Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor- Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

15h • 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, carrying a caseload and developing treatment plans. They will utilize the initial assessment to mutually develop treatment goals with the Veteran and guide the plan of care towards meeting those goals. This role requires a high level of understanding of treatment coordination and discharge planning, working within the VA system to assist Veterans in re-engaging in their community of choice upon discharge. The counselor provides ongoing treatment coordination services from admission until discharge, coordinating closely with the entire treatment team. This includes daily group treatment coordination meetings for the assigned caseload, and individual meetings with Veterans at least once every other week. Provision of a minimum of 5 group hours a week and supplemental individual sessions as needed is required. The incumbent will coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs, and community agency programs. They will independently identify high-risk patients, provide crisis intervention services, coordinate family conferences, and serve as a liaison to family members. The role requires working knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. The counselor will establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families, working with patients and families experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems using individual, group, and family counseling and therapy skills. Consultation services will be provided to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on healthcare and adherence to treatment plans. The ability to evaluate one's own practice through professional peer review, case conferences, and other organizational means is essential. Effective oral and written communication with people from varied backgrounds is required. General knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services related to special programs, service-connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension is needed, facilitating referrals based on Veterans' needs and eligibility. The incumbent participates in regular RRTP team meetings, sharing observations and information to enhance Veteran treatment. The Licensed Professional Counselor will collaborate with the RRTP team to develop and implement recovery-oriented programming for the care and treatment of Veterans in RRTP. Working knowledge and skill in word processing, data management, and other computer systems, especially those used by VHA, is necessary. Compliance with VA performance measures and collaboration with the assigned team to shape practice patterns to improve performance measures is expected. Attendance and participation in regular Service Line and Team meetings, and completion of all mandatory web-based trainings by stipulated due dates are required. Collaboration in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact patients and staff, including initiating and participating in ethical consultations, is part of the role. Maintaining complete Veteran confidentiality, analyzing ethical/care issues, applying appropriate theoretical principles, and ensuring application of institutional policy are crucial. Provision of considerate care, respecting Veterans', family, and staff personal values and belief systems is expected. The Senior LPMHC will be expected to be eligible to provide supervision for those LPMHCs who require supervision for licensure. 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement.
• 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.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For GS-09 grade level: Less than one year of experience (post-master's degree) or 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.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for GS-09: 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.
• For GS-11 grade level: At least one year of post-master's or post-doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience).
• For GS-11 grade level: Licensed to practice at the independent practice level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for GS-11: Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendations 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 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.
• Provide consultation services to other staff regarding psychosocial needs.
• 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.
• Comply with VA performance measures and work with the assigned team to improve performance.
• 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 LPMHCs who require supervision for licensure (for Senior LPMHC role).
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)
• Federal employee benefits package (comprehensive benefits, access to a range of benefits designed to make a federal career rewarding)

What This Job Offers

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