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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor-Mental Health Integrated Clinical Community Near Saint Cloud, MN

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/22/2024.

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.
  • Exception. VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure. This exception only applies to the GS-9 grade level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed.
• 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 3.j.

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, GS-9 (Entry Level)

Experience, Education, and Licensure. The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one year of experience (post-master's degree) or for LPMHCs at the master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in paragraph 3.b., and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs in below.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
1. Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.
8. Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.
9. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.

Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-11 (Full Performance Level)

Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs below. LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
1. Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.
2. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.
3. 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.
4. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. 5. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment.
6. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.
7. 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.
8. 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.

All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package.

References: VA Handbook 5005/106 Part II Appendix G43

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to 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.

Responsibilities:

The incumbent is a licensed professional mental health counselor (LPMHC) assigned to the Mental Health Integrated Clinical Community (MH ICC) spending a portion of time providing various evidence-based therapies and assessments specifically acting as a subject matter expert for Veterans experiencing Substance Use Disorders (SUD) related symptomatology. The incumbent will provide individual and group psychotherapy, consultation, and provide other services typically provided by a LPMHC. The incumbent will also serve as a liaison to Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) providers to help enhance community partnerships and increase Veteran engagement with the healthcare system.

The incumbent is responsible for completing the following duties/responsibilities:
a. The incumbent will conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members.
b. The incumbent is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines.
c. The incumbent will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate.
d. The incumbent will provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate.
e. The incumbent will provide consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives and VA benefits.
f. The incumbent will act as a consultant to other team/staff members.
g. The incumbent will act as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties, as needed.
h. The incumbent will provide case management to veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care.
i. The incumbent will provide a full range of clinical services which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate.
j. The incumbent will provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate Patient/family support groups as appropriate.
k. The incumbent will as appropriate, supervise the practice of a less experienced LPMHC.
l. The incumbent will coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans.
m. The incumbent will participate in committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the MH Special Programs Manager.
n. The incumbent will maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with JC, CARF, VA and medical center policy and procedures.
o. The incumbent will assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness and death.
p. The incumbent will document interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care.
q. Incumbent will make rapid assessments and develop crisis management plans. This includes the ability to facilitate written crisis plans, suicide risk assessments, collaborative safety action plans, and assessment of homicidal ideation. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow the protocol to facilitate safe and supportive placement for a Veteran on the acute psychiatric unit consistent with St. Cloud VAHCS, MH ICC, and HCHV policy.
r. Incumbent operates a government vehicle as an essential function of the job and could be required to transport patients in a government vehicle, even one time per year. The incumbent is required to have and maintain a valid state driver's license and to successfully complete any annual physical or education requirements to maintain the driving requirements of the position.
s. Incumbent will coordinate, implement, and report on community development activities on behalf of Veterans experiencing homelessness to the program coordinator, as well as facility, VISN and National Homeless Leadership at the direction of the MH Special Programs Manager. They will engage with.
t. In addition to providing clinical services, the incumbent will have responsibility to design, develop, and implement contingency management programs for specific patient populations.
u. Incumbent will serve engage with SSVF contract and act as a liaison with these services to help with Veteran engagement.
v. The incumbent may be detailed to other areas of need in the MHICC to meet the needs of the health care system, will be determined by the direct supervisor and/or the MH Integrated Care Community Director and typically will not exceed 25% of the total hours per week.


Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact VHAVISN23EDRP@va.gov., the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary