This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/465644100. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
Fayetteville is nestled in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, and is an outdoor paradise with hiking, golf, fishing, rafting, boating, and four distinct seasons. Fayetteville is the home of the University of Arkansas "Razorbacks" which provides the community with a college atmosphere. The area is home to several fortune 500 businesses such as Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods, and J. B. Hunt Trucking, who have been generous benefactors for the community and the arts. In the neighboring community of Bentonville, Crystal Bridges Museum recently open and was labeled as one the top 10 must see places in America. Fayetteville has outstanding public schools, excellent parks and trail system and is ranked as 4th "best college sports town" and 8th for business and careers by Forbes Magazine. Fayetteville is ranked as 7th best city in America to work, live and play by Kiplinger. The cost of living is 90% of the national average with affordable housing available in all price ranges. Northwest Arkansas has an excellent airport with direct flights to Dallas, Charlotte, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Houston, and Denver. For additional information go to http://www.experiencefayetteville.com/index.php or http://www.accessfayetteville.org.
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.
For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
Recruitment or Relocation Incentive is not authorized for this position.
03/10/2017 to 03/30/2017
$60,210 - $78,270 per year
GS 11
1 vacancy in the following location:
Not required
No
Permanent - Excepted Service Permanent
Full-time - Full Time
No
KT-17-MJD-1926528-BU
465644100
The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) provides readjustment counseling to eligible veterans and family members in the Vet Center program. Readjustment counseling includes individual and group counseling to veterans and family members over issues of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related psychological difficulties, marital and family issues, substance abuse, employment, military sexual trauma, homelessness, bereavement, and other issues impacting upon a veterans ability to successfully re-enter civilian society. This task is accomplished in collaboration with other members of the Vet Center or other interdisciplinary treatment teams both within the Department of Veteran Affairs or community agencies, and community/government social service agencies. The LPMHC conducts assessment interviews, develops treatment plans and provides treatment to eligible veterans and their families. Treatment modalities may include crisis intervention as well as both short and long-term services. The LMHC may refer clients to other programs and professionals to include the VA Medical Center or Outpatient Clinic. The LPMHC participates in and provides consultation to other team members; participates in conjoint emergency treatment with medical facility mental health personnel and provides community outreach to Veterans.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm (non traditional hours including nights, weekends, and holidays will be required to meet mission demands)
Functional Statement Title/#: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) #00000
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. It may require some lifting (10-20 Ibs.) occasionally. Reaching above shoulder; frequent keyboarding (4-7 hours per day); sitting (4-7 hours per day); walking (up to 6 hours per day); standing (up to 8 hours per day); infrequent climbing/descending of stairs; some bending; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; correctable near sighted and far sighted vision; hearing (aid permitted)
Basic Requirements:
Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States.
Education: Hold a masters degree in mental health 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; and Marriage and Family Therapy. A doctoral degree in mental health counseling may not be substituted for the masters degree in mental health counseling.
Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to
LPMHC positions in the GS-101 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and
unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, 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
3j
Grade Determinations:
GS-11 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Full Performance Level)
Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least 1 year of post-masters degree mental health counseling experience;
OR
In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in mental health counseling, or a related field may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional mental health counseling experience.Assignments. This is the full performance 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. They may be assigned to any mental health VHA area, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. LPMHCs may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
1. Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.
2. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.
3. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the counseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments, review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation.
4. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress.
5. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced-based practices and screening/assessment.
6. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.
7. Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices.
8. Ability to develop and deliver psycho-education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G43: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor.This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
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.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will recommend the grade and salary for new appointments.
1. CV or Resume. (REQUIRED)
2. VA Form 10-2850c - Application for Associated Health Occupations (Available
at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf). (REQUIRED)
3. Occupational Questionnaire
4. If prior military service, include all copies of your
DD Form 214. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected
disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased
Veteran, must also complete and submit an SF 15, Application for 10-Point
Veteran Preference (available at http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf).
5. Copy of college transcript showing a masters degree in mental health
counseling, or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation
of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
6. Copy of college transcript showing a doctoral degree in mental health
counseling, or a related field if substituting for the required 1 year of
professional mental health counseling experience.
7. Copy of valid driver's license
Please use this checklistto make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
Veterans' Preference: When applying
for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the
Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible
copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty
service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable,
general, etc.), or dates of impending separation. Additionally,
disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as
widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15
"Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as
stated on the form. For more information, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
Faxing Applications or Supporting Documents: You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you are unable to apply online or unable to upload your supporting documents to your online application, follow the directions located at the following site: Fax Options. The Vacancy ID of the job opportunity announcement is 1926528.
NOTE: If you applied online and your application is complete, do not fax the paper application (1203-FX) as this will overwrite your prior online responses and may result in you being found ineligible.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
To apply for this position, you must complete the View Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Thursday, March 30, 2017 to receive consideration.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. During our review, if your résumé and application package do not support your questionnaire answers, we will adjust your rating accordingly. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email (if provided); otherwise, applicants will receive a notification letter via the U.S. Postal Service. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking on Application Status. For a more detailed update of your status, click on more information. Information regarding applicant notification points can be found in the USAJobs Resource Center.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/465644100. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 1926528