Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized

Summary

This Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) will be assigned to a Behavioral Health program within the Behavioral Health Service (BHS) at the West Texas Veterans Affairs Health Care System (WTXVAHCS). The incumbent will provide face-to-face and/or telemental health (e.g., VA Video Connect, CVT) services to Veterans across WTXVAHCS sites of care.

Duties

The LPMHC is responsible for providing comprehensive, evidence-based mental health care and therapeutic services to veterans and their families. Duties include conducting behavior health assessments and developing treatment plans, as well as providing consultation to Behavioral Health Service Providers to determine eligibility and appropriate levels of care for veterans requiring services. The incumbent delivers direct therapy to individuals, families, couples, and groups, ensuring that treatment is tailored to the unique needs of the veteran population. Additionally, the LPMHC collaborates closely with other Behavioral Health Service programs to facilitate seamless transitions to appropriate care services for veterans. In the outpatient setting, the LPMHC is tasked with providing crisis intervention as needed. The incumbent must hold a master's degree accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and possess a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, including diagnosis and treatment. The LPMHC: Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families, independently working with those experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems. Completes intake assessments independently to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families, utilizing these assessments to facilitate the Veteran's maximum use of treatment and attainment of the highest level of independence possible. Actively participates as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team, collaborating with Veterans, families, and team members in the development and implementation of treatment plans. Possesses a basic working knowledge and experience in behavioral health and substance use diagnoses and treatment procedures. Facilitates discharge planning in collaboration with Veterans, their families, and interdisciplinary team members to ensure timely execution of appropriate discharge plans. Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of services. Independently implements treatment modalities, providing counseling and/or supportive groups for Veterans and families. Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA benefits, specialty programs, and advance directives, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, government programs, and community programs. Provides consultation to other treatment team members and staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and/or their families and the impact of identified psychosocial problems on their healthcare planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning. Provides case management services to Veterans and their families throughout the continuum of care, utilizing principles of human growth and development over the lifespan to assist Veterans in coping with the loss and grief experiences from disability and terminal illness. Demonstrates effective communication skills, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Supports the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility. Serves on committees and work groups at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor. Furthers professional growth through continuing education, ensuring continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment. Provides assistances with the orientation and learning of less experienced Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors and serve as a preceptor for Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor students when appropriate. Demonstrates knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management, as well as other computer systems in use by the VHA. Duties are continued in Benefits Section. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Recruitment Incentives. Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time, part time[,] or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service Relocation Incentives. Relocation incentives may be authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksite[s] and physically relocate to a different geographic area when the approving official determines that without the incentive, it would be difficult to fill the position with a high-quality candidate. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Education - Master's or doctoral degree in one of the following: 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 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling. Licensure - Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. NOTE: Applicants pending the completion of the licensure requirement may be selected (GS-09 only) and given up to a three-year temporary appointment. 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). Grandfather Provision: An LPMHC employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (4/3/2018) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-11) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting the full qualification requirements. Grade Determinations: GS-11 LPMHC (Full Performance Level) Requirements: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11 you must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) that demonstrates the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Ability to engage in intake and asses