The principal role of the Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) is to provide integrated mental health and substance abuse evaluation and treatment for Veterans with comorbid disorders who receive care in the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program (STP) and other programs within the Behavioral Health Service (BHS) or Mann-Grandstaff Veterans Administration Medical Center (MGMC). 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: A. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). B. 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). C. 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. NOTE: It is VHA policy that a LPMHC who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part 11, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.j. 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: 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-master's 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: Ability to make professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Advanced knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship. 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. Ability to provide complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill. Ability to establish goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment. Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/106, Part II, Appendix G43 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. ["This position is based in the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program (STP) primarily at the Coeur d'Alene Community Based Outpatient Clinic of the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC. The incumbent follows Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) guidelines and community best-practice standards of care in providing integrated addictions and mental health treatment to Veteran patients. Functional areas include: Psychosocial Evaluation and Treatment:\nProvides comprehensive, coordinated, integrated care for Veterans with co-occurring substance-related and mental health disorders, with a goal of maximizing health outcomes and decreasing morbidity due to substance-related and mental health conditions. Incumbent's role has a direct and significant effect on the effectiveness of health care delivery to the patient population. Continuously improve individual and organizational health care provision, with focus on dually diagnosed Veterans, in accordance with Agency and Veterans' goals. Specific services include, but are not limited to: Provides comprehensive, integrated substance abuse & mental health intake evaluations for new substance abuse patients. Provides comprehensive, multi-disciplinary treatment planning, with focus on integrative treatment for Veterans with co-occurring addictions and mental health disorders. Provides individual and group psychotherapy to new and established patients, for a full range of Veteran patients with diverse clinical needs. Provides Evidence-Based Psychotherapies appropriate to patients' needs. Provides supportive interventions for individuals receiving office-based buprenorphine or other medication assisted treatments for substance use. Interventions include, but are not limited to: Pre-induction assessments for individuals beginning buprenorphine Group interventions specific to supporting continued involvement in office-based buprenorphine program Case management of patients prescribed buprenorphine Provides evaluation and treatment through tele-health technologies, as clinically and administratively indicated. Assists Veterans in crisis, in collaboration with the Suicide Prevention Team, Mental Health Clinic, Emergency Department, and others. Facilitates referrals for patients in crisis, when indicated. As a Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC), monitors assigned Veterans. Assures all assigned high risk patients complete a collaborative Safety Plan documenting crisis prevention strategies, in keeping with facility policies and processes. Care Collaboration, Coordination, and Consultation: Actively coordinates evaluation and treatment activities with other members of Veterans' medical and mental health treatment teams as well as family members and others invited by Veterans to participate in their care. Develops, implements, monitors, and revises plans of treatment that are based on best practices for Veterans with co-occurring disorders, Veteran's assessed needs and preferences, and the input of other Veterans' current and projected holistic (biopsycho-socio-spiritual) needs and projected course. Takes lead to coordinate and conduct team conferences for Veterans with dual diagnoses. Maintains and help others maintain conscientious focus on needs of Veterans with co-occurring substance-related and mental health disorders. Provides direction and consultation to SATP providers, BHS Home Team providers, and other treatment team members regarding best practices for integrated care. Maintains awareness of developments in the field and provide consultation and training to others when new treatment options become available. Actively coordinates and communicates with primary care teams and medical specialists (e.g. nutrition, palliative care, hospice) regarding the Veterans care plans and needs. Establishes and maintains networks, both within the VAMC, local CBOC's, other VISN20 sites and agencies within the Spokane catchment area. Actively collaborate with these agencies to support expeditious provision of high-quality, integrated care for Veterans with complex needs. Administrative Duties: Maintains lists of community, state, and national resources, organizations, and support groups that support patient care, with special focus on programs for dually diagnosed patients. Keep staff appraised of ways these can be integrated into care plans to help patients meet their physical, social, spiritual, or financial needs. Contributes to administrative oversight and further development of buprenorphine program based on best practices and patient needs. Contributes to regional and national work groups that focus on provision of care to dually diagnosed Veterans, and report on these to service and facility leadership. Maintains tracking systems for special projects and ongoing data collection requirements. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]