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Summary 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. Responsibilities The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) Program Manager is a very complex assignment, working in the facility and multiple communities across a large geographic area (18 counties in 3 states) to provide advocacy, training, and clinical consultation for the most vulnerable, high-risk patients. Supervises the facility Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health-Veterans Enhanced Treatment (REACH-VET) program, including direct supervision of the REACH-VET Coordinator, who is an advanced practicing licensed social worker, and the REACH VET Nurse Case Manager, who is a registered nurse. Works with Mental Health Leadership advising providers from diverse disciplines regarding interventions to mitigate risk for Veterans with complex mental health, substance abuse and medical risk factors. Extensive collaboration with a range of VA and community partners including law enforcement agencies and first responders, county Medical Examiners, VA Central Office, VA Regional Counsel and VISN leadership. Performs administrative and personnel management function relative to staff supervised on the SPP. Established guidelines and performance expectations for staff, clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system; observe workers' performance; demonstrate and conduct work performance critiques; and provide informal feedback and periodically evaluate employee performance. Incumbent works to resolve informal complaints and grievances; develops work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary; provides advice and counsel to workers related to work and administrative matters; effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area; and reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests. Responsible for furthering the goals of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to assure the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives and by adhering to nondiscriminatory employment practices in regard to race, color, religion, sex, and affirmative action for the area under incumbent supervision in the following: (1) merit promotion of employees and recruitment and hiring of applicants; (2) fair treatment of all employees; (3) encouragement and recognition of employee achievements; (4) career development of employees; and (5) full utilization of their skills. Advanced knowledge and mastery of theories of mental illness and specialized treatment to develop a diagnosis and treatment plan. Independently develops the mental health treatment plan and recovery goals with the Veteran. Experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for various types of crisis including housing and financial emergencies, psychiatric relapse, potential suicide, violence, and other high-risk behaviors and/or situations. Provides intensive case management services to assigned Veterans and significant others, consistent with the goal of the VA Mental Health Initiative, and with all relevant medical center policies and procedures. Completes documentation in compliance with appropriate documentation standards. Provides Veterans with expert level psychotherapy. Understands the challenges of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and/or family. Responsible for using current resources and community service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans. Provides consultation to colleagues and other employees on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans. Offers training to other staff in both formal and informal settings including team meetings, grand rounds, and continuing education offerings. Leading all Suicide Prevention Program (SPP) responses to audits of the facility's suicide prevention efforts, to include visits by the Office of the Inspector General, the Joint Commission, and others. Responsibility for facility and VISN issue briefs required for effective communication regarding self-directed violence. Serving on facility and VISN-level committees and workgroups impacting policies and practice patterns. Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Chief of Mental Health, Chief of Staff, and/or Facility Director. Responsible for maintaining the facility Category I Patient Record Flag for High Risk for Suicide which identifies Veterans who have been deemed at-risk for potential suicide, in consultation with their Principal Mental Health Provider. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-Hoc-May be available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60830-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications *** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September30, 2025 or until position is filled. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** 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. Drivers License Requirement Possess a Valid State Issued Driver's License. English Language Proficiency Must be proficient in spoken & 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 & Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; OR Hold a master's or doctoral degree in related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling & 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, & 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 must hold a full, current, & unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor. Grade Determinations: GS-13 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. AND GS-13 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: 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. AND GS-12 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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. Preferred Experience: VA Experience Preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The position is generally involving activities normally associated office based mental health practices. No unusual physical demands are placed on the incumbent. The work requires extreme patience and control of emotions in a multi-disciplinary work setting. Occasional automobile driving may be necessary in meeting one's responsibilities. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.