Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Program Manager

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) is assigned as a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Program Manager in the Primary Mental Health section of the Mental Health Service (MHS) within the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS). The incumbent provides oversight of BHIP teams to ensure effective and efficient delivery of recovery-oriented mental health services for Veteran patients and their families in accordance with the mission of VA ECHCS.

Qualifications:

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 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

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 (Program Manager), GS-13

• Experience, Education and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:

1. Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management.
2. Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process.
3. Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided.
4. Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs.

Preferred Experience: Experience providing outpatient mental health treatment through BHIP, Mental Health/BHIP supervisory experience, Clinical experience providing evidence based psychotherapy.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor, as the position requires sitting, standing, and walking. The emotional demands can be stressful in working with high-risk for suicide veteran population and their families. A high level of self-awareness is essential. Work is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer

Responsibilities:

• As a BHIP Program Manager, the LPMHC assists in planning, establishing, and implementing policies and procedures, developing individual or group goals and objectives, as well as monitoring, operating, evaluating, coordinating, and overseeing the multidisciplinary staff of their assigned BHIP team(s). Provides program management and oversight of interdisciplinary BHIP team(s).
• Maintains administrative supervisory responsibility of all direct reports and Team Lead responsibility of all other members of their BHIP team(s).
• Oversees the implementation of BHIP services, including ensuring that appropriate processes/procedures are followed, Veteran care needs are addressed, and Veteran complaints are addressed.
• Identifies procedural issues related to BHIP treatment and care coordination and works toward process improvement in coordination with the other BHIP Program Coordinators, Program Managers and the Section Chief.
• Ensures the multidisciplinary staff under their supervision are aware of and adhere to all current directives and handbooks of the Veterans Affairs Administration, meet current applicable Joint Commission standards, state licensure standards, and VA-OIG oversight requirements.
• Oversees and/or ensures that appropriate processes are identified and followed related to BHIP sub-programs, such as psychological testing and groups. Develops and maintains high-quality team functioning and processes while meeting all Environment of Care and programmatic requirements.
• Works closely with the Primary Mental Health Section Chief, Mental Health Service leadership, other Mental Health program leadership, and other services through the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System.
• Fosters a cohesive interdisciplinary team environment. Oversees quality control issues and performance measures in collaboration with the Primary Mental Health Section Chief and throughout VA ECHCS. Assists the Section Chief in overseeing compliance with the successful execution of Mental Health Performance Measures, SAIL, workload, VERA capture, Veteran patient satisfaction, and quality assurance.
• Utilizes the service recovery model with Veteran patients who express dissatisfaction or concerns regarding their mental health care as requested; provides consultation for all mental health clinicians regarding the clinical care of complex cases.
• Provides overarching supervision, including annual performance ratings, for direct report employees, including Psychologists, Social Workers, and Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors (LPMHC).
• Provides Team Lead oversight of all members of the BHIP team(s), including non-direct report staff, such as Psychiatrists, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Clinical Pharmacists, Nurses, and Peer Support Specialists.
• Clearly communicates established guidelines and performance expectations for staff through the formal employee performance management system.
• Develops functional statements and performance standards.
• Observes workers' performance, demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques.
• Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance. Identifies training needs of employees and arranges training as appropriate.
• Works to resolve informal complaints and grievances; develops work improvement plans recommending personnel actions as necessary.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 554-51370-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Salary : $118,675