SUMMARY

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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.
• 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.
• Exception: VHA may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure. This exception only applies up to the full performance level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed
• Failure to Obtain License: In all cases, LPMHCs must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed within three years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0183 LPMHC series and may result in termination of employment
• 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

DEMONSTRATED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

In addition to the basic requirements, the candidates must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

• Ability to engage in intake and assessment, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation, continuum of care, evaluation and follow-up
• Knowledge of current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders in formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions using professional counseling practices
• Basic knowledge of professional counseling practice with emphasis on human development principles through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic interventions, and strategies that address high risk behaviors, wellness, personal growth, and career development across the life span
• Ability to use a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions
• Ability to serve on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups and families and on the counseling approaches, strategies, and techniques that will best help patients function effectively
• Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation and delivery of services, such as Telehealth
• Ability to learn and utilize software programs in use by VHA
• Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds

GS-11:
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 family counseling interventions
• 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

Preferred Experience: Experience 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-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Light lifting (under 15 pounds), Use of Finger, See computer screen, Hearing (Aid may be permitted)

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/.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. YOUR APPLICATION, RESUME, C.V., AND/OR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION WILL BE VERIFIED. PLEASE FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. ERRORS OR OMISSIONS MAY AFFECT CONSIDERATION FOR EMPLOYMENT.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

DUTIES

This position is located within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Team (BHIP) under the Behavioral Health Service at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, WA. Serves in the role of the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC), also referred to as Care Coordinator. Care coordination is a system-wide approach to the deliberate organization of all Veteran care activities between two or more participants or systems to facilitate the appropriate delivery of health care services.

Functions:

• Ongoing POC and clinical resource that promotes treatment engagement, especially during care transitions along the MH continuum of care
• Provides and/or ensures the Veteran (and family/caregiver/support person) has access to education, information, and resources for proactive self-management
• Complete MH Care Coordination needs assessment
• Develops initial MH Care Coordination interventions plan, including intended frequency of contact, as part of the overall care plan
• Documents needs assessments and interventions plan in the electronic health record (EHR)
• Monitors MH Care Coordination and treatment needs and adjusts the MH Care Coordination interventions plan, in collaboration with BHIP providers, as needed over time
• Supports evaluation of MH Care Coordination efforts to promote access, quality, Veteran and provider experience, and cost savings
• Communicates with the Patient Centered Management Module (PCMM) coordinator to ensure all MHTC assignments are current and visible in the EHR
• Participates in frequent team huddles (e.g., daily) and team meetings (e.g., weekly)
• Helps to organize flow of team huddle.
• Outreaches or facilitates outreach to Veteran to promote care continuity when other team members are unavailable (e.g., triage Veteran needs)
• Provides information/education to other healthcare and service providers to facilitate recognizing and respecting the Veteran’s needs, strengths, and goals
• Coordinates care within and beyond the BHIP team by including BHIP team members, other VHA healthcare providers, and community providers to ensure that key components of mental health care delivery occur consistent with policy
• Responds to critical events (e.g., ED/UCC visits, inpatient stays, suicide behaviors, accidents, etc.) as they are known by gathering information, updating the team, coordinating any additional care or changes to care, and following up with the Veteran as needed
• Advocates for Veteran to receive necessary and culturally relevant care/services (e.g., care delivered with military cultural competence)
• Advocates for Veterans by working for systems improvement and eliminating healthcare disparities to promote Veteran well-being
• Is available to the Veteran to answer questions about needs, upcoming visits, care plans, and other questions not already handled by BHIP treating provider(s)
• Flexibly provides same-day access and walk-in services (i.e., triage) and either address immediate needs that do not require a treating team provider or facilitate a hand off to a treating team provider
• Aids in crisis intervention, as needed (e.g., manages medical and mental health emergencies appropriately, including suicidal and homicidal ideation)
• Collaborates with Suicide Prevention Coordinator and others to identify Veterans at high risk for suicide and others with complex needs to increase monitoring and enhance care with targeted suicide prevention strategies
• Facilitates urgent appointments and warm handoffs, as needed, with BHIP team members
• Ensures Veteran receive needed care through ensuring consult initiation and follow-up. Ensures consults are entered or referrals are made to providers, services, and resources appropriate to the Veteran’s needs. Monitors whether referrals made by the BHIP team to other resources are completed and whether the Veteran is engaged in the planned level of care. Attempts outreach to the Veteran to try to increase treatment engagement
• Provides supportive outreach (e.g., via outreach calls or online outreach) to facilitate engagement until the Veteran can be seen by the appropriate mental health provider - especially during care transitions
• Facilitates Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) assignments for Veterans not yet assigned to a Primary Care team
• Educates the Veteran on the team model and the Veteran’s active role on the BHIP team
• Collaborates with UCC, inpatient, and residential services to coordinate the Veteran’s admission, when needed, and discharge planning

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcrip

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/27/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12780977.

• To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
• Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package