Supervisory Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor-Care Management Coordinator (BHIP)

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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Duties

Program Coordinator Duties:

• Provides direct supervision, staff development, training, and oversight to 10 full-time Care Management staff members. This may also include supervision of unlicensed staff who are working toward licensure.
• Under supervision of the BHIP Program Manager, coordinates daily operations of the BHIP Care Management team. This includes assignment of work, same-day access, overseeing use of time, and processing clinical referrals and consults.
• Monitors program operations and outcomes, making changes to the clinical interventions, documentation of care, program materials, work assignments, schedules, outreach activities, and other program elements to maintain outcomes of the highest quality.
• Drives ongoing process improvement within the assigned program, with responsibility to continuously enhance the efficiency, efficacy, and productivity of the BHIP Care Management team. Works to assure continuity across the Care Management team and perpetually fosters a growth- and customer-service oriented mindset among team members.
• Works with the BHIP Program Manager to implement and improve the BHIP Team care model and efficiently implements new programming and safety and compliance initiatives sent from local, VISN, or National VA leadership.
• As the Care Management Coordinator, the incumbent actively participates in policy development, and is responsible for implementing all policies within the Care Management team. May work with Behavioral Health Service (BHS) management to track and report relevant national performance measures.
• Participates in the recruitment of candidates and recommends promotion or reassignment of designated employees. Incumbent will evaluate the work performance and conduct of their direct reports, assist in adjusting short-term priorities and assign work. Incumbent provides fair, principled, and decisive leadership to create a work environment that promotes shared accountability.
• Counsel employees on work and administrative matters and hear complaints from or about employees, effects minor disciplinary measures, recommends more serious action when warranted, and refers unresolved complaints to the General Mental Health Program Manager, the Psychology Section Lead, and/or the BHS Chief.
• Participates in program evaluation and data analysis for BHS programs. Participates in performance improvement activities by assisting in the design, implementation, and reporting of results.
  
  

Clinical Duties:

• Provides the full range of professional services to address complex psychosocial problems faced by the Veterans served in the program. These direct services include but are not limited to: assessment, treatment plan development and implementation, evidence-based treatment interventions (such as individual, family, couple, or small group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, education, and discharge planning), and multidisciplinary team participation.
• Documents clinical information in the electronic medical record according to prescribed standards and collects and maintains required measurement-based care information.
• May serve as a member of various councils, committees, and workgroups as designated, and participates in department/professional continuing education activities.
• Facilitate utilization of resources by assessing eligibility and making referrals to a variety of VA resources and community agencies for assistance with social, emotional, financial, and physical problems. Aid as needed with applications for benefits or negotiating service systems.
• Coordinate placements in therapeutic housing and other placement options including domiciliary, state soldier's homes, and community residential alternatives.
• Provide services to established patients of BHS, including patients who need assistance with behavioral health care, housing acquisition, close attention, and monitoring of symptomatology, and assistance with meeting treatment plan goals.
• Serve as an active member of an interdisciplinary BHS treatment team that develops, implements, evaluates, and updates individualized treatment plans for identified Veterans seeking care through various BHS outpatient programs.
• Provide consultation to VAMC or community program staff regarding special problems of, and resources for, Veterans suffering from mental health related problems.
  
  

Work Schedule: Monday Thru Friday 8:00am-4:30pm

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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Requirements

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• 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 evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  
  

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:

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  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/.
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  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.
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  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.
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  NOTE: Loss of Licensure-Once licensed, LPMHCs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS-0183 LPMHC occupation and may result in termination of employment.

Grade Determinations:

Supervisory Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, 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 demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills, judgment, and competency.

• In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
• Ability to administratively supervise other providers and conduct meetings.
• Ability to maintain a professional environment by following organizational policies, guidelines and safety standards.
• Ability to establish and clearly communicate guidelines and performance expectations for staff.
  
  

Assignments: At this level, LPMHCs administratively supervise their licensed staff and/or graduates and are considered LPMHC subject matter experts and may serve as the discipline lead. LPMHCs may provide treatment to patients. They direct the development and implementation of services and treatment to patients through the administrative supervision, mentoring, and oversight of assigned clinical staff. Their experience must demonstrate practice skills in a specialty area or in administration demonstrating progressively more professional competency and judgment.



Preferred Experience: Supervisory experience, care management experience, experience with veterans.

Former VA Handbook

Reference: PART II APPENDIX G43 EFFECTIVE DATE: April 3, 2018

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.



Physical Requirements: This work requires light lifting under 15 pounds, use of fingers, to see computer screen and hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental factors include working closely with others and working alone.

Education



Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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