The Wilkes Barre Veterans Health Care System, Mental Health Service Line is currently recruiting for a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor to provide care for our Veterans at the Williamsport Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).

Duties

The LPMHC exercises full professional responsibility to provide effective services to veterans with substance use or mental health disorders. Employs recovery and evidence-based practices. Licensed to independently practice professional counseling and to provide mental health services within the knowledge, theory, and training foundations of professional counseling. At this level, the LPMHC is licensed to independently practice professional counseling and to provide mental health services within the knowledge, theory, and training foundations of professional counseling. They may be assigned to any mental health VHA area, including inpatient, outpatient, and SUD/residential areas, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. They provide a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnose mental health disorders. The LPMHC exercises full professional responsibility to provide effective services to veterans with substance use disorder or mental health disorders. These services include, but are not limited to, individual, group and family psychotherapy, patient health education, referral, aftercare planning, and follow up. The LPMHC employs recovery and evidence-based practices. LPMHC's may be involved in program evaluation or research activities. Clinical Responsibilities: Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Provides evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy Provides consultation to professional staff and to community providers concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients with substance use disorders. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for patients receiving services within designated treatment areas. Provide coverage to other Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) as needed via telework. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. Administrative responsibilities: 1. Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the M/BHS ACOS (or designee), Chief of Psychology (or designee), and facility Director. 2. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes). 3. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. 4. Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. 5. Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team. Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday - Friday 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: United States Citizenship: 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). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to, Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling; and Marriage and Family Therapy. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-101 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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: GS-9 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, (Entry Level) (a) 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 in paragraph 3.b., and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (c) below: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. GS-11 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Full Performance Level) In addition to the basic requirements for Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, candidates must have at least one year of post-master's degree mental health counseling experience; OR In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in mental health counseling, or a related field may be substituted for the required one year of professional mental health counseling experience. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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, Part II, Appendix G-43, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-9 or GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires sitting, bending, stooping and walking consistent with the delivery of services in the office, hospital and community. The position may entail lifting of no more than 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Whenever possible, carts and dollies will be utilized as an alternative to lifting. In carrying out responsibilities, operation of a motor vehicle with a valid driver's license is required. The incumbent must meet the requirements to use a government vehicle in accordance with VHA directive 2008-020. It may be necessary for the incumbent to travel throughout the Altoona VAMC catchment area where he/she conducts interviews with the Veterans, family members, representatives of community health, welfare and law enforcement agencies.

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 Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center 1111 East End Boulevard Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 US
• Name: Shaunella Kennedy
• Phone: 412-822-3562
• Email: [email protected]