Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Summary The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) Suicide Prevention Case Manager serves to facilitate implementation of suicide prevention strategies at a local level through education, monitoring, and coordination activities.

The primary responsibilities of the Suicide Prevention Case Manager are to provide care coordination and case management services for veterans who have been deemed to be at high risk for self-harm.

Responsibilities The Suicide Prevention Case Manager works independently but collaboratively with the Suicide Prevention Coordinator to coordinate administrative, patient, and personnel activities for this program.

The Incumbent demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment in their work with this specialized population.

Responsibilities also may include providing education to all front line and clinical staff regarding risk factors and protective factors for suicide, educating clinical staff regarding safety planning with their patients, and networking with community partners.

Some of the duties include, but are not limited to; Independently responds to consults from the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and coordinates the follow up care for these veterans and families.

Documentation and coordination includes utilizing the SPAN Data Base as well as other national data bases which track Veterans involved with the Suicide Prevention Program.

Works with community resources such as VSO's and other community groups to assure that they are aware of how to recognize Veterans at risk for suicide and their options for getting these Veterans assistance.

Develops and implements an ongoing education plan for providers, veterans, families, and members of the community on risk factors and warning signs for suicide, and treatment options.

Independently provides ongoing case management for veterans who have been deemed to be at high risk for self-harm and who are not assigned to a specialty mental health team.

May complete psychosocial assessment with diagnosis, develops treatment plan, and collaborates with other providers involved with the veterans care.

Works collaboratively with clinical staff on local BHIP Teams to address care coordination and case management of Veterans who are rated as high risk for suicide.

Frequently tracks Veterans who have been identified as high risk and assists in the coordination and scheduling of mandatory follow up appointments.

Conducts outreach activities and work with community-based and VA programs to provide education regarding suicide prevention.

Provides referrals to VA medical and mental health treatment and to other VA services including VA benefits, as well as community-based social services or other non-VA entitlement programs.

Ability to serve veterans who tend to have frequent and severe crises, or an inadequate community support network, those that frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment, or have significant deficits in coping and require continuing professional psychosocial support.

Develops working relationships with other organizations having responsibility for the same patient population. Highly developed professional, clinical and advanced practice skills are routinely used to treat veterans with complex 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 (Suicide Prevention Case Manager)

Relocation/Recruitment Incentive:
Not authorized

Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/09/2024.

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 (

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.

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Driver's License:
A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position

NOTE:
We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package.

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, GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Experience, Education, and

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) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs for this grade level

Preferred Experience:
Those candidates with experience working with patients in suicidal crisis, as well as clinical and case management, are highly preferred

Reference:
For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

Physical Requirements:

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 Must 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

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:
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:
Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation)

Leave:

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.

Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. This is a bargaining unit position. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.

The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive , VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy).

VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations.

If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.

The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO).

Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), for more information.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members:

Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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