Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor- Suicide Prevention Case Manager

Duties will vary by grade but at the GS-11 level:

• Weekly clinical contact as needed for high-risk Veterans discharged from inpatient status for the first thirty days -post-discharge while identified as high-risk in collaboration with other treatment team members.
• Ongoing clinical contact as needed for Veterans deemed at high risk for suicide following national guidelines and those Veterans placed on the high-risk list.
• Preparation and updates in conjunction with the primary mental health team of the suicide-specific assessment treatment plan safety plan and follow-up notes including treatment plan updates; d. Provision of minimum monthly clinical case management contact with all high-risk Veterans in the program.
• Coordination of all elements of mental health and primary care including active communication with all providers involved in the provision of comprehensive care to high-risk Veterans.
• Provision of evidence-based treatment to high-risk Veterans (i.e. group individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and completion of specialized training and/or certification in evidence-based treatment for high-risk behavior (e.g. Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
• Review/provision of comprehensive discharge planning and social service referrals to high-risk Veterans and families.
• Participation in administrative committees associated with tracking and monitoring of high-risk Veterans and serving as back-up to Suicide Prevention Coordinator and other Suicide Prevention Case Managers as needed.
• Provides case management services while utilizing professional skill objectivity insight advanced clinical training and experience to interpret data identify viable treatment options and recognize potential high-risk factors acuity and needs for services.
• Obtains any relevant HIPAA clearances to allow transmittal of facility data on suicide attempts and individuals at risk and transmitting the data following cyber security requirements as applicable for this sensitive data.
• Ensuring that identified high-risk Veterans have a 24-hour resource number to call and ways to get assistance if an immediate crisis should occur.
• Respond to consults from the National Veterans Crisis Line and internal facility calls regarding suicidal Veterans; m. Other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday Thru Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: AD-HOC
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: Hold a masters 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 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.

• Loss of Licensure: Once licensed LPMHCs must maintain a full valid and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling which includes diagnosis and treatment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS-0183 LPMHC occupation and may result in termination of employment.

English Language Proficiency: LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 Part II chapter 3 section A paragraph 3.j.

Grade Determinations:

Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor GS-9 (Entry Level)

Experience Education and Licensure: The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one year of experience(post-masters degree) or for LPMHCs at the masters or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in paragraph 3.b. and are working toward completion of prerequisites for addition the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (c) below.
Assignments: Individuals assigned as GS-9 LPMHCs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised including co-signatures where required as they are not functioning at the full performance level. They are typically assigned to VHA areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Since they are not practicing at an independent level they should not be assigned to areas where independent practice is required such as in a CBOC unless there is a licensed LPMHC in the area who can provide supervision for practice. Under supervision LPMHCs at this level provide professional mental health counseling services.

In addition to the basic requirements the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

1. Ability to engage in intake and assessment problem identification diagnosis treatment planning and implementation continuum of care evaluation and follow-up.
2. Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices.
3. Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive affective behavioral or systemic interventions and strategies that address high risk behaviors wellness personal growth and career development across the life span.
4. Ability to use a wide variety of individual group or family counseling interventions.
5. Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal interpersonal and relational functioning of individuals groups and families and on the counseling approaches strategies and techniques that will best help patients function effectively.
6. Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents data management maintaining accurate timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services such as Telehealth.
7. Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA.
8. Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes case laws ethical codes and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.
9. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds.

Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor GS-11 (Full Performance Level)

Experience Education and Licensure:In addition to the basic requirements candidates must have at least one year of post-masters or post- doctoral degree mental health counseling experience (VA or non-VA experience) and must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (c) below. LPMHCs may provide clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee. Some state licenses do not license an individual to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. Please refer to specific state licensing laws regarding the requirements for providing clinical supervision.
Assignments: This is the full performance grade level for LPMHCs. At this 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. LPMHCs may be assigned to any VHA area consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. LPMHCs may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities.

In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

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 family counseling interventions.
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.

Qualifications standards continues in education section