The incumbent performs specialized treatment of complex physical and mental illness for Veterans in the Behavioral Health clinical settings at Lebanon or its Community Based Outpatient Clinics, or within the Primary Care, Emergency Department, PCMHI, Outpatient Clinics (i.e. BHIP Team) settings, etc. Services are primarily provided in the outpatient and specialty clinics at Lebanon VA Medical Center community clinics.

Duties

Position Title: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm The LMHC functional responsibilities include: helping patients and families cope with the crisis of illness; maximize social and interpersonal functioning of patients; promoting vocational and social rehabilitation; providing education to patients and interdisciplinary team members of the psychosocial impact of illness and disease progression; and conducting behavioral health assessments, making DSM diagnoses, creating behavioral health treatment plans, and offering psychotherapeutic services. The LPC is assigned to work within an interdisciplinary team to provide these services ensuring Veterans timely access to mental health and psychosocial services. The LMHC will: -Conduct psychosocial assessments and making psychosocial DSM-5 diagnoses -Develop psychosocial treatment plans with attention to age specific and populations specific needs/concerns -Monitor treatment plans to include tracking process in the care delivered, the outcomes achieved, and the goals attained -Provide psychosocial and evidence-based interventions and counseling for individuals, groups and families -Utilize standardized instruments in the assessment of mental health conditions -Provide evidence-based individual and group counseling and/or psychotherapy -Provide marital and family counseling -Develop information and referral resources and services. -Develop community linkages and coordinating the clinical application of community services -Provide admission and discharge planning services -Provide care management and coordination services -Document in computerized medical records -Adhere to patients' rights and patient advocacy responsibilities -Provide psychosocial crisis intervention services -Provide patient and family education services -Provide mental health care in all LVAMC and its VA Clinical settings including ED, PCMHI, Primary Care, Inpatient, Outpatient, Residential, etc. -Screen for and providing treatment services for substance abuse, tobacco use, depression, PTSD, and suicidal ideation and risk factors -Adhere to HIPAA and privacy regulations and VHA Directives related to release of information -Provide specific complementary and integrative health practices in which specialized training has been received. Specific tasks may include: triage, evaluation and assessment, treatment planning, discharge planning, and coordination of care for patients, functioning as the Primary Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for respective Veterans; providing individual and group psychotherapy; consultation with other program areas and staff as appropriate; psycho-diagnostic testing and psychological assessment; conducting follow-up with Veterans following discharge. Telework: May be available with proof of virtual work. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

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: The basic requirements for employment as a LPMHC are prescribed by statute in 38 USC 7402(b)(11). Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States.(Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.) 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). 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. English Language Proficiency: LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 USC Chapters 73 and 74. 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. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs listed below. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the basic requirements, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up; 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; 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; Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills; 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; 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; Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA; Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling; 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 listed 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 (KSAs). In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. 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. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/16, Part II, Appendix G43 (VHA Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor) dated April 3, 2018. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The candidate selected for this position may be selected for either GS-9 or GS-11.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 South Lincoln Avenue Lebanon, PA 17042 US
• Name: Uldah Albert
• Phone: (401) 541-0584
• Email: [email protected]