Clarification from the agency

Qualified candidates will be referred in the following order: 1) Current, Permanent employees of San Diego VA Health Care System, you must apply to 1080112 to be considered for this vacancy. 2) Current, Permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, you must apply to 1080112 to be considered for this vacancy. 3) Veterans then the public (all others that are not VA employees). Apply to this announcement.

Videos

Duties of the position include but are not limited to:
Clinical Responsibilities:
1. Managing a caseload of approximately 25 Veterans; providing all needed related support services including case management / case coordination, individual and group therapy, job development, job coaching, job accommodations; and completes all required documentation.
2. Conducting admission screenings, complete all necessary admission criteria to include the biopsychosocial assessment, suicide prevention education, and identify treatment goals.
3. Using the biopsychosocial and psychiatric diagnostic assessment to develop treatment plan upon admission. Use the treatment plan to coordinate the appropriate service interventions. Update the treatment plan on a quarterly basis. Documenting progress toward goals in the Veteran's medical record, including prompt completion of clinical reminders.

Teaching/Training:
1. Participating in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology and/or Psychosocial Rehabilitation Fellowship Training Programs and Training Committees.
2. Providing psychological guidance and consultation to all Veterans Health Administration Vocational Rehabilitation staff members on cases.
3. Participating in the training of mental health counselors, medical students, medical and psychiatric residents, vocational rehabilitation students, fellows and other graduate or post-graduate trainees, as appropriate.

Research/Program Evaluation:
1. Overseeing program monitoring and outcome measurements of programs.
2. Participate in planning and overseeing the completion of personal research programs, designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant vocational and mental health treatment approaches as necessary.
3. Presenting outcome data and research results at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings as indicated.

Administrative Responsibilities:
1. Completing of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate.
2. Participating in the national calls, conferences, data monitoring, and other program elements.
3. Adhering to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, assigned program, Mental Health & Behavioral Science Service, and Healthcare System.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm; May include weekends and holidays, day and evening tours, and extended hours to meet the care of Veterans.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not require

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.j.

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).

Preferred Experience:
1) Knowledge of and ability to provide a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnose mental disorder.

2) Ability to provide independently practice professional counseling and to provide mental health services within the knowledge, theory, and training foundations of professional counseling.

3) Knowledge of most current clinical assessment and psychotherapy research literature as it pertains to areas of specialization and clinical privileges.

4) Ability to diagnose mental disorders, and with appropriate training, provide evidence-based treatment for mental disorders and addictions through a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of mental health disorders.

5) Ability to provide fair, principled and decisive leadership or consultation in a work environment that promotes shared accountability.

Grade Determinations
GS-11:
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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) for the GS-11:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: GS-11
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 5005/53, Part II, Appendix G43, LICENSED PROFESSIONAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR QUALIFICATION STANDARD

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: The incumbent will be able to meet the physical demands of the job duties including attending meetings at the work site and other VA or community sites, interacting with Veterans, and completing typical office tasks.

How you will be evaluated

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, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.