Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor -Program Manager (BHIP)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Memphis, TN is hiring a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor. This role requires a master’s or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a valid counseling license. The Counselor will manage mental health resources, implement policies, and oversee the quality of care. Responsibilities include developing objectives and providing clinical services. This position is available for full-time telework with a standard schedule of Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen with proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor.

Responsibilities

• Develop short and long-range goals and implement policies for mental health services.
• Manage and supervise program resources including staff and funds.
• Provide clinical consultation on complex or difficult cases.

Skills

Advanced practice skills and judgment

English language proficiency

Diagnosis and treatment

Education

Master’s or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

Job description

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.

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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education Requirement: You must have a master’s or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, or both. The program must be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include Addiction Counseling, Community Counseling, Gerontology Counseling, Marital/Couple-and-Family Counseling.
• 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: Candidates 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.
• Loss of Licensure: Once licensed, LPMHCs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling – which includes diagnosis and treatment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS-0101 LPMHC occupation and may result in termination of employment.
• 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: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Manager) GS‑13 Experience – Education and Licensure.
• In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS‑12 grade level demonstrating possession of advanced practice skills and judgment.
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard – please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Responsibilities

• Develop short and long‑range goals and objectives consistent with the health care system strategic plans – develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure provision of high‑quality, cost‑effective mental health services and manage administrative and programmatic resources.
• Develop clear and comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures for programs assigned to the mental health supervisor – ensuring staff follow the procedures and all relevant VA directives and guidelines.
• Ensure initiation and completion of Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE) reviews for employees assigned to the incumbent's areas of responsibility.
• Effectively manage and supervise program resources including staff, funds, space and equipment utilized in the development and direction of the mental health services – consultations, research, and training provided to the Veterans and staff of the medical center.
• Responsible for approval/disapproval of leave and various Human Resources actions – setting employee performance standards and evaluating work performance.
• Establish procedures for reviewing written materials and interviewing candidates for vacant positions and making selections.
• Administer corrective actions within the delegated authority; hear and resolve employee complaints/grievances.
• Provide or arrange for needed training – dealing effectively with matters pertaining to the labor‑management agreement; inform employees about policies, procedures, and practices of management as they relate to programs.
• Provide all services in scope of practice – including assessment, diagnosis, individual/group therapy, crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment/safety planning, consultation for other professional staff – and assume professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.
• Ensure all clinical activities – including documentation – comply with VA and medical center policies and procedures.
• Provide clinical consultation on complex or difficult cases – using advanced practice skills and expertise.
• Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities: advanced practice skills and judgment, make judgments and decisions associated with program management, monitor program outcomes using data‑driven quality assurance process, develop productivity standards, manage a wide range of programs including the operation and management of key clinical – training or administrative programs.

Work Schedule

Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. Telework: ADHOC Virtual – This is not a virtual position.

EDRP and Recruitment Incentives

Functional Statement #: 51093‑F. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact

[e-mail] – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.