Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens. Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA employees. 3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies. 4. All other Applicants All other applicant will be referred in Veterans' Preference Order

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Major duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Coordinates and supervises PRRC programming including facilitating staff meetings, overseeing consult management, assigning intake assessments and case management duties, insuring patient/staff safety, and evaluating environment of care. Insures seamless transition and continuity of care between inpatient and outpatient clinics and community referrals.
• The incumbent provides administrative, clinical, and technical supervision to assigned staff. They are expected to set priorities and make assignments according to capabilities of those assigned. The incumbent evaluates subordinate's performance and offers instruction, advice, or counseling on ancillary services, and administrative matters. They are responsible for setting performance standards and reviews work to determine acceptable levels of quality and quantity.
• Incumbent manages daily operations of the PRRC; develops policies and procedures for the programs' operations; maintains data tracking utilization of mental health services by PRRC Veterans, and prepares reports and statistics when requested.
• Ensures constant readiness and compliance of the PRRC program/staff with regard to standards set forth by the Joint Commission, OIG, OHMO and any other accrediting body identified by Executive Leadership.
• The incumbent develops training plans in-line with employee's needs, and assists in addressing these needs. Develops and monitors standards of clinical practice/standards of care for PRRC staff, including procedures, care guidelines, manuals, and guides to professional practice, required to accomplish clinical care interventions and ensures that they are followed.
• The incumbent balances and distributes workload and tasks among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization, assuring timely accomplishment of the assigned tasks, and assuring that employees have an integral role in developing the final product.
• Ensures delivery of evidence-based interventions by the PRRC staff.
• Incumbent coordinates the facilitation of PRRC groups and makes changes and additions to group curriculum to respond to needs of PRRC Veterans.
• The incumbent maintains a current knowledge to answer questions from team members on procedures, policies, directives and to obtain needed information on decisions from the Chief, Mental Health Service on major problems and issues. He/she checks on work in progress and reviews completed work to see that instructions on work sequences, procedures, methods, and deadlines have been met.
• Oversees the provision of clinical supervision as a field instructor or preceptor, and supervises LPMHC graduate students, unlicensed LPMHC.
• The incumbent resolves employee complaints, grievances, or other related matters within the context of the local contract, policies, or procedures.
• The incumbent effectively handles disciplinary issues and counsels employees regarding performance or other situations; takes disciplinary or appropriate action when necessary.
• Incumbent contributes to ongoing development of the PRRC program. Identifies areas for program expansion and improvement, and develops initiatives to address these identified needs.
• Incumbent provides/oversees direct screening and case management services to Veterans within PRRC. Incumbent completes screening and comprehensive assessments of Veterans with severe and persistent mental illness and other mental health comorbidities.
• Incumbent completes biopsychosocial evaluations with Veterans in the PRRC and completes all relevant CPRS documentation in a timely manner as per center policies.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.
• 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.
• Must possess a valid drivers license.
• 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: LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j.
• 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. NOTE: It is VHA policy that a LPMHC who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.

• 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-11 grade level. Experience must have been in a major specialty treatment program area such as, but not limited to, Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), mental health intensive case management (MHICM), or other areas of equivalent scope and complexity. 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-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
  • In depth knowledge of the program coordinated, and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and or practice guidelines for the program.
  • Ability to make key decisions in the hiring and identification of top candidates.
  • Ability to provide leadership in facilitating the process of coordinating program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments and discharges.
  • Ability to provide subject matter consultation to other colleagues and trainees within the field of counseling working on an interdisciplinary team.

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.

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4. All other Applicants

All other applicant will be referred in Veterans' Preference Order

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.