Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor-Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)

Veterans Health Administration • White City, OR

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor provides integrated mental health services in a primary care setting, with emphasis on assessment and brief, evidence-based interventions. The position develops and documents treatment plans, supports primary care providers through consultation, and helps patients receive appropriate care while remaining with their primary care provider when clinically appropriate. The role also includes clinical supervision of trainees and unlicensed staff, participation in training program development, and collaboration with the PCMHI Coordinator on clinical programs and quality improvement. The position is not virtual. Ad-hoc telework may be available at the supervisor’s discretion. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position may be asked to provide full-time service at a community-based outpatient clinic in Grants Pass or K-Falls. EDRP student loan reimbursement may be available to eligible applicants, subject to program approval and other requirements.

Requirements

• Master’s or doctoral degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, a combined program, or a related field from a CACREP-accredited program.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, including diagnosis and treatment.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• At least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• Five years of post-licensed experience demonstrating advanced practice skills, judgment, progressive professional competency, and expertise.
• Licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs.
• Advanced knowledge of theories and modalities for specialized treatment of complex mental illness, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
• Advanced skill in specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs, including individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced psychosocial or case management interventions.
• Ability to coordinate specialized psychosocial services and programs and design system changes based on data.
• Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on psychosocial treatment.
• Ability to teach, mentor, and supervise staff and trainees for licensure or specialty certifications.
• Ability to communicate with leadership, staff, and community stakeholders about professional policies, procedures, guidelines, and practice issues.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service.
• Must complete required background/security investigation and online onboarding, provide acceptable identification, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a primary care setting or prior experience with same-day mental health needs or crisis management.

Responsibilities

• Provide diagnostic and evaluation services appropriate to primary care, including evaluation of emotional and behavioral problems and suicide assessment.
• Provide psychological interventions consistent with training and expertise, emphasizing brief, evidence-based interventions effective in primary care.
• Develop, implement, and document treatment plans for an assigned patient caseload, including timely completion of clinical reminders.
• Facilitate patient and family education relevant to the primary care setting and presenting mental or behavioral health concerns.
• Consult with primary care providers to support clinical decision-making, build on provider interventions, and improve provider-patient working relationships.
• Provide clinically appropriate interventions that allow patients to remain with their primary care provider for their health care needs.
• Supervise trainees providing direct clinical care.
• Perform administrative duties, including scheduling, responding to Veterans’ calls and secure messages, writing reports, and attending organizational meetings.
• Complete VA National PCMHI Competency Training and maintain competency and fidelity to the PCMHI model through ongoing review of relevant data and metrics.
• Provide primary clinical supervision for unlicensed staff and/or students, including backup supervision in other rotations as directed by the Training Director; provide group supervision to interns as needed.
• Participate in the development and ongoing improvement of training programs and attend relevant training meetings.
• Assist the PCMHI Coordinator in designing, developing, and implementing clinical programs for a team of treatment providers.
• Assist with program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor clinical program effectiveness.
• Coordinate services by maintaining liaisons with other health care programs.
• Comply with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student loan reimbursement for eligible participants, with awards up to $200,000 and eligibility periods of one to five years, subject to program review and approval.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.

What This Job Offers

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