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

This position is located within the Mental Health Special Services Division in Primary Care at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. The duties and responsibilities are carried out at in various Primary Care locations and may have a virtual component to care. The LPMHC is assigned in settings where they have limited access to supervision such as CBOC and also may work as the sole mental health provider in Primary Care providing weekend hours and later day appointments to accommodate Veteran care needs. He/she has responsibility for expanding clinical programming and supporting a stepped care model approach. Duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Assists the PCMHI Program Manager in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program. Supports training to PC teams to support clinical care needs and meeting national directives. Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes). Actively participates in leadership roles on local, state and national professional organizations. Represents the medical center at professional/program community group/events and committees. As directed by supervisor, may represent the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees. Develops, implements, and documents treatment goals and interventions, including prompt completion of clinical reminders. Maintains and employs current knowledge of published research findings that are relevant to PCMHI. Screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of depressive and anxiety-related disorders, substance use disorders, as well as other mental health conditions via warm handoff, with an emphasis on the application of PCMHI time-limited, evidence-based, Whole Health approaches. Provides same day access to care. Evaluates and addresses urgent high risk Veterans and determines appropriate level of care. Provides consultation to interdisciplinary team in the management of psychiatric emergencies including those at risk of harm to self/others. Provides clinical interventions independently and in various VA and community settings. Allows for flexibility to provide services after hours and on weekends. Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with Veterans and their loved ones through engagement, rapport building, instilling hope, and offering support. Utilizes advanced clinical training, insight, and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options. Utilizes advanced clinical skills and training to provide interventions to Veterans considered a high risk population and their loved ones. Maintains current knowledge of VA and community resources and provides the Veteran and their loved one with referrals to services as needed. Works collaboratively with other programs and disciplines to promote continuity of care while providing treatment interventions in conjunction with other services the Veteran may be receiving. Assesses and provides treatments for subclinical symptoms of dysphoria and anxiety, adjustment difficulties, & use or misuse of alcohol or other drugs (for which the Veteran may have a lower than normal tolerance due to their medical conditions and the potential for negative interactions with prescribed medication). Provides psychoeducational and supportive interventions to the families/caregivers of Veterans being served by PCMHI, when such care is directly related to the overall treatment plan for the Veteran and will allow better care for the Veteran. Provides consultation services virtual/in person to primary care providers and other PACT staff to maximize the effectiveness of their interventions in reducing health-risk behaviors and enhancing health-promotion. Promotes Whole Health approach to care supporting positive health and well- being activities. Monitors behaviors and progress toward goals with a significant emphasis on a prevention-oriented model of care. Provides individual/group interventions to support strategies to address physical health and well-being concerns and coping with feelings of grief and loss associated with disability and other life transitions. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Ad Hoc, at Supervisors discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 92705-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a LPMHC are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. §7402(b)(11). To qualify for appointment as a LPMHC all applicants must: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g.).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). 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-0101 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. Loss of Licensure. Once licensed, LPMHCs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS0101 LPMHC occupation and may result in termination of employment Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-12 Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must 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. Assignments. Senior LPMHCs provide treatment to patients with complex needs including multiple mental health diagnoses, and numerous psychosocial issues, using independent judgment. LPMHCs at this level provide clinical consultation to less experienced staff which may include coordinating crisis situations. Senior LPMHCs will provide clinical supervision to LPMHC staff and/or LPMHC trainees, and may serve as the subject matter expert for the discipline. Senior LPMHCs develop behavioral health related training curriculum and often conduct trainings for clinical staff. LPMHCs model ethical and professional behaviors and standards to include multicultural awareness. Senior LPMHCs meet routinely with inter professional team members and leadership to communicate about program and patient issues for in depth problem solving. Senior LPMHCs collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and frequently serve as a liaison. This assignment is to be relatively few in number based on the size of the facility/service and applying sound position management. This assignment must represent substantial additional responsibility over and above that required at the full performance grade level and cannot be used as the full performance level of this occupation. 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: In depth knowledge of the program coordinated, and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to make key decisions in the hiring and identification of top candidates. Ability to provide leadership in facilitating the process of coordinating program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments and discharges. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to other colleagues and trainees within the field of counseling working on an interdisciplinary team. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/106 PART II APPENDIX G43 Preferred Experience: PC-MHI Competency Certification or Integrated Health experience preferred. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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.

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 Cincinnati VA Medical Center 3200 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45220 US
• Name: Rhonda McCubbin
• Email: rhonda.mccubbin@va.gov