Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor
Department Of Veterans Affairs - Manhattan, KS
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 843545
To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?
These vacancies are advertised at the range of grades covered by the VA qualifications standard.
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries.
NOTE: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11 . The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11 . The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidates education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed. The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.
This position may be filled and has been announced under the following vanancies, all with the same opening and closing dates:
Social Worker EG-HA-13-840544
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist EG-HA-13-843323
Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor EG-HA-13-843545
KEY REQUIREMENTS
U. S. Citizenship
Must pass pre-employment examination
English Language Proficiency required
Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
Background and-or Security Investigation required DUTIES:
The incumbent serves as Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor on the multidisciplinary team that is located in a community-based Vet Center that provides Veterans with community outreach, counseling, therapy, treatment and direct services and referral to VA and community resources and community education regarding the problems and needs of the Veteran. The incumbent maintains an office in the Vet Center. Incumbent will work in cooperative collaboration with other team members and with professionals, volunteers and others in VA facilities and community agencies to help Veterans recognize and resolve their problems and needs. The counseling and therapeutic services provided by the Vet Center range from routine to complex and include suicide prevention, crisis intervention, short and long term treatment with clients exhibiting post-traumatic stress disorder, other psychiatric disorders and/or readjustment problems. Clients encountered and problems exhibited necessitates a variety of psychological, rehabilitation, marriage and family counseling and mental health techniques including, but not limited to, individual, group, conjoint, vocational, educational, substance abuse and readjustment counseling. Incumbent must possess a high degree of clinical skill, including the unique skills needed to work with Veterans and the significant others and to provide consultation to professionals providing clinical services. Incumbent must possess the capability to perform administrative tasks required in the community-based office of a program with a unique administrative structure and a variety of formal and informal working relationships with a wide range of VA facilities and community organizations.
The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPMHC) in Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary Vet Center team and is responsible for coordinating and providing family counseling services in the Vet Center. The LPMHC conducts assessment interviews, develops treatment plans and provides treatment to eligible Veterans and their families. Treatment modalities may include crisis intervention as well as both short and long-term services. The LPMHC may refer clients to other programs and professionals to include the VA Medical Center or Outpatient Clinic. Participates in and provides consultation to other team members; participates in conjoint emergency treatment with medical facility mental health personnel.
Tour of Duty : Varied to include weekend, days and evening hours.
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
U.S. citizenship.
Hold a master's degree in mental health 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; and Marriage and Family Therapy. A doctoral degree in mental health counseling may not be substituted for the master's degree in mental health counseling.
Hold a full, current and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. (Non-licensed LPMHCs who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate LPMHC under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 2 years for a LPMHC that provides care under the supervision of a licensed LPMHC at or above the full performance level. This exception only applies at the entry level (GS-9)).
Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS:
GS-9
The entry level is used for LPMHCs with less than one year of post-master's degree experience or for LPMHCs who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs below:
Ability to engage in information gathering, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, evaluation and follow-up.
Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices.
Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic interventions and strategies that address high risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the life span.
Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group or family counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multi cultural counseling skills.
Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups and families and on the counseling approaches, strategies, and techniques that will best help patients function effectively.
Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services, such as Telehealth.
Knowledge and understanding of relevant statues, case laws, ethical codes and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
GS-11
In addition to the basic requirements, the GS-11 (full performance level) requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of post-master's degree experience in the field of health care counseling experience;
In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in mental health counseling, or a related field, may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional mental health counseling experience.
In addition, the candidate must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level, meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 level and must demonstrate the KSAs below.
Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions and recommendations 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 students 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.
Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced-based practices and screening/assessment.
Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multi cultural counseling skills.
Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulations of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices.
Ability to develop and deliver psycho-education groups that include life skills, family support and community integration.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
References : VA Handbook 5005/412, Part II, Appendix G43, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Qualification Standard , dated September 2010.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The activity of the position requires extreme patience and management of ones own emotions. The work may require the techniques of restraining clients from injuring themselves or others. The work requires assisting physically disabled clients and family members to negotiate the medical center environment. The position requires the worker to move about the ground sin all types of weather.
APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
Veterans' Preference:
When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on their application or résumé. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx .
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. You may also be evaluated based upon the question responses you provide during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.
BENEFITS:
Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life. For more information please visit us at http://www.va.gov/JOBS/Job_Benefits/benefits.asp .
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
OTHER INFORMATION:
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
For more information and to apply go to:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/337893200