This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/465796500. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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.
Learn more about this agency03/20/2017 to 03/27/2017
$60,210 - $78,270 per year
GS 11
1 vacancy in the following location:
Occasional travel - Duty location is based in Greenville, but required to travel to Greenwood/Laurens three days a week.
No
Temporary - Temporary NTE 36 months
Full-time - Full Time
No
OE-17-LA-1927689
465796500
The incumbent serves as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor at the Vet Center located at the Greenville, South Carolina community-based center. The Vet Center provides eligible veterans and families with counseling, community outreach, therapy, education, and referrals to VA and/or community resources. The counseling and therapeutic services that are provided range from routine to complex and include suicide prevention, crisis intervention, short and long-term treatment with clients exhibiting post-traumatic stress disorder, other psychiatric disorders and/or readjustment problems. Clients encountered and problems exhibited necessitates a variety of psychological, rehabilitation, marriage and family counseling and mental health techniques including, but not limited to, individual, group, conjoint, vocational, educational, substance abuse and readjustment counseling. 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 services agencies.
Other duties include, but are not limited to:
· Complete psycho-social assessment.
· Developing unique treatment plans that reflects a course of therapeutic intervention that will address the needs identified in the assessment.
· Maintain and exercises an effective resource data base that is used ot address the needs of a veteran client better served by programs external to the Vet Center.
· Use of current social work resource files of the Vet Center and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of veterans.
· Act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran/family without fostering dependency and preserving the right of the veteran client to exercise choice.
Note: This description is not intended to cover all aspects of the duties and responsibilities of the position. Will perform other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Irregular Tour (Will include irregular hours; tour is 11:30 to 8:00PM, 3 days a week).
Functional Statement Title/#: LPMHC/544-01397-A
Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary in climate controlled clinical and administrative settings. The work involves walking (3 hours), prolong standing (6-8 hours) bending (2 hours), and some lifting of light items (under 15 pounds, such as files, computer diskettes) lifting of miscellaneous equipment (such as computer equipment, audiovisual equipment) climbing stairs, sitting for long periods of time (such as on an airplane, automobile, attending lectures, etc.) and ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. The physical demands of the work requires use of fingers; moderate walking and standing; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted; clear speech; emotional stability; moderate duty.
Basic Requirements:
Citizenship: U.S. citizenship.
Education: Hold a master's 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 master's 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.
Exception: Non-licensed LPMHCs who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate LPMHC under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a LPMHC that provides care under the supervision of a licensed LPMHC at or above the full performance level. This exception only applies at the entry level (GS-9). For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed.
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.
Preferred Experience: 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.
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-master's 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.
In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 level, the candidate must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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.
References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G43, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Qualification Standard. 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 full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will recommend the grade and salary for new appointments. For internal selectees being promoted, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.
1. CV or Resume.
2. VA Form 10-2850c - Application for Associated Health Occupations (Available at http://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf). This is a required form and must be submitted. Applicants who fail to submit will be rated ineligible for consideration. Additionally, applicants who fail to provide a complete and detailed explanation in response to any question (28-37) in which your answer is "Yes" will also be rated ineligible for consideration. This response should be provided on a separate sheet of paper as instructed on the form.
3. Online Questionnaire.
4. Latest (non-award) SF-50 if applicable - Notification of Personnel Action. SF-50 must document title, grade, tenure, proof of federal employment. Applicants will be rated ineligible if not submitted, and or an award SF-50 is submitted.
5. Copy of licensure.
6. Copy of transcripts (unofficial is sufficient, but must document that degree was awarded).
7. Copy of Drivers license.
8. -If prior military service, include all copies of your DD Forms 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).
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, etc. You will not be contacted for additional information.
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), or 10pt (CP/CPS, XPP, XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP), on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section(s) provided. A legible copy of your DD214(s) indicating character of service, disability certification, SF-15 (if claiming 10 pt. preference) or if you are currently serving on active duty and expected to be released or discharged within 120 days; documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation. Documentation is required for eligibility verification.
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 1927689.
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 Monday, March 27, 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/465796500. 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): 1927689
**Funding for this position is on a Fiscal Year Annual Basis.**
**Position cannot exceed a term of employment over 36 months.**
**Year to year retention of this position is based on availability of funding and real need as evidenced by demand for services, workload, performance and other performance factors.**
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. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
**This vacancy will be filled as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Readjustment Counseling Theraist, or a Social Worker. This announcement is only for the Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor.
Please apply under the following announcements to apply under another discipline:
Readjustment Counseling Therapist - OE-17-LA-1927561 (Status Candidates)
Social Worker - OE-17-LA-1927831(U.S. Citizens); OE-17-LA-1928592 (WJB Dorn current permanent employees only).
Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - WJB Dorn current permanent employees apply to vacancy OE-17-LA-1928623