Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor- Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program

Veterans Health Administration•White City, OR

12h•Onsite

About The Position

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. The incumbent must be able to independently implement the recovery model of treatment. The incumbent will carry a caseload and develop treatment plans, and will utilize the initial assessment to mutually develop treatment goals with the Veteran and guides the plan of care towards meeting those goals. Requires a high level understanding of treatment coordination and discharge planning, working within the VA system to assist Veteran in re-engaging in their community of choice upon discharge. Provides ongoing treatment coordination services from admission until discharge coordinating closely with the entire treatment team. Provides treatment coordination to a caseload of Residential Veterans. Daily group treatment coordination meetings for assigned caseload. Meets individually with Veterans on assigned caseload a minimum of once every other week. Provision of a minimum of 5 group hours a week and supplemental individual sessions as needed and recommended by the treatment team. Incumbent is able to coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. Independently identifies high-risk patients. Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. Has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families. Incumbent is able to independently work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. Independently provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on healthcare and adherence to treatment plan. Ability to evaluate incumbents own practice through professional peer review, case conferences and other organizational means. Incumbent is able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. General knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service connected compensation, non-service connected pension. Facilitates referrals based upon Veterans needs and eligibility. Incumbent participates in regular RRTP team meetings, sharing observations and information aimed at enhancing the Veteran's treatment. The Licensed Professional Counselor will work in collaboration with the RRTP team to develop and implement recovery-oriented programming for the care and treatment of Veterans in RRTP. Has working knowledge and skill in the use of word-processing, data management and other computer systems, especially those programs in use by VHA. Complies with VA performance measures and works with the assigned team to effectively shape practice patterns to improve stand on performance measures. Attends and participates in regular Service Line and Team meetings. Completes all mandatory web-based trainings by stipulated due dates. Collaborates in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact patients and staff including initiating and participating in ethical consultations. Maintains complete Veteran confidentiality. Analyzes ethical/care issues, applying appropriate theoretical principles and ensures application of institutional policy. Provides considerate care, respecting Veterans, family and staff personal values and belief systems. The Senior LPMHC will be expected to be eligible to provide supervision for those LPMHCs who require supervision for licensure. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen.
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.
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.
Must serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
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).
Full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment.
Proficient in spoken and written English.
GS-09: 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 and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure.
GS-09 KSAs: 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. Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions. Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team. Basic skill in the use of computer software applications. 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.
GS-11: 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 KSAs: Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees. 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. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions. Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals. Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho-education groups.

Nice To Haves

Experience with substance abuse disorder preferred.

Responsibilities

Implement the recovery model of treatment.
Carry a caseload and develop treatment plans.
Mutually develop treatment goals with the Veteran and guide the plan of care.
Provide treatment coordination and discharge planning.
Coordinate community-based services, including information and referral.
Identify high-risk patients.
Provide crisis intervention services.
Coordinate family conferences and serve as a liaison to family members.
Establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families.
Work with patients and families experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems.
Provide consultation services to other staff regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans.
Evaluate own practice through professional peer review, case conferences and other organizational means.
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds.
Facilitate referrals based upon Veterans needs and eligibility.
Participate in regular RRTP team meetings.
Develop and implement recovery-oriented programming for the care and treatment of Veterans in RRTP.
Use word-processing, data management and other computer systems.
Comply with VA performance measures.
Attend and participate in regular Service Line and Team meetings.
Complete all mandatory web-based trainings by stipulated due dates.
Collaborate in identifying and addressing ethical issues.
Maintain complete Veteran confidentiality.
Analyze ethical/care issues, applying appropriate theoretical principles and ensuring application of institutional policy.
Provide considerate care, respecting Veterans, family and staff personal values and belief systems.
Provide supervision for those LPMHCs who require supervision for licensure (for Senior LPMHC).