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 Policy
• 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
• 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
• Drivers License: A valid state drivers license is required as this position requires local travel to provide community-based care to Veterans through the use of a government vehicle or other individual arrangements
• 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: GS-13 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Program Manager: Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above you must also meet all the KSAs at the GS-12 grade level as well as the KSAs for the GS-13: GS-12 KSAs: 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
• GS-13 KSAs: Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management
• Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process
• Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided
• Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs
• Assignments: LPMHCs manage the daily operations of multiple programs, develop and implement program policies and procedures, or serve as chief or principal counselor to a number of LPHMCs
• They are responsible for oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and monitoring of outcomes
• They prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national leadership
• Decisions may affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment
• They may be responsible for the program's budget
• They may also supervise employees assigned to the program
• Preferred Experience: 1 year mental health leadership experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies
• The incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the incumbent or others
• The incumbent must be able to pass VA requirements for operation of a government vehicle
• Position may require walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams
• Position may require travel to provide clinical services to Veterans in the community, clinics, medical centers, CBOC's, etc
• This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures
• transcribing
• viewing a computer terminal
• extensive reading
• and repetitive motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.