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This Position combines Veterans Justice Outreach and Health Care for ReEntry Veterans. The social worker conducts outreach in the catchment area's prisons, jails and courts completing psychosocial assessments and providing case management services. Works in conjunction with the HUDVASH, Community Employment Coordinator and Health Care for Homeless Veteran Programs to coordinate needs and services of this program with VA and non-VA providers assuring access and ongoing services as needed. 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. 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-0101 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. Exception. VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure. This exception only applies up to the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed. Physical Requirements. Please see "Physical Requirements" listed below. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Preferred Experience: Experience in conducting outreach to those involved in the judicial system. Experience in conducting interview/assessments in community setting, jail, courts, prisons Experience in working with those who are being monitored by treatment court and Veterans being released from correctional institutions. Experience in providing case management and discharge planning to a variety of clients spanning community, courts, and legal institutions Experience in working with clients who have co-occurring medical and mental health dis-orders. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-9 (Entry Level) - The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one year of experience (post-master's degree 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 and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills.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) 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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 psycho social 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 psychoeducation groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy. References: VA Handbook 5005/106 Part II Appendix G43. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting/carrying (15 - 44 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; walking/standing (up to 5 hours); Operation of a motor vehicle; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic and shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted) cognitive, mental and emotional stability. ["Program Coordination and Development Works with community partners to develop Veteran courts or dockets to address the gap of rehabilitative care not currently available to Veterans within the catchment area's judicial system. Draft appropriate policies and procedures required for each setting. Attends justice system staff trainings relevant to working with offenders and high-risk populations. Represents the VA at community meetings, seeking or maintaining membership on relevant boards, councils, and task forces. Collaborates to support engagement in care for eligible Veterans recently discharged from correctional institutions to include: medical, mental, social, financial, legal, etc. Conducts justice-related staff development programs for all staff. Clinical Assessment Conducts active outreach in maximum, medium, or minimum-security correctional institutions usually under a \"no hostage\" policy. Conducts outreach to eligible Veteran for treatment courts. Interprets data and identifies viable treatment options. Assesses high risk factors, acuity, and the need for services. Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. Knowledge of Suicide Prevention policy and procedure, recognizes warning signs for suicide ideation or recent self-directed violence, and utilizes the identified screening tools to assess suicide risk. Identifies and interviews justice-involved Veterans in the appropriate setting to conduct needs assessment and determine appropriate referrals, linkage, and coordination for VA and non-VA services. Establishes a relationship with correctional medical and psychiatric leadership and personnel, to ensure continuity of care. Comprehensive Case Management Ongoing case manager for justice-involved Veterans who are being monitored by treatment courts and as needed for Veterans released from correctional institutions. Completes ROI, assist/submits VA eligibility and enrollment, other VA Forms, or application for benefits through VBA. Advocates/consultant on the complex processes. Provides referral to VA medical and mental health treatment of VA and non-VA services, i.e. Grant and Per Diem programs, Health Care for Homeless Veterans contract residential treatment, Domiciliary or Psychiatric Residential Rehabilitation Programs, or Compensated Work Therapy or Supported Employment programs. Collaborates with county probation officers, prosecutors, public defenders, retained defense counsel, and parole officers as appropriate to develop a post-release plan and/or community-based alternatives to incarceration. Active member of the court treatment team, providing/coordinating the provision of clinical treatment using evidence-based models appropriate to the justice-involved Veteran population, i.e. Motivational Interviewing, Seeking Safety, or other evidence-based interventions. Assists Veterans with appointments at VA medical centers and other community agencies for medical, psychiatric, substance abuse, vocational and other services consistent with Veteran's goals associated with healthful independent living. Participates in development of a treatment plan with Veteran. Responsible for the assessment, identification, facilitation, referral, and linkage to appropriate referrals. Education, Supervision, Coaching and Mentoring Documents contacts with justice-involved Veterans per VHA policy in the electronic health record while following standard procedures regarding the transmission and storage of documents with Veteran's PII. Provides input into treatment planning to the court and reports on treatment progress in VA services as needed, including, if indicated, treatment related toxicology testing. Works with justice system officials to keep written justice system reporting requirements to a workable minimum to establish court reporting processes that meet these requirements. Applies advanced knowledge and demonstrated ability to provide consultation to colleagues and students rendering professional opinions based on advanced level of experience and expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills. Authorized representative in accordance to SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) in accordance and completion of the training by Substance Abuse and mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).Participates in \"on call\" coverage for Social Work Service. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Available at 50/50 to highly qualified candidate Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for Highly Qualified Candidate Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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