treatment plans with the Veteran that address the factors that contributed to homelessness, including SUD and other co-occurring factors within a recovery model framework. D.

Works with the Veteran to realize the Veteran's treatment goals and reassesses and revises goals as indicated by the Veteran's engagement in treatment. E.

Organizes and conducts individual and group case management and SUD treatment, to include early interventions and supportive follow-up to ensure stability in home visits and facility-based contacts. F.

Provides SUD support to the homeless programs team as a functional member of this team, to include consultation, interventions, or accompanying other case managers on home visits, when indicated. G.

Serves as a member of a multidisciplinary homeless program treatment team. H.

Develops partnerships with community agencies, especially those serving homeless and SUD Veterans, with regular contact and communication. I.

Provides liaison services with other programs referring to Veterans homeless programs services to ensure continuity of care and promote successful transition of Veterans from one program to another. J.

Participates in policy making, goal setting, and treatment service planning discussions with other members of the homeless programs team. K.

Collects statistical data and for reviewing the data to improve performance and delivery of services to homeless Veterans. L.

Provides recovery-oriented treatment with the goal of establishing the Veteran independently in the community at the Veteran's highest level of functioning and quality of life. M.

Provides oversite services to Veterans provided by HCHV Contract Residential Program, including facilitating quarterly and annual reviews of program operation, as well as coordinating services for Veterans engaged in the program.

N. Provides clinical case management and crisis intervention services to Veterans with complex SUD histories that are engaged in the HUD-VASH program.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized