This position serves as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Care Coordinator for the Mental Health Service Line (MHSL) in the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) and Suicide Prevention Program. 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-0101 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. Exception. VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure. This exception only applies up to the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed. The appointing official may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 3 years for a LPMHC that provides care under the clinical supervision of a licensed LPMHC who is at or above the full performance level. This exception only applies at the entry level (GS-9). For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed. 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. Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-9 (Entry Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure. The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one year of experience(post-master's degree) or for LPMHCs at the master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in paragraph 3.b., and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure. GS-9 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, 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 multicultural 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. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA. Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, 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. Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-11 (Full Performance Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of post-master's or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level. GS-11 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 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 familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/106 Part II Appendix G43 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. Physical Requirements: Must be able to meet the physical demands of the position, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. They must have good manual dexterity, must be able to express or exchange ideals by means of spoken and written word. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens. ["The incumbent provides a range of clinical services focusing on providing suicide prevention services within the PCMHI program, including screening and evaluation, training, referral, and care management. Major duties of the position include: - Provides care coordination for Veterans who are particularly complex in terms of care needs and challenges in engaging in care, particularly for those with high-risk flags or with other indicators of high risk. - Provides consultative services to other clinical and administrative staff, and to VA programs, focused on any aspect of suicide prevention and safety management through care and care coordination. - Provides supportive consultation in the development and utilization of Medical Center and community resources. - Maintains lists of patients determined to be currently high-risk for suicide and monitor their care to assure that needed services are being received as well as maintaining a list of patients who are flagged for continual monitoring. - Consults/collaborates with providers of high-risk patients for purposes of education and facilitating best practice and may optionally provide direct patient care for same purpose. - Provides training to clinical and non-clinical staff in the Medical Center, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's) and community about risk factors, warning signs, treatment options and resources. - Promotes the use of evidence-based interventions and strategies for suicide prevention in the Medical Center to include the provision of Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). - Serves on the hospital Suicide Prevention Committee, as well as other hospital committees and work groups related to patient safety and/or RCA (Root Cause Analysis) performing individual case reviews, assisting with preparation of quarterly aggregate summaries and facilitating recommended system improvements. - Responds to consults from the VCL within 24 hours business days Suicide Prevention Hotline as soon as possible and contacts Veterans to engage them in treatment and reports back to the Hotline Staff about the results of interventions. - Facilitates assessment of Suicide in the facility both by training staff, updating policies, and direct provision of assessment, according the VACO assessment guidelines. - Facilitates implementation of reporting high risk patients through use of the Suicide Behavior Report. - Facilitates the implementation of Level 2 Flags per Central Office Directives. - Implements SAVE Training throughout Cheyenne Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), CBOC's and in the community. - Acts as a liaison to community organizations and Veterans organizations. - Provides Tracking Reports to VACO as required by the reporting guidelines. - Consulting with providers on any no-show appointments by patients and following up with the patient as soon as possible to reschedule the appointment. - Provides crisis intervention when indicated including evaluation, assessment, triage, initiation of support in Emergency Detention procedures, and disposition of patients experiencing behavioral health emergencies. - Provides supportive consultation regarding transfer of psychiatric patients to other facilities with Psychiatric or Substance Abuse Inpatient Programs. - May provide services through the use of Tele-Mental Health/Tele-Home technology. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD556240 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]

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