Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor- Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Program

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

Duties of this position are, but not limited to: Provides specialized individual, group and family evidence-based psychotherapy for co-occurring Substance Use and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders. Services are provided within OSATP including at the Coralville VA Mental Health Clinic, Clinical Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and Community Resource and Referral Centers )CRRCs). Incumbent is a subject matter expert in treating SUD/PTSD co-occurring disorders and provides consultation to staff within and outside of the OSATP and the Mental Health Service Line. Provides training and consultation to staff and trainees on evidence-based psychotherapies available for SUD/PTSD and demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff and students in the complex specialty area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications. Incumbent provides additional training and consultation for staff/trainees in other evidence-based therapies for SUD and co-occurring disorders. Collects, analyzes and monitors data outcomes to determine treatment efficacy for programs within OSATP. Incumbent oversees implementation and analysis of measurement-based care within OSATP and focuses on implementation, process improvements and program development based on data and program needs. Performs specialized treatment of highly complex physical or mental illness in group, individual and family therapy. Incorporates 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. Incumbent has a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with veterans in the mental health clinic and/or their families. Able to independently work with veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems.Incumbent must independently complete thorough biopsychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of veterans and/or their families. The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment in facilitating the veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable. Documents the ASAM patient placement criteria in order to determine appropriate level of substance abuse treatment for the client. Must possess knowledge and ability to independently implement a variety of treatment modalities. Administers psychological instruments including but not limited to Audit/DAST and Brief Addiction Monitor, BDI-II, BAI, PCL in order to measure progress and effectiveness of treatment as well as monitor and improve treatment based on the individual client's current needs. Able to administer Breath Alcohol tests and Urine Drug Screen testing based on requirements of the program the Veteran is participating in (Example: Matrix Intensive Outpatient Program). Possesses skills to provide case management services and provides case management to clients with high intensity needs. Provides crisis counseling to veterans and their families who present with acute problems and needs including suicidal or homicidal ideations. Incumbent is able to screen for such crises and implement appropriate protocol and treatment. Completes clinical documentation according to OSATP and medical center standards. Documentation is clinically appropriate and thorough and demonstrates the components of treatment considered the standard of care. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. 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. Assignments. Senior LPMHCs provide treatment to patients with complex needs including multiple mental health diagnoses, and numerous psychosocial issues, using independent judgment. LPMHCs at this level provide clinical consultation to less experienced staff which may include coordinating crisis situations. Senior LPMHCs will provide clinical supervision to LPMHC staff and/or LPMHC trainees, and may serve as the subject matter expert for the discipline. Senior LPMHCs develop behavioral health related training curriculum and often conduct trainings for clinical staff. LPMHCs model ethical and professional behaviors and standards to include multicultural awareness. Senior LPMHCs meet routinely with inter- professional team members