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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Near Billings, MT

Qualifications:

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

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-0101 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 up to the full performance 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.

Grade Determinations: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 subparagraph (c) 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.

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 in subparagraph (c) 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/106 Part II Appendix G43The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a range of GS-9 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Traveling throughout the state is required. The incumbent must possess a current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties. Traveling throughout the medical center and community is required, as is performing activities involving
sitting, walking, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files. In carrying out responsibilities it will be necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the Veterans, their families, representatives of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies. The incumbent must possess current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties.

Responsibilities:

• Incumbent provides outreach services to Veterans who are homeless with the goal of reducing homelessness for those who are the most vulnerable and currently not receiving VA services.
• Incumbent is oftentimes the first VA employee to be in contact with Veterans experiencing homelessness and therefore serves as the entry point for VA and community services.
• The incumbent verifies veteran status, eligibility for VA medical care, and eligibility of program participation.
• Incumbent provides a wide variety of case management activities including screening of referrals, assessment of needs, coordinating and facilitating care, linking Veterans to available services and providing resource referral to VA and non-VA community services. Whenever possible, incumbent provides a warm handoff to VA and non-VA community resources.
• The incumbent works with VA Health Care System multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to strive for developing more effective and efficient ways of delivering healthcare services to homeless veterans.
• The incumbent is responsible for collecting and submitting participant data as outlined by HOMES evaluation procedures.
• Incumbent assists with CES admissions, treatment planning and discharge meetings.
• Incumbent completes a comprehensive psychosocial evaluation of all Veterans at entry into CES.
• Incumbent is responsible for ensuring timely responses to statewide homeless consults in CPRS and National Homeless Veteran Hotline Calls according to required standards.
• Incumbent ensures that all interactions with Veterans and assessments are documented according to facility policies and procedures in the medical record (CPRS) and the HOMES database.
• The incumbent actively participates in the HCHV and NCCHV Program conference calls and attends training as approved by supervisor.
• Incumbent assists the Coordinator in providing administrative, technical and clinical guidance for the CES facilities and assists the facilities in accomplishing the requirements of the contract.
• The incumbent assists the Coordinator with implementation of monthly billing protocols according to contract specifications and fiscal management protocols.
• The incumbent assists in reviewing facility invoices, vouchers and census tracking to ensure accurate billing for services.
• Incumbent provides subject matter consultation to colleagues, students and community providers on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in the specialty area, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise.
• Incumbent models effective social work practice skills and mentors staff and students in the specialty area of practice.
• The incumbent participates in local and regional Homeless Coalitions, Continuums of Care, Coordinated
• Entry Systems and represents Homeless programs and the VAMC.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00-4:30
Telework: AD- HOC
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 436B-51067-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS):Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary