The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) provides a full range of Mental Health services to the population enrolled in the Substance Use Disorder Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program SUD RRTP Domiciliary at the Hershel "Woody" Williams VAMC. The LPMHC has demonstrated knowledge of specialized SUD interventions and evidence-based treatment modalities.

Duties

Duties are but not limited to: Clinical Responsibilities 85%: Develops an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members and significant others. The goal of the assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths, needs, abilities, preferences and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the veteran's functional status. Demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients including geriatric patients related to their physical limitations, psychological needs and age associated illnesses and conditions. Understands problems of advancing age and respect for the diversification of the aging veteran population, being sensitive to human growth and development, age-appropriate needs and concerns of the Veteran, and be able to provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this veteran population. This assessment will be completed within 7 days of admission. Responsible for developing the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran/family within 7 days of admission. Provide evidence-based treatment modalities. Selects and provides the most appropriate .psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care, including evidence-based care for co-occurring disorder. Administrative Responsibilities 15%: Collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs. The LPMHC is responsible for educating the veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. Responsible for using the current social work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of veterans. The LPMHC will refer the veteran to needed services. Understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran/family. When appropriate and feasible, LPMHC will educate and encourage the veteran/family to advocate on their own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs. LPMHC has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, staff will follow established protocols. Provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Reviews the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each veteran being referred for mental health services. LPMHC will educate the veteran, their families and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the veteran and family on the preferred option. Enters all veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. This information will be entered in a complete, confidential, and professional manner to insure information on the patient is shared with other VA staff. This information will be reviewed on a regular basis. The LPMHC will establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees, volunteers, consumers, and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies. LPMHC will attend all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, Mental Health Social Work Section Meetings, Mental Health staff meetings, and other committees as appropriate) and perform other duties as required. The LPMHC will collaborate in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program. LPMHC will participate in activities that obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services as needed. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact: [email protected], for questions/assistance. Learn more Work Schedule: 08:00 AM-04:30 PM, Rotating Weekends Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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. (1) Experience/Education. The candidate must have 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. (2) Licensure/Certification: Applicants 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: Applicants applying at the GS-12 grade level must have have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior LPMHCs must have five years of post-licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. Examples of specialized experience include: This is the full performance grade level for LPMHCs. At this level they are licensed to independently practice professional counseling and to provide mental health services within the knowledge, theory, and training foundations of professional counseling. LPMHCs may be assigned to any VHA area, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. LPMHCs may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Preferred Experience: In addition to required years of experience in qualification standards, at least 2 years experience providing individual, group, and family therapy to people who suffer from substance use disorders. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Ability to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment. 2. Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling, or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial, and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans. 3. Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs. Ability to design system changes based on data. 4. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients, rendering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills. 5. Ability to teach, mentor staff and trainees, and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications. 6. Ability to engage in written and oral communication with leadership/staff and community stakeholders regarding policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and issues pertaining to the practice of the profession. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/106, PART II APPENDIX G43. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services

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

Contacts

• Address Huntington VA Medical Center 1540 Spring Valley Drive Huntington, WV 25704 US
• Name: Jeremy Williams
• Phone: 858-642-3038
• Email: [email protected]