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

Duties

Assesses & document behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Assesses the psychosocial functioning & needs of the Veteran's, collaboratively working with their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills & psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with MCR interdisciplinary team. Uses known available resources & the initial assessment of the Veteran's likelihood to accept differing types of assistance, makes initial & continuing decisions regarding use of VA & non-VA services & referrals. Implements clinically indicated & evidenced based treatment to assist Veteran with achieving identified goals. The incumbent will utilize clinical judgement, psychotherapeutic skill, advanced problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques. Provides case management & care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services & incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis & treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial & psychiatric diagnosis within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, develop discharge plans & set achievable discharge goals with consideration of the Veteran's self-determination & personalized recovery goals. Coordinates post-discharge services including VA services & community-based services. Attends interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, updating treatment & discharge plans as appropriate. Establishes & maintains effective working relationships & communicates with Veterans, staff, & other parties as appropriate. Acts as an advocate with appropriate VA & community service providers/agencies. Maintains a current & productive network of referral resources. Makes referrals to other services in the VA, as well as to other agencies, community resources (as appropriate & in accordance with current national policy & guidance), & other Governmental agencies. Utilizes knowledge of community resources, makes referrals to the community & other government agencies as appropriate, & coordinates services. Receives & complete requests for services (consults) from interdisciplinary team members & other internal/external sources. Links the Veteran with services, resources, & opportunities, to maximize the Veteran's independence, health, & well-being. Conducts biopsychosocial assessments, exercising strong cultural competence & matching treatment interventions to individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, & other diversified backgrounds. Provides professional, independent social work services to Veterans who are experiencing issues related to Alcohol/Substance Use Disorders & who are experiencing a wide range of complex medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, & psychosocial problems. Utilizes knowledge of medical & mental health diagnoses, disabilities, & treatment procedures to formulate a treatment plan. Utilizes crisis intervention techniques with Veterans who are in an acute crisis & knows/implements the Suicide Prevention & Management of Suicidal Behavior policy. Conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, & initiate safety plan as appropriate. Implements different treatment modalities in working with Veterans, families, & groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, & social problems to achieve treatment goals. Maintains a current & productive network of referral resources. Makes referrals to other services in the VA, as well as to other agencies, community resources, & other Governmental agencies. Receives & complete requests for services (consults) from interdisciplinary team members & other internal/external sources. Works collaboratively with the Veteran, taking into consideration the Veteran's self-determination, when presenting VA & community-based referral options for the Veteran's needs/goals. Provides consultation, education, & advocacy. Advocates with appropriate VA & community service providers/agencies on behalf of the Veteran. Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team & admissions team. Collaborates with Veterans, family, & interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development & implementation of a resident centered treatment plan. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible:May be available. Telework: Available on an ad-hoc basis. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60242-O / 60243-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Requirements

Qualifications

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT & will remain open until March 31, 2025 or until position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be December 17, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred & 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. English Language Proficiency. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken & 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; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling & Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling & 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, & 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, & unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis & treatment. Grade Determinations: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-9 (Entry Level) Experience, Education, & Licensure. None beyond the basic requirement. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Ability to engage in intake & assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning & implementation, continuum of care, evaluation & follow-up. Knowledge of current Diagnostic & Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals & 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, & strategies that address high risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, & career development across the life span. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity & possesses multicultural counseling skills. Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, & relational functioning of individuals, groups & families & on the counseling approaches, strategies, & 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 & thorough clinical documentation & delivery of services, such as Telehealth. Ability to learn & utilize software programs in use by VHA. Knowledge & understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, & regulations affecting professional practice of counseling. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally & in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Experience, Education, & 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) & must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level. LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs). In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, & recommendation for treatment planning & implementation. Advanced knowledge & mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems & maintaining an effective counseling relationship. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues & trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings & discussions to explain assignments, review progress of cases & confer about the counseling perspectives & orientation. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention & stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment & skill. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, & psychosocial assessment. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity & possesses multicultural counseling skills. Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses & formulation of treatment goals & application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. Ability to develop & facilitate psychotherapy & psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, & community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy. Preferred Experience: VA experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor, as the position requires sitting, standing, & walking. A high level of self­awareness is essential. Work, divided between office & clinical settings, is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, & manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer. Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, & carrying supplies. Must be able to perform primarily light & sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, & control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health & safety of the LPMHC or others. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, & involves sitting at a computer & in counsel & consultation with Veterans & interdisciplinary teams. Position may require minimal travel, through use of a government vehicle or other individual arrangements, to meet with representatives/stakeholders who aid & support to Veterans in clinics, medical centers, Community Clinics, Vet Centers, etc. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing & analyzing data & figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; & repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, &/or fingers.

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 VA Western Colorado Health Care System 2121 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]