EAP Program Coordinator (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor)

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3.g.) Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. - chapter 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
• Education
• 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
• Additional 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 counseling
• Licensure
• Persons 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 treatment
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: Licensed Profession Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator) GS-12 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Experience must have been in a major specialty treatment program area such as - but not limited to - Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - mental health intensive case management (MHICM) - or other areas of equivalent scope and complexity
• Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment - demonstrating progressively more professional competency
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge - skills - and abilities: Ability to make professional evaluations - decisions - and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation
• Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship
• 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
• Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress
• Requires independent judgment and skill
• Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills - including evidenced- based practices - screening - and psychosocial assessment
• Ability to use a wide variety of individual - group - or family counseling interventions
• 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
• 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
• In depth knowledge of the program coordinated and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and or practice guidelines for the program
• Ability to make key decisions in the hiring and identification of top candidates
• Ability to provide leadership in facilitating the process of coordinating program consults - assessments - admissions - care assignments and discharges
• Ability to provide subject matter consultation to other colleagues and trainees within the field of counseling working on an interdisciplinary team
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: All candidates must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position - with or without reasonable accommodation - without hazard to themselves or others
• Candidates must meet the physical requirements outlined in Section II and Section VI of the OPM Operating Manual - Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions and must possess emotional and mental stability.
  
  

Duties

• The incumbent works independently to provide expert level psychosocial interventions that may benefit JHQVAMC - employees - families - and our communities
• Provides a full range of EAP services within commonly accepted standards of counseling practice
• Duties include but are not limited to: Improves productivity and employee engagement Develops employee and manager competencies in managing workplace stress Supports employees and managers during workplace restructuring Supports disaster and emergency preparedness Manages the effect of disruptive incidents Provides short-term counseling to identify and assess problems and assist employees with problem solving Assists with referrals to community services or professional resources Provides orientation and educational programs to promote services of the EAP Provides briefings to educate on the roles of the EAP Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:45am- 4:30pm Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 61356F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VISN9HREDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized