What are the responsibilities and job description for the Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor- Primary Care Mental Health Integration position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) will provide evidence-based - brief - population-based interventions to the population enrolled in the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and served by the Primary Care Mental Health Integration Team (PCMHI).
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) will provide evidence-based - brief - population-based interventions to the population enrolled in the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and served by the Primary Care Mental Health Integration Team (PCMHI).
Qualifications
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
- LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3.j
- 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
- NOTE: It is VHA policy that a LPMHC who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
- Grade Determinations
- In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
- Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - GS-12 Experience - Education - and Licensure
- In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
- Senior LPMHCs must have five years of post-licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs
- Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
- In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level - the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1
- Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness
- Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients - including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
- Ability to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment
- 2
- Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs
- This includes individual - group - and/or family counseling - or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial - and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans
- 3
- Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs
- Ability to design system changes based on data
- 4
- Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients - rendering professional opinions based on experience - expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills
- 5
- Ability to teach - mentor staff and trainees - and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications
- 6
- Ability to engage in written and oral communication with leadership/staff and community stakeholders regarding policies - procedures - practice guidelines - and issues pertaining to the practice of the profession
- Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
- Preferred Experience
- Experience in providing brief therapeutic interventions - experience in working in a primary care setting - experience in health psychology/behavioral medicine Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
- May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - pulling and pushing
- May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
- Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
- the area is adequately lighted - heated and ventilated
- However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
- The LPMHC will demonstrate effectiveness in assessing for problems or concerns unique to patient population status as military veterans while independently - or in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - family members - and significant others - arriving at a reasoned diagnosis of patient problems and needs
- The goal of the assessment is to highlight the veteran's strengths - limitations - and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the veteran's functional status
- The incumbent demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients - including geriatric patients - related to their physical limitations - psychological needs - and age-associated illnesses and conditions
- The incumbent must have an understanding of the problems of advancing age and respect for the diversification of the aging veteran population - being sensitive to human growth and development - age-appropriate needs and concerns of the geriatric veteran - and be able to provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this veteran population
- Duties include but not limited to: The PCMHI LPMHC uses population-based practice management strategies and maintains competences in the following core domains
- PC-MHI Clinical Practice: Conduct functional assessments - based on 30-minute appointments and will triage/refer to specialty care services as appropriate
- Applies principals of population-based care (defines role and identifies problems rapidly)
- Majority of all appointments are less than 30 minutes
- Uses brief assessments routinely (e.g. - PHQ-9 - PCL - AUDIT C - etc.)
- Initial consultation appointments are based on functional assessments and treatment focuses on functional outcomes
- Maintains daily open access slots
- Next available \"scheduled\" appointment is within two weeks
- Provide brief mental health and behavioral interventions (e.g. - 1-5 sessions for broad range of concerns)
- Documentation skills Writes clear concise notes - generally 1⁄2-1 page long - with explicit impression - recommendations and plan for PCP use Notes document curbside consultation results
- Notes are completed within 24 hours
- Consultation Skills Routinely Consults with PCPs and other PACT team members about plan of care for patients
- Conducts effective curbside consultations
- Integrates within primary care team and works closely in collaboration with PACT team - Attends PACT meetings and daily huddles
- Routinely provides feedback (verbal and/or written) to PCP and other PACT members same day as referral
- Uses warm-hand off strategy
- Provides education to PACT on BH issues as well as consultation on tips for successful care management and patient facilitation - even when no direct patient contact
- Administration Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System - VISN - and/or National VA committees or task forces - as endorsed by supervisors
- Participates in LPMHC privileging - educational and peer review activities - in accord with LPMHC and medical center policies
- Participates as a non-voting member of the medical staff - in accord with medical staff by-laws
- Participates in support OBVAMC and LPMHC administrative and performance improvement activities - e.g. - by taking on assigned projects and serving on committees
- Completes required clinician and administrative documentation in a timely manner and in accord with governing regulations
- Academic/Teaching/Training Supervises psychology practicum students in accord with training program policies and accrediting agency requirements
- Provides staff and student didactic training and consultation as requested in content areas of scholarly and/or clinical expertise
- May supervise or train 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
- Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm - Monday - Friday - subject to change based upon the needs of the facility
- Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: 1001-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
- Contact robert.knudsen@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
- Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Salary : $89,508 - $116,362