Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Care Line Manager) - Associate Chief

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

Serves as key facility leader responsible for coordination of clinical operations, workflow, and performance across all BHS programs. Provides direct supervision to ICMHR, ATP, Pain Management Senior Therapist, four BHIP Program Managers, and multidisciplinary staff assigned by the Chief. Provides second-line oversight of additional multidisciplinary teams across sites. Leads resource allocation, staffing coverage, policy development, and operational improvement. Ensures adherence to JCAHO, CARF, OIG, and OMH clinical requirements; oversees RCA, JPSR, OPPE/FPPE, documentation quality. Coordinates VISN-level MH ICC governance activities. Conducts hiring, recruitment, performance evaluation, discipline, labor relations, and staff development. Represents BHS on facility committees including Whole Health PCC; participates in strategic planning and quality governance. Provides diagnostic assessments, psychosocial evaluations, crisis intervention, andevidence-based psychotherapy. Provides clinical consultation to interdisciplinary teams and oversees clinical quality withinsupervised programs. Ensures documentation quality, safety practices, accreditation compliance, and monitoring ofprogram fidelity and clinical outcomes. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm; May be responsible for a tour of duty that includes early morning, evenings and/or weekends and participation in the On-Call rotation schedule to accommodate administrative OR clinical needs during weekends, holidays, evenings, and nights. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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. TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED. 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. 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:GS-14 Experience, Education and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, 11 candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. They must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. Assignments. Typical assignments include serving at a facility as a care line manager or at the VISN/national level. A care line manager is assigned to manage, direct, and oversee complex treatment programs within the medical center. Supervisory responsibilities cover multiple disciplines that may be separated geographically or in multi-division facilities. They have responsibility for staffing, work assignments, budget, ensuring availability and timeliness of clinical services to be provided and admission criteria for the program, day-to-day program operation, and all reporting requirements. Leadership positions at the VISN or national level are characterized by their scope, level of complexity, significant impact on VHA mission, significant importance to the VISN. They direct mental health, behavioral science or other patient care program components at the VISN or national level or direct organizational development at the national level. Duties are exercised with wide latitude, autonomy, and independence. They have delegated authority to determine long range work plans and assure that implementation of the goals and objectives are carried out. They may serve as consultants to other management officials in the field, VISN, or national level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-13 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Advanced knowledge and skill in management/administration of multidisciplinary mental health programs at complex facilities and/or across multiple sites which includes supervision, consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Demonstrated global knowledge of mental health counseling practice to develop, maintain, and oversee programs in all settings. Ability to provide consultation on policy implementation, qualification standards, counseling practice, and competency with medical center director, VISN, or national program managers that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives. Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and mental health practice guidelines in multiple professional areas, and the ability to use these resources to guide the program staff in providing appropriate treatment interventions. Ability to influence high level officials in adoption of, and conformance to, performance measures, monitors, and other policy guidelines. Preferred Experience: Preference will be given to applicants whose leadership background is in clinical behavioral health/mental health programs and settings. Demonstrated experience and competency providing clinical oversight of mental health programs, including monitoring of clinical quality, program fidelity, and use of evidence-based practices. Leadership experience supervising and supporting multidisciplinary mental health clinicians (e.g., psychologists, social workers, LPMHCs, psychiatrists, NPs, PAs and addiction specialists) and directing clinical operations across multiple behavioral health programs and sites. Proven ability to oversee diagnostic assessments, psychotherapy services, crisis intervention practices, and comprehensive behavioral health care delivery within a complex healthcare system. Experience implementing and assuring compliance