Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement DOES NOT apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Veterans Preference applies

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Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) Program Managers have broad program management responsibilities for a specific program or programs that are designed to deliver specialized, complex, highly professional services that are important program components of the facility and that significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans.

The Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH-RRTP) provides comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation services to Veterans with a range of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders (SUD) within a 24/7 structured residential environment. The program takes a whole health, evidence-based approach to address Veteran goals, to include medical and psychosocial needs.

Duties include, but are not limited, to:

• Has broad management oversight, to include oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and responsibilities, for the MH RRTP. that deliver highly specialized, complex, and professional Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders (SUD) related services and specialized, evidence-based interventions including assessment, case management, psychotherapy, medication management, and education for Veterans with substance use and mental health disorders.
• Establishes policies and procedures that adhere to VHA Handbook 1162: Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program. Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, established by facility leadership, including the Program Director, Recovery & Residential Programs, and the Chief, Mental Health Service; VISN and National directive; and state and local directive and accreditation and regulatory bodies. This includes ensuring the building is in full compliance with all safety and security regulations.
• Executes ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the MH RRTP programs.
• Administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to patients. Develops and implements information systems to track service activities including, but not limited to, admissions and discharges, referrals, patient demographics, equipment utilization and patient satisfaction. Develops, implements, and evaluates clinical guidelines and protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services.
• Facilitates liaisons with other Mental Health programs in the Mental Health Service, across the continuum of care, with non-clinical services, and across VA and community partners to effectively coordinate MH RRTP services.
• Ensures the MH RRTP and staff comply with national and local performance measures. Performs work related to the review, monitoring, analysis, planning and assessment of various programs in the MH RRTP. Responsible for key project activities related to the planning, development, and implementation of the project component. Participates in quality management activities of the Medical Center and/or research projects approved by the Institutional Review Board.
• Day to day operation and management of the MH RRTPResponsible for directing the activities of the multidisciplinary clinical team comprised of, but not limited to, psychiatrist, psychologists, social workers, mental health therapists, clinical nurses, peer specialists, and program support assistants.
• Performs the administrative and personnel management function relative to staff supervised. Incumbent establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Observes workers' performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance. Incumbent is able to resolve informal complaints and grievances. Develops work improvement plans and recommends personnel actions as necessary. Provides advice, counsel and mentoring workers related to clinical and administrative matters. Effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area. Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests. Incumbent assures that subordinates are trained and fully comply with the provisions of the safety regulations.
• Clinical supervision of unlicensed/dependently licensed staff.

Occasional travel may be required to the four Community Based Outpatient Clinics under the Dayton VA Medical Center. A valid driver's license is required and for official travel, the incumbent must be open to operating a government vehicle when available.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8am-4:30pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 92253-0

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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 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-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.j

Grade Determinations: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Program Manager, GS-13

Experience, Education, and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:

(a) Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management.
(b) Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process.
(c) Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided.
(d) Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs.

Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary and primarily performed in an office setting located at the Dayton VA Medical Center. Typical office work involves active listening, reading, observing, and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior, writing reports and clinical notes, writing policies and procedures, and speaking to groups of people as part of providing trainings. The position requires the use of office equipment such as computers, keyboards, telephones, fax machines, and photocopy machines. Visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity are required. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13

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, resume, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.