This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

**Applicants are able to select their location of interest - max of 2 choices. Available choices are: Tampa Main Campus, Brookville, New Port Richey, Riverview, Lakeland, Lecanto and Zephyrhills. Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors (LPMHC) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provide a full range of evaluation and psychotherapeutic clinical service to Veterans with challenging and complex psychiatric and substance abuse problems, family members and caregivers, including evaluations and screenings, individual and group therapy, evidenced-based therapies, psychoeducation, case management, treatment planning, consultation, crisis management and administrative duties as assigned. LPMHCs provide professional counseling and mental health services using knowledge, theory, and training foundations in professional counseling. LPMHCs may be assigned to any VHA program area, may consult with peers and supervisors, and may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. These requirements apply to all VHA LPMHCs in the GS-0183 series, including those assigned to VA Medical Centers and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Additional duties include but not limited to: Provides a full range of evaluation services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients with MH&BSS, many of whom also have co-occurring disorders. Adheres to operational policies and procedures established by the VA, supervisors and program for the treatment team. Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures and workload entry, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes). Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by supervisors and program treatment team, the Mental Health and Behavioral Services ACOS (or designee), Assistant Chief of MH&BSS (or designee), Section Chiefs of MH&BSS, and facility Director. Assists the MH&BSS Program Lead in the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers. Assists the MH&BSS Leadership in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program in the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences clinic. Provides clinical supervision to assigned Mental Health Counseling trainees and peer specialists. Involved in Mental Health Counseling Training Program and Training Committees. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staff of units to which assigned. Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the MH&BSS characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. Works collaboratively and cooperatively with an interdisciplinary treatment team to provide services to Veterans with co-occurring disorders. Provides case management and support to Veterans with co-occurring disorders. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for Veterans with co-occurring disorders-patients receiving services within the Tampa (James A. Haley) VA Healthcare System. Provides consultation to professional staff within Tampa (James A. Haley) VA Healthcare System and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients with co-occurring disorders. Provides evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00pm Telework: Available - per manager / department policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor EDRP Authorized: If you have any questions or concerns once selected for offer, please contact the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at [email protected] Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the requirements by the closing date 11/20/2023 of this announcement. 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 OR Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling OR 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. 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 meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-11 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselorcandidates must have the following: 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. AND Licensure: At this grade level, 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. While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all the KSAs below on their resume and during their interview process. If selected, you may be required to submit narrative responses then. These are the KSA's for this position and grade level: 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. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/106, Part II, Appendix G43, Qualification Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Standard. The Full Performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary and may frequently involve numerous hours working at a computer workstation and on the telephone conducting interviews and providing follow-up care. Some flexibility in work hours is required including early evening/morning appointments and possible Saturday hours as clinical care expands to meet these demands.

Education

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.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application. You will be rated ineligible without this document.

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 James A Haley Veterans Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33612 US
• Name: Ashley Beaver
• Phone: (814) 943-8164
• Email: [email protected]