Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Care Coordinator)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Chesapeake, VA seeks a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) to deliver clinical services, including psychosocial assessments and individual, couples, and group therapy.

You will work within MHBS Service lines, collaborating with an interdisciplinary team to coordinate care for Veterans across clinics and CBOCs. A valid license and CACREP-aligned education are required.

Qualifications

• Experience engaging in intake, assessment, and diagnosis to inform treatment planning.
• Ability to develop and implement treatment plans with the interdisciplinary team.
• Competence in crisis intervention and risk assessment within a VA setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual, couples, and group counseling as part of MHBS services.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and develop multidisciplinary treatment plans.
• Coordinate care with VA programs and community resources as needed.
• Maintain clinical documentation and participate in quality improvement activities.

Skills

Intake & assessment

Diagnosis & treatment planning

Crisis intervention

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Master's or Doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or CACREP-accredited program

Job description

Summary

This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) - Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC) - under the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service Line (MHBS) - North Battlefield VA Clinic. This position is aligned with the BHIP/Outpatient Services.

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
• 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
• 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-0101 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
• Exception
• VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure
• This exception only applies up to the full performance level
• The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 3 years for a LPMHC that provides care under the clinical supervision of a licensed LPMHC who is at or above the full performance level
• This exception only applies at the entry level (GS-9)
• For grade levels at or above the full performance level - the candidate must be licensed
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - GS-9 (Entry Level) Experience - Education - and Licensure
• The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one year of experience (post-master's degree) or for LPMHCs at the master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level
• Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed above and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the basic requirements - the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1
• Ability to engage in intake and assessment - problem identification - diagnosis - treatment planning and implementation - continuum of care - evaluation and follow-up
• 2
• Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices
• 3
• Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive - affective - behavioral or systemic interventions - and strategies that address high risk behaviors - wellness - personal growth - and career development across the life span
• 4
• Ability to use a wide variety of individual - group - or family counseling interventions
• 5
• Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal - interpersonal - and relational functioning of individuals - groups and families and on the counseling approaches - strategies - and techniques that will best help patients function effectively
• 6
• Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents - data management - maintaining accurate - timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services - such as Telehealth
• 7
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA
• 8
• Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes - case laws - ethical codes - and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling
• 9
• Ability to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing - with people from varied backgrounds
• Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Experience - Education - and Licensure
• In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (c) below
• LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee
• Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs
• Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level - the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1
• Ability to make professional evaluations - decisions - and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation
• 2
• Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship
• 3
• Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas - build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments - review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation
• 4
• Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress
• Requires independent judgment and skill
• 5
• Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills - including evidenced-based practices - screening - and psychosocial assessment
• 6
• Ability to use a wide variety of individual - group - or familial counseling interventions
• demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills
• 7
• Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices
• 8
• Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills - family support - and community integration
• This may include 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-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary
• It may require some lifting (10-20 lbs.) occasionally
• Some tasks requiring standing - bending - stooping - kneeling - climbing stairs - and lifting up to 25 lbs
• The duties may be performed primarily in a well-lit and temperature controlled office environment.

Duties

• The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor provides clinical psychosocial assessments - individual therapy - couples and family therapy - group therapy - and/or may also provide substance use disorder specific services
• Provision of clinical services may also extend to the Virginia Beach CBOC - Chesapeake CBOC - Portsmouth CBOC - Albemarle APOC - and additional CBOC locations
• Duties include but are not limited to: Independently performs case finding functions and outreach - identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs
• Possesses the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities - provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals - families - and groups
• Independently conducts psychosocial assessments
• Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team if applicable
• Incumbent possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions
• Coordinates community-based services - including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs and community agency programs
• Independently identifies high-risk patients and provides crisis intervention services - seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint - coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members
• Provides support for those Veterans on the High Risk for Suicide list
• Has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology
• Develops patient education materials/modules and assists with Veteran Peer and Family activities as assigned
• Independently provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan
• Ability to evaluate own practice through professional peer review - case conferences and other organizational means
• Able to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing - with people from varied backgrounds
• Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions
• Consistently communicates and treats customers (veterans - their representatives - visitors - and all VA staff) in a courteous - tactful - and respectful manner
• Provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures
• Possesses working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing - data management and other computer systems - especially those programs in use by VHA
• Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team - assigned program and/clinic - and the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service
• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Program Manager - Service Chief - Chief of Staff - and/or Medical Center Director
• Remains actively involved in MH&BS LPMHC training - education - and administrative activities as indicated
• Actively participates in and assumes responsibilities associated with committee assignments to include Performance Improvement - Peer Review - and Performance Measures
• Assists as requested - with staff education and training on assigned topics
• GS-9 Assignments
• Individuals assigned as GS-9 LPMHCs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised - including co-signatures where required - as they are not functioning at the full performance level
• They are typically assigned to VHA areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience
• Since they are not practicing at an independent level - they should not be assigned to areas where independent practice is required - such as in a CBOC - unless there is a licensed LPMHC in the area who can provide supervision for practice
• Under supervision - LPMHCs at this level provide professional mental health counseling services
• GS-11 Assignments
• This is the full performance grade level for LPMHCs
• At this level they are licensed to independently practice professional counseling and to provide mental health services within the knowledge - theory - and training foundations of professional counseling
• LPMHCs may be assigned to any VHA area - consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate
• LPMHCs may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities
• Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm (Monday thru Friday) Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.