Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - PCMHI

Summary

This position is a senior licensed professional mental health counselor (LPMHC) appointment located within the Mental Health Service of the VA Western Colorado Health Care System (VA WCHCS). The incumbent is assigned to the Mental Health Service line in General Mental Health. This position is administratively within Mental Health (MH) Service Line, with primary assignment to the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) team.

Duties

• The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) licensed professional mental health counselor (LPMHC) provides functional assessment, triage, brief intervention, education, and consultative services upon referral from primary care providers and allied Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) members. The Senior LPMHC uses population-based practice management strategies and maintains competences in the following core domains: Conducts brief, focused functional assessments (e.g., 30 minutes or less) to assess substance use concerns and triage/refer to specialty care as appropriate. Applies principals of population-based care (defines role and identifies problems rapidly). Uses brief measurement-based care assessments routinely (e.g., BAM-IOP, PHQ-9, PCL-5, AUDIT C etc.). Bases initial consultation appointments on the PCMHI Functional Assessment model and develops recovery-oriented treatment goals based on functional outcomes. Maintains daily same day access slots. Regularly reviews schedule/grid and works to maintain next available "scheduled" appointment within two weeks. Provides brief, time-limited, evidence based mental and behavioral health interventions (e.g., 1-6 sessions) in both individual and group therapy formats. Incumbent will be based at the Montrose CBOC and will provide virtual appointments in the other CBOC's. Academic/Teaching/Training: Supports activities of training programs and participates in relevant education seminars. When opportunities are available and it is deemed clinically appropriate, participates in improvement of clinical supervision skills. When opportunities are available and it is deemed clinically appropriate, provides training and guidance to other behavioral health staff in primary care setting Engages in thoughtful level-of-care decision-making and triages appropriately and efficiently to specialty mental health services. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60907-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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. 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 identification 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.

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/.