Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor HUD/VASH

Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor HUD/VASH

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Denver, Colorado

Salary Range: $68138 - $107167 Per Year

Job Summary: HUD-VASH is an intensive case management program for chronically homeless veterans aimed at providing psychosocial services to veterans while residing in stable housing through HUD's Section 8 voucher system. The incumbent is a professional LPMHC and functions as a Case Manager for the Eastern Colorado Health Care System's HUD-VASH Program. This program falls within the Homeless Program of the Care Management and Social Work Service Care Line.

Major Duties:

• The incumbent will work within the HUD-VASH program as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor. S/he performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs, under the supervision of a supervisor and clinical supervisor. The incumbent performs site visits of HUD-VASH apartments to ensure that veterans reside in safe environments in compliance with local housing codes. The incumbent is responsible for providing case management for a caseload of veterans in the HUD-VASH program. The incumbent is responsible for reviewing agreements between Section 8, landlords, Public Housing Authorities and the VA in establishing appropriate referral sites for HUD-VASH placements. The incumbent is responsible for completing the following duties/responsibilities: a. The incumbent will conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members. b. The incumbent is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. c. The incumbent will provide appropriate services-based Veterans' needs, acuity level, and preferences for care. Veterans will be reassessed on a regular basis, no less than quarterly and in accordance with local policy, for changes in their needs, acuity level, and preferences for care. d. The incumbent will utilize Housing First, Harm Reduction and other evidence-based and recovery practice models to promote Veteran engagement and self-efficacy. e. The incumbent will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines as appropriate and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. f. The incumbent will provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate. g. The incumbent will provide consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives and VA benefits. h. The incumbent will act as a consultant to other team/staff members. i. The incumbent will act as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. j. The incumbent will provide case management to veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care. k. The incumbent will provide a full range of case management services within commonly accepted standards of case management practice and with clinical supervision, which include case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate. l. The incumbent will address Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with the standards of their work area. m. The incumbent will provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate Patient/family support groups as appropriate. n. The incumbent will coordinate treatment and communicate with the care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans. o. The incumbent will participate in committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the service manager. p. The incumbent will maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with Joint Commission, VA, and medical center policy and procedures. q. With clinical supervision, the incumbent will assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness and death. r. The incumbent will document interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care s. The incumbent will maintain familiarity and responsibility for all performance measures relating to the HUD-VASH Program. The incumbent may transport veterans in government vehicles in support of meeting the goals identified in the veteran's recovery plan. The employee will adhere to the requirements and guidance offered in ECHCS Policy 00-104, "Transporting Patients in Government Vehicles." Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Monday-Friday Telework: AD-HOC telework may be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 554-53163-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications: Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure: The GS-9 grade level is the entry grade level for LPMHCs with less than one year of experience(post-master's degree) or for LPMHCs at the master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level. Unlicensed LPMHCs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in paragraph 3.b., and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph below. 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; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 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-11Experience, 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 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 familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills. 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: 1 year of experience working with people who are experiencing homelessness Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS9 to GS11. Physical Requirements: Position is primarily sitting and standing but does require some bending, pulling, lifting up to 25lbs. The incumbent must possess and maintain a current, valid state driver's license.

How to Apply: 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 12/18/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12845538. 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. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2025-12-18