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The Senior SUD Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) provides clinical services, as assigned in Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder Services at the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks (VHSO) and exercises full professional responsibility to provide effective services. 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: Citizenship: 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. Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as an LPMHC as of April 3, 2018, are considered to have met the education requirement for the grade held. 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. 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: Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-12 Advanced Licensure: Must be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs Specialized Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior LPMHCs must have five years of post-licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise. Examples of experience include but are not limited to: Making professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. Providing 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. Providing complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. Establishing goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. Using a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrating sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. Utilizing the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. Developing and facilitating psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. Providing clinical supervision over the clinical practice of an unlicensed LPMHC or LPMHC trainee Practicing professional counseling and to provide mental health services within the knowledge, theory, and training foundations of professional counseling Consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness. Ability 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 practice. Ability to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment. Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling, or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial, and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans. Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs. Ability 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 skills. Ability to teach, mentor staff and trainees, and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications. Ability 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 profession. Preferred Experience: Experience and interest in treating substance use disorder (SUD). Experience with SUD with challenging co-morbid conditions providing behavioral health services through telehealth modalities. Experience working in residential care, and case management. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/106 PART II APPENDIX G43 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Moderate Lifting (15-44 lbs.); Light carrying (Under 15lbs.); Use of fingers; Both hands required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Specific visual requirement (20/50 one, 20/100 other); Hearing (aid permitted); Mental and emotional stability; Ability to hear conversational voice (aid permitted). ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: Allied Health Professionals Total Rewards Major Duties include, but is not limited to: Provides clinical services to special populations, including, but not limited to patients with a history of Substance Use Disorder and relevant co-occurring disorders Integrates assessment data and provides leadership in preparing and implementing the plan of care. Maintains a working relationship with the multidisciplinary treatment team. Develops and maintains working relationships with community mental health/social service agencies, agents of the criminal justice system, and other groups or individuals involved in the care of assigned patients. Routinely contributes to the development assigned of clinical programs, including policies and procedures. Documents in the medical record of assigned patients, in accordance with specific program, medical center, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the Joint Commission (TJC) requirements and Veterans Administration. May participate in the development of research proposals and may conduct research in areas of assignment. Attends meetings and activities in the medical center and the community, as required. Provides mentoring for students, interns, and medical residents, under the general supervision of the program manager. He/she may also serve as an educational resource for professional and community. Provides direct patient care. Work Schedule: 8:00 am-4:30pm, Mon-Fri Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:564-00644-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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