Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Bridges Program)

Department of Veterans Affairs•Spokane, WA

48d•Onsite

About The Position

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2026. The first cut-off dates for referral of eligible applications will be 12/04/2025. All eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred to the hiring manager no later than 12/18/2025. Eligible applications received after 12/04/2025 date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis. Complete same-day Initial Five Element Mental Health Screening for all Veterans requesting mental health support. Complete Measurement Based Care (i.e., PHQ9, GAD7, etc) as part of clinical assessment to assist with determination of placement along the MH Continuum of Care and uses Behavioral Health Lab (BHL) software to support efficiency of administration and clinical review. Using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), screen Veterans for risk of suicide. Also screen for homicidality and other risk-related concerns. Complete Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE) when indicated and provide intervention as necessary. Complete MH Safety Plan and Suicide and Overdose Behavior Reports as needed Collaborate with Suicide Prevention Team. Coordinate care for Veterans needing assistance with psychotropic medications, substance treatment services, homelessness services, among others. Collaborate with MGVAMC's inpatient and outpatient services to support discharge planning and care transitions for Veterans new to mental health or substance abuse services. Assist Veterans with coordination of care between BHS and other MGVAMC services (i.e., enrollment, Primary Care, Urgent Care Clinic) and actively communicate with those healthcare teams. Utilize face-to-face, telephone, and virtual modalities to assist with efficiency and patient preference. Work actively with VA and non-VA mental health treatment teams, Veteran family members, and others invited by Veterans to participate in their care. Document care provided in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), in full compliance with agency policies. Accept additional and special assignments aligned with program, service, and agency goals. Complete comprehensive Behavioral Health biopsychosocial intake assessments. Utilizing DSM-5-TR criteria, diagnose MH disorders. Complete initial treatment planning through Shared-Decision Making conversation with Veterans. Support and encourage Veterans to participate in the full-complement of behavioral health services, including groups/classes, Whole Health programming, VA Chaplaincy programming, peer support, etc. Document care provided in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), in full compliance with agency policies. Accept additional and special assignments aligned with program, service, and agency goals. Maintain PowerChart Referral Worklist for requests for service referrals Review initial Mission Act eligibility criteria and discuss as needed with referring provider, Veteran, and/or the Facility Office of Community Care (FOCC). When initial Mission Act eligibility criteria are met, contact Veteran to discuss Mission Act, Psychotherapy Episode of Care (EOC) model, and work to engage Veteran on EOC model. Review secondary authorization requests (when community provider is requesting additional visits) for compliance with evidence-based care criteria and contact Veteran and service provider when those criteria are missing or not demonstrate. Respond to these requests within 24 hours per medical center policy regarding referral management. Maintain list of community, state, and national resources, organizations, and support groups that may constitute appropriate care providers or support agencies for Veterans new to MH services. Contribute to regional and national work groups that focus on provision of timely MH care to Veterans and report on these to service and facility Managership. Use standard office software (word processing, e-mail, etc.) for performance of duties. Maintain tracking systems for special projects and ongoing data collection requirements.

Responsibilities

Complete same-day Initial Five Element Mental Health Screening for all Veterans requesting mental health support.
Complete Measurement Based Care (i.e., PHQ9, GAD7, etc) as part of clinical assessment to assist with determination of placement along the MH Continuum of Care and uses Behavioral Health Lab (BHL) software to support efficiency of administration and clinical review.
Using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), screen Veterans for risk of suicide. Also screen for homicidality and other risk-related concerns.
Complete Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE) when indicated and provide intervention as necessary.
Complete MH Safety Plan and Suicide and Overdose Behavior Reports as needed
Collaborate with Suicide Prevention Team.
Coordinate care for Veterans needing assistance with psychotropic medications, substance treatment services, homelessness services, among others.
Collaborate with MGVAMC's inpatient and outpatient services to support discharge planning and care transitions for Veterans new to mental health or substance abuse services.
Assist Veterans with coordination of care between BHS and other MGVAMC services (i.e., enrollment, Primary Care, Urgent Care Clinic) and actively communicate with those healthcare teams.
Utilize face-to-face, telephone, and virtual modalities to assist with efficiency and patient preference.
Work actively with VA and non-VA mental health treatment teams, Veteran family members, and others invited by Veterans to participate in their care.
Document care provided in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), in full compliance with agency policies.
Accept additional and special assignments aligned with program, service, and agency goals.
Complete comprehensive Behavioral Health biopsychosocial intake assessments.
Utilizing DSM-5-TR criteria, diagnose MH disorders.
Complete initial treatment planning through Shared-Decision Making conversation with Veterans.
Support and encourage Veterans to participate in the full-complement of behavioral health services, including groups/classes, Whole Health programming, VA Chaplaincy programming, peer support, etc.
Document care provided in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), in full compliance with agency policies.
Accept additional and special assignments aligned with program, service, and agency goals.
Maintain PowerChart Referral Worklist for requests for service referrals
Review initial Mission Act eligibility criteria and discuss as needed with referring provider, Veteran, and/or the Facility Office of Community Care (FOCC).
When initial Mission Act eligibility criteria are met, contact Veteran to discuss Mission Act, Psychotherapy Episode of Care (EOC) model, and work to engage Veteran on EOC model.
Review secondary authorization requests (when community provider is requesting additional visits) for compliance with evidence-based care criteria and contact Veteran and service provider when those criteria are missing or not demonstrate.
Respond to these requests within 24 hours per medical center policy regarding referral management.
Maintain list of community, state, and national resources, organizations, and support groups that may constitute appropriate care providers or support agencies for Veterans new to MH services.
Contribute to regional and national work groups that focus on provision of timely MH care to Veterans and report on these to service and facility Managership.
Use standard office software (word processing, e-mail, etc.) for performance of duties.
Maintain tracking systems for special projects and ongoing data collection requirements.