Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor- Primary Care Mental Health Integration

SummaryThe Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) will provide evidence-based - brief - population-based interventions to the population enrolled in the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and served by the Primary Care Mental Health Integration Team (PCMHI).QualificationsBasic Requirements:United States CitizenshipNon-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEnglish Language ProficiencyLPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3.jEducationHold a master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health CounselingClinical Rehabilitation CounselingClinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counselingor 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 CounselingCommunity CounselingGerontology CounselingMarital - Couple - and Family CounselingCACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited programAdditional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counselingLicensurePersons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0183 series in VHA must hold a full - current - and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - which includes diagnosis and treatmentNOTE: It is VHA policy that a LPMHC who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health recordGrade DeterminationsIn addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidatesSenior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - GS-12 Experience - Education - and LicensureIn addition to the basic requirements - candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade levelSenior LPMHCs must have five years of post-licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCsDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level - the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illnessAbility to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients - including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practiceAbility to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment2Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needsThis includes individual - group - and/or family counseling - or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial - and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans3Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programsAbility to design system changes based on data4Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients - rendering professional opinions based on experience - expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills5Ability to teach - mentor staff and trainees - and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications6Ability to engage in written and oral communication with leadership/staff and community stakeholders regarding policies - procedures - practice guidelines - and issues pertaining to the practice of the professionReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Preferred ExperienceExperience in providing brief therapeutic interventions - experience in working in a primary care setting - experience in health psychology/behavioral medicine Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the positionMay require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - pulling and pushingMay be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employmentWork Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautionsthe area is adequately lighted - heated and ventilatedHowever - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.DutiesThe LPMHC will demonstrate effectiveness in assessing for problems or concerns unique to patient population status as military veterans while independently - or in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - family members - and significant others - arriving at a reasoned diagnosis of patient problems and needsThe goal of the assessment is to highlight the veteran's strengths - limitations - and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the veteran's functional statusThe incumbent demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients - including geriatric patients - related to their physical limitations - psychological needs - and age-associated illnesses and conditionsThe incumbent must have an understanding of the problems of advancing age and respect for the diversification of the aging veteran population - being sensitive to human growth and development - age-appropriate needs and concerns of the geriatric veteran - and be able to provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this veteran populationDuties include but not limited to: The PCMHI LPMHC uses population-based practice management strategies and maintains competences in the following core domainsPC-MHI Clinical Practice: Conduct functional assessments - based on 30-minute appointments and will triage/refer to specialty care services as appropriateApplies principals of population-based care (defines role and identifies problems rapidly)Majority of all appointments are less than 30 minutesUses brief assessments routinely (e.g. - PHQ-9 - PCL - AUDIT C - etc.)Initial consultation appointments are based on functional assessments and treatment focuses on functional outcomesMaintains daily open access slotsNext available \"scheduled\" appointment is within two weeksProvide brief mental health and behavioral interventions (e.g. - 1-5 sessions for broad range of concerns)Documentation skills Writes clear concise notes - generally 1⁄2-1 page long - with explicit impression - recommendations and plan for PCP use Notes document curbside consultation resultsNotes are completed within 24 hoursConsultation Skills Routinely Consults with PCPs and other PACT team members about plan of care for patientsConducts effective curbside consultationsIntegrates within primary care team and works closely in collaboration with PACT team - Attends PACT meetings and daily huddlesRoutinely provides feedback (verbal and/or written) to PCP and other PACT members same day as referralUses warm-hand off strategyProvides education to PACT on BH issues as well as consultation on tips for successful care management and patient facilitation - even when no direct patient contactAdministration Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System - VISN - and/or National VA committees or task forces - as endorsed by supervisorsParticipates in LPMHC privileging - educational and peer review activities - in accord with LPMHC and medical center policiesParticipates as a non-voting member of the medical staff - in accord with medical staff by-lawsParticipates in support OBVAMC and LPMHC administrative and performance improvement activities - e.g. - by taking on assigned projects and serving on committeesCompletes required clinician and administrative documentation in a timely manner and in accord with governing regulationsAcademic/Teaching/Training Supervises psychology practicum students in accord with training program policies and accrediting agency requirementsProvides staff and student didactic training and consultation as requested in content areas of scholarly and/or clinical expertiseMay supervise or train allied health providers in accord with facility and regulatory standards regarding such trainingResearch / Program Evaluation May participate in program evaluation and/or research activitiesWork Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm - Monday - Friday - subject to change based upon the needs of the facilityTelework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 1001-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact robert.knudsen@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized