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. Responsibilities A RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) Whole Health Program Manager is accountable to the Chief of Social Work and is responsible for broad program management of the Whole Health Program, the Suicide Prevention Program, and all assigned staff. Clinical Responsibilities (51%): Conduct Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) approaches to include biofeedback, clinical hypnosis, guided imagery, and meditation within clinical privileges or scope of practice. Provide whole health coaching to individuals or groups in outpatient and/or inpatient settings using motivational interviewing and coaching techniques to assist with SMART goal setting. Counsel Veterans to promote health and wellness in a variety of settings across the Alaska VA HCS. Serve as needed and as a backup for suicide prevention clinical duties. Supervisory & Administrative (49%):The LPMHC Program Director has broad program management and supervisory responsibilities that include: Direct Supervisor of Whole Health and Suicide Prevention hired staff. Full responsibility to manage and supervise all phases of the Whole Health Program at the Alaska VA. Manage and supervise the Suicide Prevention Program at the Alaska VA. Establish and maintain a continuous and systematic process of curriculum development, assessment, review, revision, evaluation, and implementation of the Whole Health and Suicide Prevention programs. Plan and develop policies, procedures, and goals, and implement and educate staff on applicable Veterans Health Administration (VHA) directives, handbooks, or other policies. Measure progress toward goals and reports to the appropriate officials at a local, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and National level. Serve as the professional and technical advisor in Whole Health for the facility; promote Whole Health principles to facility employees. Provide direct budgetary supervision of Whole Health programs and is accountable for resources used, directly and indirectly. Ensure inventory procedures and logistical procedures for all Whole Health supplies. Coordinate the development and implementation of the patient-centered care concept throughout the organization. Use individual and aggregate needs assessments, standards of professional practice, and strategic plans in the process of program development. Chair the Whole Health committee(s). Use knowledge, expertise, principles or models, and current research to plan, implement, and evaluate organizational progress towards accomplishing patient-centered care initiatives. Responsible for supporting the New Employee Orientation, New Patient Orientation, and will routinely communicate needs for resources as necessary. Have advanced knowledge and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness. Perform specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness. 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. Demonstrate the ability to determine priority for services and provide specialized treatment services. Have advanced, 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 family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial case management interventions used in the treatment of all Veterans. Offer consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in the specialty areas, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role model effective social work practice skills. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Telework: Ad-hoc. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: MAY BE AUTHORIZED. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a LPMHC are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(11). To qualify for appointment as a LPMHC all applicants must: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with applicable law). 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. English Language Proficiency. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7402(d). GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Manager), GS-13. (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-12 grade level. The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. (b) 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 program's budget. They may also supervise employees assigned to the program. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1. Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management. 2. Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process. 3. Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided. 4. Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs. Preferred Experience: Program Development, Whole Health practice experience, supervisory experience. 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. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position require light lifting (under 15 pounds); moderate carrying (15-44 pounds); use of fingers; walking (up to 2 hours); standing (up to 2 hours); near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; hearing (aid may be permitted); and emotional and mental stability. Environmental Factors: Work may be performed outside and inside; dry atmospheric conditions; prolonged sitting; and you must be able to work alone and closely with others. Education This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. If selected for this position, 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. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. IMPORTANT: This position has a positive education or training requirement. An unofficial copy of college transcripts showing completion of the required degree or program is required and must include the name of the school, your name, date conferred or completed, and degree or certificate @type. 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 Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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. 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.
