Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator)

Veterans Health Administration • Toledo, OH

23h • Hybrid

About The Position

This position serves as the Behavioral Health Interprofessional Program Team leader at the Toledo Community Based Outpatient Clinic in the Mental Health Service. The incumbent organizes and manages the delivery of comprehensive mental health services and activities and is expected to have relevant training and demonstrated expertise in mental health.

The Program Coordinator manages a clinical program’s operations and professional activities, develops and implements programs, policies, procedures, and treatment protocols, oversees resources, and monitors outcomes through data-driven quality assurance. The role is responsible for continuous evaluation and improvement of substance use disorder treatment and quality initiatives, compliance with accreditation and VA requirements, program evaluations and reports, and follow-through on assigned action items. The coordinator provides administrative supervision, guidance, and consultation to staff and trainees, addresses personnel and performance matters, and serves as a resource to other professionals.

Clinical work includes evaluating and diagnosing mental disorders within the counselor’s competence and clinical scope, providing evidence-based treatment for mental health and substance use disorders and related concerns, and completing clinical documentation within established timeliness and quality standards. The incumbent provides clinical supervision and consultation as assigned and is responsible for the mental health services they provide and supervise. The position is office-based and largely sedentary, with electronic clinical charting.

The position is GS-12. The work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telework is available; the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Master’s or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, a combined field, or a related field from a CACREP-accredited program.
• Full, current, and unrestricted licensure to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, including diagnosis and treatment, unless qualifying under the stated grandfather provision.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• At least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to GS-11 in a major specialty treatment program area, such as PTSD, mental health intensive case management, or an area of equivalent scope and complexity.
• Demonstrated advanced practice skills, judgment, and progressively increasing professional competency.
• In-depth knowledge of the coordinated program and ability to write its policies, procedures, or practice guidelines.
• Ability to make key hiring and candidate-identification decisions.
• Ability to lead coordination of program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments, and discharges.
• Ability to provide subject matter consultation to counseling colleagues and trainees on an interdisciplinary team.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation.
• Must complete required application and onboarding requirements and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a two-year trial period.
• Must be capable of using a computer for electronic clinical charting.
• A transcript must be submitted with the application; foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Responsibilities

• Organize and manage the delivery of comprehensive mental health services and activities.
• Manage key clinical, training, or administrative activities and the professional activities of program staff.
• Develop and implement programs, policies, procedures, and treatment protocols; oversee administrative and programmatic resources.
• Monitor program outcomes using data-driven quality assurance and continuously evaluate and improve substance use disorder treatment and quality initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation requirements and VA, VACO, and hospital policies, procedures, and directives.
• Establish program monitors and outcome measurements and complete program evaluations and required reports for the Medical Center, VISN, and VACO.
• Provide administrative supervision, guidance, and consultation to staff and trainees, and manage personnel concerns including performance concerns.
• Consult with and serve as a resource for other professional personnel concerning mental health services.
• Evaluate and diagnose mental disorders within areas of competence and clinical scope.
• Provide evidence-based treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, behavioral concerns, physical health and psychosocial problems, and psychiatric comorbidities within competence and clinical privileges.
• Complete required clinical charting and documentation within established timeliness, quality, and accreditation standards.
• Provide clinical supervision, guidance, and consultation for staff and trainees as assigned.
• Coordinate program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments, and discharges.
• Make key decisions in hiring and identifying candidates.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for qualifying prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager