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

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The Local Recovery Coordinator (LRC) is located in the Mental Health Care Line and serves to assist in implementation of policies and procedures from the National Recovery Coordinator (NRC). The LRC will also facilitate implementation of recovery-oriented services in Mental Health programs, which includes education of providers and veterans and their families on recovery and evaluation of implementation efforts.

Duties and responsibilities included but not limited to:

• Training and consulting with facility leadership, staff, veterans/family, and community regarding recovery-oriented services and the transformation of VHA mental health services.
• Facilitates the integration of recovery-oriented services across all mental health programs in VA Medical Centers and Community Based Outpatient Clinics to help ensure that Veterans have access to services (e.g., peer support, family services, Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers, skills training and therapeutic and supported employment programs).
• Assists with the implementation of policies and procedures related to mental health recovery and psychosocial rehabilitation.
• Collaborates through the LRC Community of Practice to share innovative and best practices across facilities, to assist with new or changing initiatives, directives, priorities, and metrics.
• Collaborates with the VA medical facility Inpatient Mental Health Program Manager, develops a local Standard Operating Procedure addressing the education, staff training and implementation of recovery-oriented care on the inpatient mental health unit. Supports periodic climate assessments and observations of staff interactions with Veterans in the milieu.
• Reviews policies, procedures, staff trainings, Veteran treatment materials, and other components of Inpatient Mental Health Services at least annually.
• Collaborates with the local mental health executive committee in the development and implementation of a multi-year local plan to bring about a recovery-oriented continuum of mental health care in which there are strong partnerships between VHA MH leaders, clinicians, veterans, and family members.
• Consults with MH Chief or program directors on filling peer specialist positions and serves as a consultant to peer support specialists.
• Assists with VA regional or local recovery-oriented trainings, meetings, conferences, community outreach events, including the annual Cincinnati VA Mental Health Summit.
• Serves as a MH Liaison to the facility Veteran Mental Health Council and supports inclusion of Veterans voice in leadership decisions related to mental health care.
• Provides an annual report on implementation progress to the VISN RC and the NRC; other reports will also be prepared as requested.
• Meets monthly via conference call and works collaboratively with other VISN LRCs to coordinate a network response to recovery implementation and implementation of CO policies and procedures related to recovery.
• Participates in assigned facility MH leadership meetings and policy planning groups.
• Exemplifies high-level awareness of and sensitivity to the intersectionality of mental illness and health disparities.
• May represent the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees.
• May be identified as the facility POC for SMITRECC "SMI Re-Engagement Project".
• Serves as Champion of Recovery as "upstream suicide prevention" in all levels of care.
• Completes other duties as assigned by Supervisor to support Veteran/Family Mental Health and Well-being.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-Hoc. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 92551-0
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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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

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: The basic requirements for employment as a LPMHC are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. §7402(b)(11). To qualify for appointment as a LPMHC all applicants must:

• 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.

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 for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator), GS-12
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.

Assignments. LPMHC Program Coordinators are administratively responsible for a clinical program and provide treatment to patients in a major specialty. They manage the daily operations of the program, develop policies and procedures, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They may supervise unlicensed graduate LPMHCs and may administratively manage any employees assigned to their program

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.

Preferred Experience: None

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-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-12. (Above the Full Performance)

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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.

Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies.

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.