Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to the public and employees of other Federal agencies. Current, permanent VA employees should apply to announcement CBSY-12966908-26-GPA.--NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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CLINICIAL FUNCTIONS:
The Supervisory LPMHC (Mental Health Special Programs Manager) ensures that high quality outpatient-based treatment programs/services remain consistent with the evolving health care needs of the total veteran patient population utilizing an evidence-based, best-practice approach. The incumbent completes administrative and programmatic functions and responsibilities and may assume some clinical responsibilities as needed for the programs that are supervised. The incumbent is directly responsible for the success of all direct patient care programs and support activities provided by the above programs. The incumbent monitors accomplishment of established program goals and objectives, periodically evaluates and when necessary modifies such goals and objectives.

In fulfillment of assigned clinical responsibilities, the incumbent must have the ability to accomplish the following:
Independently plan work to be accomplished, set priorities and establish schedules or accomplishments of work assigned, and meet multiple deadlines.
Knowledge of supervisory duties which include clinical supervision, consultation, negotiation with other departments and quality improvement.
Delegate authority, manage priorities, coordinate work and follow up on pending issues to complete duties in an accurate and timely fashion.
Analyze organizational and operational problems, develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations and use data effectively to manage workload, quality, performance and productivity.
Base work assignments on program priorities by giving selective consideration to the nature of the work and the capabilities of the staff.
Directly evaluate or as in the case of some professional level team members, provide formal input into the evaluation of all personnel assigned to the program. Evaluation is consistent with the requirements of Title 5 and Title 38.
Assess the quality and quantity of work accomplished by each staff member.
Develop or as in the case of some professional level team members, participate in the development of performance standards.
Hear and resolve staff concerns and complaints. As appropriate, refer group grievances and unresolved serious complaints to the MH ICC Director.
Effect, as needed, disciplinary actions and recommends action in more serious cases.
Identify developmental and training needs of staff members. Ability to provide and ensure appropriate access to necessary training and development opportunities.
Assign work to subordinate staff. Review/evaluate performance and make decisions on problems presented by subordinates.
Ability to ensure provision of clinical counseling services.
Must be able to provide clinical supervision to counselors for licensure.

The incumbent provides personnel with authoritative advice, guidance and direction regarding current and future year therapeutic programming, program structure, resources, necessary to the efficient and effective satisfaction of current and projected demands for service.

Through the effective application of personal knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through formal education and broad-based work experience, the incumbent provides direction, advice, counsel and instruction in the provision of comprehensive bio-psychosocial rehabilitation, long term health maintenance services and outpatient substance use services.

The incumbent must coordinate the day-to-day functioning of staff from a wide range of professional disciplines that includes social workers, psychologists, psychiatry, vocational rehabilitation specialists, nurses, peer supports and program support assistants. This work requires great sensitivity to the various perspectives that these different professionals will offer and blending these views into an effective organizational and treatment milieu

ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS:
Possesses and demonstrates ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds.
Possesses skills in using computer systems and the internet for Veterans who choose this modality to communicate.
Serves on supervisor approved committees, work groups, and task forces at the local facility, VISN or national level. Collaborates in performance improvement processes and complies with performance measures as required by the VA for specific population/program.
Attends and participates in all required administrative and clinical meetings.
Maintains accurate, timely, and complete clinical records in accordance with professional practice and VA administration guidelines.
Maintains data and statistical compilations to comply with accreditation bodies such as CARF and Joint Commission, and VA health care systems policies and procedures.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm evening and weekends maybe required
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Drivers License Requirement: Unrestricted drivers license is required. Must provide a clean driving record report from the DMV during onboarding.
• Physical Examination: A driver's physical is required for this position

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.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• 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).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

GS-13 LPMHC (Program Manager) Requirements: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-13 you must possess 1 year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade which demonstrates the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.

1. Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Ability to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment.
2. Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling, or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial, and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans.
3. Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs. Ability to design system changes based on data.
4. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients, rendering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills.
5. Ability to teach, mentor staff and trainees, and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications.
6. Ability to engage in written and oral communication with leadership/staff and community stakeholders regarding policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and issues pertaining to the practice of the profession.
7. Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management.
8. Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process.
9. Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided.
10. Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs.

Preferred Experience: Mental Health, leadership, leading crisis response scenarios.

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.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.