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 applications.

Duties

The LPMHC is assigned to the Mental Health Service Line, Psychology Service of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System and reports directly to the Section Chief, Suicide Prevention Programs. The LPMHC has specialized knowledge and expertise in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of general mental health disorders/conditions. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as content matter resource for community-based suicide prevention and facilitates integration of suicide prevention throughout the community. The Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is responsible for providing strategic guidance directed toward improving the quality of mental health care for over one and a half million Veterans nation-wide. The Suicide Prevention Program (SPP) is focused upon the full implementation of VA's National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide (2018) and the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (VA/DoD) Clinical Practice Guideline for Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide. The Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator (CEPC) is responsible for community capacity development for suicide prevention by serving in a leadership role in communicating with and organizing community partners and coalitions to implement suicide prevention programs aimed at reducing Veteran suicide at the community, state, and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) levels. Serve as a season communicator and content matter expert for suicide prevention and public health and facilitates integration of suicide prevention education throughout the community by developing and organizing community partners and coalitions aimed at reducing Veteran suicide at the state and Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) level. Serve as subject matter expert (SME) in communication, with a specific focus on suicide prevention. The CEPC promotes a public health approach to suicide prevention. Perform duties and functions as a primary point of contact for the dissemination of information related to VHA's efforts to prevent Veteran suicide to internal and external stakeholders including VISN and VAMC staff, federal, state and community agencies as well as the public. The position is delegated responsibility and authority to oversee the overall communication lead for the initiative, and will facilitate planning, direction, and timely execution of policy, training, education, research and evaluation, and/or data and surveillance projects/programs pertaining to the prevention of Veteran Suicide. Oversees the revision of long-range plans, goals and objectives for suicide prevention communication directed towards the support of coalition building. Knowledge of and the ability to regularly review resources for federal, state, county, city and local requests for proposals to assist/advise community partners in the application and administration process to further community suicide prevention efforts. Ability to independently organize work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines. Oral and written communication skills sufficient to convey complex information on suicide prevention activities, to provide, discuss, and advise top level management, individuals outside of VA, congressional staff, and the general public on suicide prevention issues and gain their support. Strong customer service skills and ability to provide exceptional professional service to field staff, as well as represent the VA Suicide Prevention Program internally within VA field, as well as to external partners in public and private sectors. Provide administrative, technical, professional and managerial support to the above elements regarding interpretation and implementation of policies, directives and national program monitoring and review. Perform analytical and evaluative work associated with program activities and develop new and creative ways to resolve problems or cope with issues which directly affect the accomplishment of principal program goals and objectives. Develop, analyze, evaluate, advise on or improve the effectiveness of work methods and procedures, organizations, manpower utilization, distribution of work assignments, delegations of authority, management controls, information and documentation systems and similar management functions. Location: Balcones Heights OPC, San Antonio TX. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 07:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: Must be proficient in written and spoken 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; 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. 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. 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 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. Assignments. The LPMHC Program Coordinators are administratively responsible for a clinical program and provide treatment to patients in a major specialty. They manage the daily operations of the program, develop policies and procedures, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They may supervise unlicensed graduate LPMHCs and may administratively manage any employees assigned to their program. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: a. In depth knowledge of the program coordinated, and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and or practice guidelines for the program. b. Ability to make key decisions in the hiring and identification of top candidates. c. Ability to provide leadership in facilitating the process of coordinating program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments and discharges. d. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to other colleagues and trainees within the field of counseling working on an interdisciplinary team. Preferred Experience: Experience in analyzing and interpreting a wide variety of issues and policies in order to ensure program goals and objectives are met. Experience in prioritizing, problem solving, and monitoring processes so that efficiency, accuracy and VA compliances are maintained. Effectively communicate VHA's mission, progress, activities and outcomes towards ending Veteran suicide to both internal and external stakeholders to develop local community coalitions for suicide prevention. Subject matter expert in community suicide prevention programs. 2-5 years of experience in counseling mental health patients. References: VA Handbook 5005/106 Part II Appendix G43, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Qualification Standard GS-0183. This position is above the full performance level. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Light lifting/carrying 15 pounds,use of fingers, both hands required, hearing (aid may be permitted), ability to perform privileges, ability to independently perform physical exam as appropriate to position, emotional and mental stability, and mostly sitting with some walking.

Education

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

Accreditation Information: The master's or doctoral degree must be fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Verification of accreditation may be made 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.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the CACREP website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

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 Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]