The Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) Program Coordinator provides education, training, and outreach within the Orlando VA HCS as well as in the community to promote MST screenings, referrals, and treatment for Veterans impacted by MST. While this position primarily engages in administrative work and outreach activities the MST Coordinator will also provide clinical services to Veterans and their families impacted by MST.

Duties

Responsibilities for this position will include assisting the Facility Director or designees with the development of procedures and process that identify mental health providers and primary care providers who are sufficiently involved in the counseling, care, and services provided to individuals who experienced MST. The MST Program Coordinator will also communicate with the appropriate mental health and primary care service/care line leadership to publicize the importance of compliance with the MST mandatory training requirements. Some of the duties include, but are not limited to; Supporting the implementation of national and VISN-level policies related to MST at the facility and associated CBOCs. Ensuring that MST screening is being conducted properly, and that Veterans who screen positive and are interested in treatment are referred and connected with appropriate services in a timely manner. Coordinating with facility business offices and clinical service/care lines to ensure Veterans are not being charged for MST-related care, and that Veterans eligible for MST care only are able to access the appropriate services. Collaborate with leadership to develop a process for evaluating facility MST-related services to ensure there is adequate capacity to serve the treatment needs of the local MST survivor population and that services are of high quality. Monitor the organizations treatment services to MST survivors to ensure that they are provided in a way that is gender-sensitive. Serving as a point person, source of information, and problem solver for MST-related health care issues at the VAMC and associated CBOCs. Serves as the primary contact for Veterans and other staff members with questions about MST or local MST-related services. Acts as an advocate for Veteran MST survivors in their interactions with relevant VHA clinics and offices. Provides consultation to facility offices on processes and procedures to ensure accurate and efficient implementation of MST policies. As needed, provides consultation on MST-related clinical issues to clinicians within the facility and, when appropriate, at other locations (e.g., for Veterans receiving care at both the medical facility and a local Vet Center) regarding treatment considerations for that provider and their patient. Regularly publicizes information about the role of the MST Coordinator to facility frontline staff, such as telephone operators, to ensure these staff can assist Veterans in reaching the MST Coordinator. Provides training specific to MST screening, including how to complete the MST Clinical Reminder, for relevant service/care lines, such as primary care. Helps develop procedures and processes that identify local mental health providers and primary care providers who must complete MST mandatory training requirements. Communicates with the appropriate mental health and primary care service/care line leadership to publicize the importance of compliance with the MST mandatory training requirements. Creates and advocates for opportunities to provide direct trainings to facility staff at occasions and settings including, but not limited to, clinical service/care line meetings, in-services, CBOCs, new employee orientation, annual trainings to social work and psychology trainees, and Grand Rounds. Directing and engaging in outreach activities within the facility and with community allies. Plans directs, and conducts periodic outreach efforts to Veterans, both within the facility and in partnership with community allies. Makes presentations to VA partners (e.g., local Vet Centers or VBA Regional Office), federal and state government (e.g., local military units), and community groups (e.g., medical schools, universities, Veteran Service Organizations, hospitals) as requested (and with facility Public Affairs Officer approval when needed). Maintains communication with the VISN-level MST Point-of-Contact and other MST Coordinators in the same VISN. Responds promptly to requests for information from members of the national MST Support Team. Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual and group therapies for a full range of behavioral, adjustment and lifestyle problems. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: The primary tour of duty will be M-F 8am to 4:30pm. However, the selectee may also be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis, based on the needs of the service and patient care. Telework: May be available - Ad Hoc (when necessary or needed) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Program Coordinator Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/06/2024. 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. 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. 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. 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). All persons employed in VHA in as LPMHC on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Grade Determinations: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator), GS-12 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-11 grade level. Experience must have been in a major specialty treatment program area such as, but not limited to, Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), mental health intensive case management (MHICM), or other areas of equivalent scope and complexity. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Preferred Experience: Those candidates with knowledge about clinical treatments and resources for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) are highly preferred. In addition, those with strong communication skills and experience with public speaking are also preferred. References: VA Handbook 5005/106, Part II, Appendix G43 Physical Requirements: The position requires performance of work which involves light physical effort, such as that involved in lifting light files, walking, hearing (aid permitted), bending, standing, reaching, operating office equipment such as telephone, copier, fax machine, scanner, etc.

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.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Orlando VA Medical Center 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827 US
• Name: Christopher Cacciapaglia
• Phone: (407) 631-8494
• Email: [email protected]