Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (BHIP MH Treatment Coordinator) EDRP Approved

About the role

The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) serves as a member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). BHIP is a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals which provides comprehensive, accessible, Veteran-centered mental health care. The BHIP Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) is responsible for various aspects of assessing, diagnosing, treating, and coordinating the treatment of Veterans within BHIP and the Mental Health Service Line.

Responsibilities

• Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services which requires advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management interventions used in treatment of Veterans with a range of DSM diagnoses, substance abuse/dependence, and poly-traumatic injuries.
• May have clinical program management responsibilities under the direction of program managers, program coordinators, or discipline specific supervisors which include the operation and management of various psychology or System (VATVCBHCS) programs.
• May assist with coordinating of administrative and programmatic resources of various clinical programs with oversight by program managers, program coordinators, or discipline specific supervisors.
• May coordinate programming within the various mental health programs with managers of other programs in mental health as well as with discipline supervisors of affected staff assigned to these programs.
• Aids managers of mental health programs in making sure that work is assigned in a systematic way and meets facility and VA guidelines/standards.
• Understands mental health treatment goals and interventions, acts as point of contact, care coordination, and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to ensure regular specialty mental health engagement of Veterans assigned to the MHTC, provides Veteran/family education, self-management resources, completion of care coordination needs assessment, provision of mental health care coordination; monitoring and adjusting plan as needed, and supporting evaluation of mental health care coordination. Provides transition of care hand off, through written communication in the electronic health record, and/or submission of relevant consults.
• Serves as the representative for Psychology Service on various Psychology Service, Mental Health Service Line, System, or VISN administrative committees or work groups as assigned.
• Provides subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in the specialty area, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective practice skills. In addition, there may be opportunities to teach and mentor staff and students in the specialty area of practice.
• Expands clinical knowledge in the profession, demonstrating innovation in the creation of new models of psychosocial assessment or intervention to identify and address specialized clinical needs. Ability to assist in drafting policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the specialty population or specialty treatment program as assigned.

Requirements

This is a developmental level for a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC).

Qualifications

• Education - Master's or doctoral degree in one of the following: 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/.
• Licensure - Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. NOTE: Applicants pending the completion of the licensure requirement may be selected (GS-09 only) and given up to a three-year appointment.