Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator) Dbc

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. 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.
This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
This is an Internal Announcement open ONLY to Current, Permanent VHA Federal Employees. First area of consideration will be given to VA Augusta Health Care System Employees.All other applicants must apply under the External Announcement# CBTB-12211230-24-CDP to receive consideration.
Veterans preference does not apply to this Announcement.
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Duties
Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) (Program Coordinator) DBC is with the Mental Health Service Line, located at the VA Augusta Health Care System in Augusta, GA; and in the Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP).Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:FUNCTIONS:Disruptive Behavior Committee (DBC)

• Participate in monthly DBC Community of Practice and Violence Risk Assessment conference calls provided by Central Office -WVPP.
• Coordinates and manages an interdisciplinary team (known as Disruptive Behavior Committee). Team members include Chief of Police or designee, Patient Advocates, Patient Safety Personnel, Physicians, Pharmacists, Nursing, Mental Health Professionals, Regional Counsel (Ad-Hoc), Labor partners, and other clinical and non-clinical personnel and executives.
• Chairs the DBC, provides oversight and coordination of health care system-wide efforts to prevent, reduce, manage, triage and respond to incidents of threatening, violent, or otherwise safety-compromising behaviors perpetrated by patients, visitors, and other non-employee beneficiaries of the VHA.
• Oversees and coordinates day to day business of the DBC.
• Works with Administrative support and/or Program Specialist to produce agenda with timely follow-up to all decisions.
• In conjunction with the WVPP Manager and WVPP team, implements, education, training and updates for VAAHCS Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior and Workplace Violence Prevention or other related VAAHCS policies or standard operating procedures for the implementation of VHA Directive 1160.08 and other laws, policies and guidance.
• Manages computer-based flagging systems through VISTA and CPRS; manages Behavioral Patient Record Flags to include, flag entry and flag review every 2 years maximum or upon status change. Identifies and reviews flags of new VAAHCS patients and notifies/coordinates with other site DBC points of contact when transferring flags to other VHA sites communicating any risk relevant data to that site.
• Follows procedures including timely response to Order of Behavioral Restriction request for reviews.
• Manages all VISN and Central office requests for information about disruptive behavior training or any data about disruptive behavior incidents.
• Works closely with the Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) manager to ensure all local and national policies and directives are being met.
• Provides expert consultation with VAAHCS clinical and treatment providers, staff and prescribers regarding management of disruptive patients.
• Provides guidance to all VAAHCS employees on managing disruptive behavior commensurate for their level of training.
• Works closely with the ACOS, MHS, the Chief of Staff, other executive leadership, and service line leadership to ensure the DBC operates within local and national best practices.

Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB)

• Supports the PMDB Coordinator in education of PMDB based on WBRA results.
• Obtains and maintains PMDB Certified Facility Trainer status within 90 days of hire or whenever soonest available Train the Trainer class is offered.
• Supports PMDB classes by providing instruction for VAAHCS employees on a recurrent and ongoing basis with frequency determined based on need and availability but no less than once a month or whatever is needed to maintain PMDB facility trainer status.

Employee Threat Assessment Team (ETAT)

• Serves on the Employee Threat Assessment Team (ETAT).
• Coordinates with WVPP Manager to assess, triage, and manages ETAT cases as needed..

Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment (WBRA)

• Assists in leading and coordinating the annual Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment based on data collection and analysis of DBRS through the year.

Clinical Teaching/Training

• Provides clinical supervision to students, interns and fellows including but not limited to serving as social work field instructor and/or task supervisor.
• Supports activities of the VAAHCS Mental Health Training Programs and provides/participates in relevant educational seminars, meetings, subcommittees and workgroups.
• Provides training and guidance to other health professions trainees/staff.

Miscellaneous

• Serves as an advocate for recognizing the role trauma and stress plays in system operations.
• Works collaboratively with executive leadership, internal stakeholders, and community partners to identify, assess, and manage individuals and/or circumstances that may pose a threat of violence toward the organization or its staff.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm (subject to change based on agency need).
Compressed/Flexible:Available.
Telework: Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not require.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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
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. 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. 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-0183 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.
• English Language Proficiency. LPMHC Candidates 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.
GS-12, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator):
(a) 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-11 grade level. Experience must have been in a major specialty treatment program area such as, but not limited to, Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Mental Health intensive case management (MHICM), or other areas of equivalent scope and complexity. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency.
AND
(b) Assignments. LPMHC Program Coordinators are administratively responsible for a clinical program and provide treatment to patients in a major specialty. They manage the daily operations of the program, develop policies and procedures, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They may supervise unlicensed graduate LPMHCs and may administratively manage any employees assigned to their program.
AND
(c) 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:
1.In depth knowledge of the program coordinated, and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and or practice guidelines for the program.
2.Ability to make key decisions in the hiring and identification of top candidates.
3.Ability to provide leadership in facilitating the process of coordinating program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments and discharges.
4.Ability to provide subject matter consultation to other colleagues and trainees within the field of counseling working on an interdisciplinary team.
References: VA Handbook 5005/106, Part II, Appendix G43 dated April 3, 2018.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
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.

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