Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Program Manager (PCMHI)

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Responsibilities This position will have supervisory responsibility for PCMHI. PCMHI is a model that integrates mental health services into primary care, the entry point to care for many Veterans. PCMHI is a critical component for early identification of and treatment of mental health concerns for suicide prevention. Properly implemented, PCMHI provides enhanced identification of depression, psychiatric disorders, and substance misuse in primary care; reduced wait times and same-day access to mental health services; and increased rates of mental health treatment engagement and improved clinical outcomes for Veterans. PCMHI is most effective when clinicians and programs practice with fidelity to the model. Programmatic oversight is paramount to ensuring fidelity to the PCMHI model. The Primary Care-Mental Health Integration and Behavioral Health Lab Hub (PCMHI BHL) at the Hampton VAMC provides services to the main medical facility and community-based outpatient clinics. This position serves as the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration Program Manager. The incumbent is responsible for the management of the administrative and clinical aspects of the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Program at the Hampton VA Medical Center. Duties include, but not limited to: Administrative (Supervisory) Responsibilities (50%): The duties of this position are highly complex, as programmatic decisions have significant wide-spread impact on multiple services across sites, including staffing and resources. Standardization of training and programming improves efficiency and effectiveness of programming. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring standardization of processes within each key clinical program noted below, including the development of relevant SOPs and job aids. The incumbent is responsible for strategic planning to ensure the provision of high quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans being served in the clinical programs detailed below. In addition, the Program Manager has broad management responsibilities, including full administrative and operation responsibility for the following key clinical programs: PCMHI Behavioral Health Lab Measurement Based Care, The National PCMHI Competency Training Program, PCMHI Self-Management Support Programming, and PCMHI Research Development and Implementation. Clinical Responsibilities (40%): The incumbent independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. They must possess the knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families, and groups. They also independently conduct psychosocial assessments. The incumbent develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team if applicable. They possess the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. The incumbent has working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. They develop patient education materials/modules and assists with Veteran Peer and Family activities as assigned. The incumbent independently provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan. Ability to evaluate incumbents own practice through professional peer review, case conferences and other organizational means. Incumbent communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Other Significant Responsibilities (10%): The incumbent has contact on a regular and recurring basis with individuals representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. Has frequent personal contact with the public, clinical/administrative service/service line chiefs, medical center employees, and representatives of local and state organizations, AFGE/NAGE Union officials, medical center top management, and high-level VISN and VA Headquarters program officials. The incumbent serves on decision-making committees and task forces at the medical center. The incumbent regularly reviews, revises, and writes service line policies. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact veronica.richardson3@va.gov, 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. Qualifications 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: 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. 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: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR GS-13: Experience, Education and Licensure. 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. 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 programs budget. They may also supervise employees assigned to the program. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work are generally minor. The work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings. Use of fingers may be required to operate computers. There may be occasional light lifting/carrying (15 pounds or less) requirements to relocate boxed materials from one area to another, equipment and room set-up, and ambulation related to physical inspections of the facilities. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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 applicants 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.