Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Dayton, OH, United States
Summary
The incumbent is assigned as a Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor in the Integrative Medicine (IM)/Pain Clinic specializing in Mental and Behavioral Health Integration (MBHI). The incumbent will work at the interface between IM and mental health care in an integrated care model. The position is assigned to the Mental Health Service and requires extensive work with Veterans diagnosed with chronic pain - other medical conditions - and mental illness.
Qualifications
Basic requirements for employment as a LPMHC are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C.
7402(b)(11)
To qualify for appointment as a LPMHC all applicants must: Citizenship
Be a citizen of the United States
(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3.g.)
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 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 Grade Determinations: 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 the KSAs below: 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
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
Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs
Ability to design system changes based on data
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
Ability to teach - mentor staff and trainees - and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications
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/
Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed in an office setting in the IM located at the Dayton VA Medical Center
Work is mostly sedentary
however - the incumbent must follow appropriate safety procedures as there will be some periods of walking and may involve light lifting - turning - or moving hands - arms - feet - and legs to operate hand and foot controls
The position requires the use of office equipment such as computers - keyboards - telephones - fax machines - and photocopy machines
Visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity are required
The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
May be exposed to infected patients and/or contaminated materials and will be required to take appropriate safety and protective measures.
Duties
The incumbent functions as a treatment advocate and guide - consultant - counselor and educator while providing integrated outpatient health care
These responsibilities include monitoring patients - providing education and support - influencing adherence to guidelines by providing "on-time - on-target" information to IM providers - and collaboratively making appropriate care decisions
Duties: Conducts brief functional assessments (20-30 minutes) - including routine standardized measures - triage decisions - and same-day warm handoffs
Provides short-term - evidence-based - problem-focused behavioral interventions using flexible - intermittent contact strategies
Collaborates with veterans/families and the interdisciplinary team to develop treatment goals - ensure safety (risk assessments - safety plans) - and determine appropriate levels of care
Coordinates referrals to specialty mental health and community-based services - and maintains follow-up through calls - letters - and ongoing monitoring Responsible for furthering own professional growth through education - appropriate to area of assignment - and providing coverage for other clinical staff - as appropriate within the MHS
Adheres to - supports - and contributes to the development of operational policies and procedures of the IM clinic - MBHI - MHS and the Medical Center
Executes ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program - which is reported to the Integrated Care Program Manager
Serves on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility - VISN - and/or VA Central Office levels - especially in an effort to improve local chronic pain programing and outcomes
Keeps supervisor appraised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility
Participates in appropriate service/facility meetings and LPMHC meetings
Shares knowledge and experiences gained from own clinical practice and education relevant to the field of counseling
Complies with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program and safety policies and procedures
The incumbent performs other duties as assigned
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Not Authorized
Remote/Virtual: Not a remote position
Functional Statement #: 93966
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The incumbent is assigned as a Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor in the Integrative Medicine (IM)/Pain Clinic specializing in Mental and Behavioral Health Integration (MBHI). The incumbent will work at the interface between IM and mental health care in an integrated care model. The position is assigned to the Mental Health Service and requires extensive work with Veterans diagnosed with chronic pain - other medical conditions - and mental illness.
Qualifications
Basic requirements for employment as a LPMHC are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C.
7402(b)(11)
To qualify for appointment as a LPMHC all applicants must: Citizenship
Be a citizen of the United States
(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3.g.)
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 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 Grade Determinations: 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 the KSAs below: 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
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
Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs
Ability to design system changes based on data
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
Ability to teach - mentor staff and trainees - and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications
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/
Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed in an office setting in the IM located at the Dayton VA Medical Center
Work is mostly sedentary
however - the incumbent must follow appropriate safety procedures as there will be some periods of walking and may involve light lifting - turning - or moving hands - arms - feet - and legs to operate hand and foot controls
The position requires the use of office equipment such as computers - keyboards - telephones - fax machines - and photocopy machines
Visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity are required
The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
May be exposed to infected patients and/or contaminated materials and will be required to take appropriate safety and protective measures.
Duties
The incumbent functions as a treatment advocate and guide - consultant - counselor and educator while providing integrated outpatient health care
These responsibilities include monitoring patients - providing education and support - influencing adherence to guidelines by providing "on-time - on-target" information to IM providers - and collaboratively making appropriate care decisions
Duties: Conducts brief functional assessments (20-30 minutes) - including routine standardized measures - triage decisions - and same-day warm handoffs
Provides short-term - evidence-based - problem-focused behavioral interventions using flexible - intermittent contact strategies
Collaborates with veterans/families and the interdisciplinary team to develop treatment goals - ensure safety (risk assessments - safety plans) - and determine appropriate levels of care
Coordinates referrals to specialty mental health and community-based services - and maintains follow-up through calls - letters - and ongoing monitoring Responsible for furthering own professional growth through education - appropriate to area of assignment - and providing coverage for other clinical staff - as appropriate within the MHS
Adheres to - supports - and contributes to the development of operational policies and procedures of the IM clinic - MBHI - MHS and the Medical Center
Executes ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program - which is reported to the Integrated Care Program Manager
Serves on committees - work groups - and task forces at the facility - VISN - and/or VA Central Office levels - especially in an effort to improve local chronic pain programing and outcomes
Keeps supervisor appraised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility
Participates in appropriate service/facility meetings and LPMHC meetings
Shares knowledge and experiences gained from own clinical practice and education relevant to the field of counseling
Complies with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program and safety policies and procedures
The incumbent performs other duties as assigned
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Not Authorized
Remote/Virtual: Not a remote position
Functional Statement #: 93966
#J-18808-Ljbffr