Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Major Duties Include but not limited to:

• Lead interdisciplinary team meetings to review new or complex cases for treatment recommendations.
• Receive, review, and complete BHIP consults utilizing the consult toolbox.
• Make team assignments based on clinical needs and patient preferences.
• Ensure BHIP services comply with VHA and Medical Center policy, as well as Federal, State, and Local regulations.
• Ensure services meet Joint Commission requirements.
• Track and collect data on the utilization of behavioral treatments.
• Develop performance improvement initiatives.
• Provide training, orientation, and guidance to health professionals regarding BHIP services.
• Ensure the development of single, comprehensive, Veteran-focused treatment plans with measurable goals.
• Establish clear referral mechanisms and processes for other facility providers.
• Establish and formalize service agreements where needed.
• Assess available information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided.
• Develop and implement information systems to track service activities including visits, referrals, and patient satisfaction.
• Develop work improvement plans in coordination with the BHIP Coordinator.
• Present work improvement plans to the mental health coordinator group for final approval.
• Maintain an access schedule for same-day services.
• Act as a backup provider for all BHIP teams' secure messaging.
• Train new BHIP team members beyond what orientation and supervisory information includes.
• Develop and maintain resource files for staff and Veterans.
• Provide case management services including internal and external referrals, resources, education, advocacy, and supportive services.
• Provide screening, assessment, and consultation for Veterans needing mental health treatment.
• Develop individualized treatment plans for patients.
• Administer tools for measurement-based care to measure and improve patient outcomes.
• Provide individual, group, and family therapy sessions.
• Complete suicide risk evaluations using assigned and shared templates in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
• Provide crisis intervention services.
• Supervision of clinical services in accordance with professional standards.
• Provide administrative, technical, and clinical supervision for the interdisciplinary team.
• Teach and mentor staff and students in the special area of practice.
• Provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications.
• Utilize advanced knowledge of theories and modalities for treating complex mental illness.
• Incorporate multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veteran patients.
• Determine the priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment.
• Design system changes based on data to improve service delivery.
• Provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on psychosocial treatment.
• Engage in written and oral communication regarding policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and professional practice.
• Collaborate with other disciplines (e.g., nursing, medicine) to facilitate treatment planning and implementation.
• Participate effectively in team meetings, treatment planning conferences, etc.
• Work effectively with community agencies to facilitate treatment, discharge planning, and continuity of care.
• Maintain courteous and cooperative relationships with supervisors, co-workers, patients, visitors, and the general public.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 evaluation.
• 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.

• 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.

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.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Education: Master's or doctoral degree in one of the following: 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 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling.
• Licensure/Certification. Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment.

Grandfather Provision: An LPMHC employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (4/3/2018) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-11) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting the full qualification requirements.

Grade Determinations:

Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-12

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must possess:

1. A minimum of 5 years of post-licensed experience (with at least 1 year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level) that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs, AND;
2. Experience that Demonstrates the following GS-11 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
   • Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.
   • Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.
   • Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees 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.
   • Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill.
   • Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment.
   • Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions.
   • 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.
   • Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence-based psychotherapy.

Preferred experience:

• Advanced practice skill in LPMHC Practice.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 12.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Incumbent must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans, caregivers, and interdisciplinary teams. This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer monitor/keyboard; extensive reading; and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, Majority of work is completed in an office setting. The work of this position is primarily sedentary with occasional walking of short distances. No heavy lifting required. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situation, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete a physical as a part of the pre-employment process.

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.