Licensed Profession Mental Health Counselor, Substance Use Disorder Program

Summary

The Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Program consists of an intensive outpatient program, medication management, individual and group outpatient services, and at times inpatient consultation located within Mental Health Service. The clinician holding this position will provide evaluation and treatment of veterans engaged in the SUD program. Care may be provided in outpatient, residential, and inpatient settings.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

12/19/2023 to 03/25/2024

• Salary

$69,107 - $89,835 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 11

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Locations

2 vacancies in the following locations:

• Danville, IL 1 vacancy

• Peoria, IL 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

Occasional travel

• You may be expected to travel for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0183 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CAZP-12239564-24-LT

• Control number

766799400

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This job is open to

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Area of consideration: 1st: Veterans with preference. 2nd: All other candidates.

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Duties

• Completes intake evaluations for individuals with substance use disorders and other comorbid health conditions for purposes of diagnostic clarification and treatment planning.

• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions as a member of the Substance Use Disorder Program, including individual counseling and psychoeducation/counseling as well as psychoeducational and/or psychotherapeutic groups. Best practices, clinical practice guidelines, and evidence-based treatment protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions.

• Serves as case manager for a panel of patients. Attends to a broad range of patient needs that are not fully met directly through the clinical services provided by the SUD Program itself, including but not limited to those needs dealing with physical health, employment, finances, family, social support, and housing.

• Provides same-day services as needed for Veterans, including referring patients for emergency medical treatment, psychiatric medication evaluation, or non-medical detoxification as well as coordinating the admission of patients to an inpatient psychiatric unit.

• Assesses patient interest in and eligibility for Medication Assisted Therapies and provides referrals for evaluation for these treatments.

• Participates in staff meetings and team huddles regarding clinical, administrative, and staff development issues.

• Ensures that all clinical work is documented accurately and in a timely fashion, consistent with the MHSL and facility expectations and policies.

• Assures that appropriate referrals to specialty programs, including community resources, are accomplished. This may include referrals to other Mental Health Programs (i.e., Mental Health Clinic, Neuropsychology, PTSD Clinic, Mental Health Intensive Case Management, Compensated Work Therapy, Homeless services, Vocational Rehabilitation).

• Fully accountable for practice, including entering patient visits, measuring outcomes to interventions, and meeting productivity standards.

• Participates in the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using data-driven quality assurance processes.

• Implements process improvement initiatives to promote optimal service delivery.

• Promotes patient independence and achievement of optimal health through appropriate psychosocial education and community referrals

• The incumbent may provide services in Community Based Outpatient locations other than their assigned duty station and/or may provide services to these locations over Telehealth, including VA Video Connect and other technology.

Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday

Telework: Yes

• Hybrid inperson/telework as determined by the agency policy.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

• You may be required to serve a probationary period.

• Subject to background/security investigation.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g.

• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

• Education: Must 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). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. (Transcript Required)

• Licensure: Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnoses and treatment.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following grade specific requirements must also be met.

GS-11 grade level:

Experience: Must have at least 1 year of post-master's degree mental health counseling experience. The experience must have been obtained AFTER earning a Master's Degree in mental health counseling. The experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current mental health counseling practice. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to LPMHC experience at the next lower grade level.

OR

Education: In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in mental health counseling, or a related field may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional mental health counseling experience.

AND

Licensure: At the GS-11 level, they are licensed to independently practice professional counseling and to provide mental health services within the knowledge, theory, and training foundations of professional counseling. They may be assigned to any mental health VHA area, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. LPMHCs may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities.

You will be rated on the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

1. Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation.

2. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship.

3. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the counseling process within various specialty areas, build on the foundation of competence through regular meetings and discussions to explain assignments, review progress of cases and confer about the counseling perspectives and orientation.

4. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill.

5. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced-based practices, screening and psychosocial assessment.

6. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.

7. Ability to fully utilize the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices.

8. Ability to develop and facilitate psychotherapy and psycho-education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy.

References: The basic requirements for employment as a VHA Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor are described in VA Handbook 5005/42, Part II, Appendix G43.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: This position requires minimal physical exertion, light lifting (under 15 lbs), light carrying (under 15 lbs), working closely with others and working alone. The employee will use a computer to access the medical record for entry and retrieval of information. The employee will need to be able to hear conversational speech. Hearing aid permitted. The employee will be expected to move around the patient care environment.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.