Summary This position is located within the Behavioral Health Service at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington. This GS-12 Mental Health Counselor serves in the role of clinical provider (25%) and as the coordinator of the Disruptive Behavior Committee (DBC 75%). Responsibilities The incumbent will provide clinical services in the General Mental Health clinic. Duties will include: Clinical Responsibilities (25% of time) Provide a variety of direct psychological treatment services addressing the complex psychosocial issues faced by the Veteran patients served in General Mental Health Outpatient setting. These services include, but are not limited to intake assessment, walk-in/same-day assessment and care coordination, discharge planning, treatment plan development and implementation, follow-up/outreach to Veterans Crisis Line callers, and various treatment interventions. Assures all high-risk patients have completed a Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation and MH Suicide Safety Plan which documents Veteran-centered crisis management strategies. Completes these plans in collaboration with the Veteran, his/her/their primary BHIP therapist or psychiatry provider, or the inpatient treatment team. Manages Veteran crisis situations within the Behavioral Health Service outpatient MH clinic, including facilitation of referrals for psychiatric patients in crisis situations. Facilitate utilization of resources by assessing eligibility and making referrals to a variety of VA resources and community agencies for assistance with social, emotional, financial, and physical problems. Aid as needed with applications for benefits or negotiating service systems. Coordinate placements in therapeutic housing and other placement options including domiciliary, state soldier's homes, and community residential alternatives. Disruptive Behavior Committee Coordinator (75% of time) Work closely with the WVPP to oversee the day-to-day business of the DBC, including producing agendas, minutes, and follow-up action items, as well as coordinating risk mitigation strategy recommendations and therapeutic limit-setting actions to the facility's Chief of Staff. Conducts thorough clinical chart reviews to develop evidence-based behavioral threat assessments. Chart reviews include clinical and administrative information from the electronic medical record (EMR) including military records (when available), criminal history, and any other legally available records to cross-check the accuracy of information, interview with the reporter of the disruptive incident and with the disruptive patient's care providers. Schedules, organizes, and serves as the official recorder of the Disruptive Behavior Committee (DBC) monthly meetings as a mandatory duty of this position. If unable to attend due to leave, proactively finds appropriate coverage and coordinates it with meeting Chair. Manage database to record all disruptive behavior reports, completed threat assessments, DBC recommendations, patient record flags placed, and due dates for their review. Interface with MGVAMC Police Department, Office of the Inspector General, and Coordinated Care Programs as needed to implement and/or monitor treatment plans for patients with disruptive behavior. Follows through on DBC assignments and completes necessary training for DBC participation. Collaborate with Health Information Management Services (HIMS) and Patient Privacy on documentation matters, esp. as it relates to the Disruptive Behavior Reporting System (DBRS). Serve as the facility Administrator of DBRS including, responding to notifications of new reports within 24 hours, designating DBC members to receive notifications, enter DBRS notes into the Behavioral Threat Assessment database. Effectively co-chairs DBC committee by encouraging and respecting divergent opinions, encouraging discussion and consensus building, garners input from diverse professionals with differing training and orientations. Collaborates closely with the Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) program staff to review effectiveness of training, provide updates on staff training, and identify training needs. Assists with recruitment, retention, and engagement of DBC members. This may include individual meetings to review goodness-of-fit, discuss concerns, interests, questions, and progress. Assist with re-engaging absent or non-participatory DBC members or assist with development of an exit-strategy for those members who may be experiencing burnout or loss of interest. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8-4:30pm. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. 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 To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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. TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED 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. COPY OF CURRENT LICENSURE REQUIRED. Loss of Licensure. Once licensed, LPMHCs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS-0183 LPMHC occupation and may result in termination of employment. 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: GS-12 LPMHC (Disruptive Behavior Committee Coordinator) Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex LPMHC experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior LPMHCs must have five years of post-licensed experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise and be licensed to provide clinical supervision to trainees or unlicensed LPMHCs. 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: Advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex mental illness. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Ability to determine priority of services needed and provide specialized treatment. Advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities for Veterans with complex needs. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling, or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial, and/or case management interventions used in the treatment of Veterans. Ability to coordinate the delivery of specialized psychosocial services and programs. Ability to design system changes based on data. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and trainees on the psychosocial treatment of patients, rendering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective clinical skills. Ability to teach, mentor staff and trainees, and provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications. Ability to engage in written and oral communication with leadership/staff and community stakeholders regarding policies, procedures, practice guidelines, and issues pertaining to the practice of the profession. Preferred Experience: Experience working with veterans. 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-12. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds), use of fingers, hearing (aid may be permitted), Specific visual requirement (see computer screen and use of mouse), working alone and/or closely with others. 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 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.