Summary The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full-time Program Coordinator for the Rural Access for Network Growth Enhancement (RANGE) program. This vacancy will be filled with either a Social Worker (Program Coordinator) or a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator). This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Responsibilities The Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery Services (ICMHR) services provide clinical community-based services to Veteran with severe mental illness (SMI), severe functional impairment, and high inpatient mental health unit utilization, in coordination with existing community and VA services. It has a high staff-to-Veteran ratio with multiple visits per week needed, clinical services provided by an interdisciplinary team, interventions are occurring primarily in the community, and availability maintained for services over a prolonged period as clinically indicated. The Rural Access for Network Growth Enhancement RANGE programs serve Veterans who meet criteria for ICMHR services in rural areas or less densely populated locations. The RANGE Coordinator will remain knowledgeable about National, VISN, and facility level policies and trends related to ICMHR/RANGE Programing. The RANGE Coordinator will also serve as a point person and source of information and problem solving regarding ICMHR/RANGE issues for the facility. Other duties include providing intensive case management services, continuous quality improvement activities, evaluation/consultation, psychosocial assessments, Veteran groups, individual therapy, placement services, and referrals to various community agencies and hospital services to ICMHR Veterans. This position will function independently to provide administrative leadership to plan, develop, implement, and oversee clinical services and programming for Veterans that have a high degree of clinical complexity. The incumbent has full supervisory responsibility for all case managers (exception of nursing) and administrative staff within the ICMHR/RANGE Program. Supervisory responsibilities include performance evaluations, time, and leave, hiring, and disciplinary decisions. The RANGE Coordinator may also assist with training and education to include residents, interns, and practicum students. Duties include, but are not limited to: Complete consults and RANGE Evaluations using measurement-based care, bringing the findings to the team to determine acceptance into the RANGE program or to provide recommendations for an alternative level of care that is clinically indicated. Function as case manager for Veterans in the ICMHR program performing duties to facilitate independent community living by coordinating mental health and community care. Participate in the development of a treatment plan for each ICMHR Veteran with measurable goals outlined based on relevant psychological, medical, and psychiatric information with the principles of treatment matching. Assist ICMHR Veterans in the preparation of materials needed for applications to various agencies for entitlements, then, follow the process of the application until a determination has been made. Serve as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes Veterans encounter when interacting with government and community agencies. Serve as therapist in treatment groups, individual psychotherapy, and family therapy as needed. Responsible to stay updated on current theory, treatment modalities, and best practices by reading professional journals, attending conferences, and among other approved methods. Assess the ICMHR Veterans learning needs regarding their substance use issues, psychiatric and medical disorders, and the treatments and medications required, incorporating teaching in the treatment. Help with medication management for ICMHR Veterans. Conduct home visits and community visits to ICMHR Veterans to maintain and encourage community living. Collaborate with Adult Foster Care (AFC) homes where ICMHR Veterans reside to facilitate community living in the least restrictive environment and to provide support services for the AFC homes. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Available (Ad-hoc) 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. 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. A valid driver's license is required. Qualifications 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. 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. 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). Creditable Experience: (1) Knowledge of Current LPMHC Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current mental health counseling practice. Experience satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice at the post- master's degree level, which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional mental health counselor. (2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is post- master's degree experience as a mental health counselor directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to LPMHC experience at the next lower grade level. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. (3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a LPMHC is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a LPMHC employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive one full-time workweek of credit for each two weeks of service. (4) Fellowships or Post-Graduate Training. Fellowship and post- graduate training programs are typically in a specialized area of clinical practice, i.e., mental health counseling. Training as a fellow or post-graduate may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. (5) Practicum in a VA Setting. VHA practicum experience may not be substituted for experience, as the practicum (field placement) is completed prior to graduation with a master's degree in mental health counseling or related field. Grade Determinations: GS-12 Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Coordinator) 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-11 grade level, which is defined as: Making professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation; Advanced working knowledge and mastery of the fundamentals of the counseling process which includes defining patient/family problems and maintaining an effective counseling relationship; Providing 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; Providing complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Requires independent judgment and skill; Establishing goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced- based practices, screening, and psychosocial assessment; Using a wide variety of individual, group, or familial counseling interventions; demonstrates sensitivity to diversity and possesses multicultural counseling skills; Fully utilizing the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices; Developing and facilitating psychotherapy and psycho- education groups that include life skills, family support, and community integration. This may include evidence based psychotherapy. Experience must have been in a major specialty treatment program area such as, but not limited to, Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), mental health intensive case management (MHICM), or other areas of equivalent scope and complexity. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. 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: In depth knowledge of the program coordinated, and demonstrated knowledge and ability to write policies procedures and or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to make key decisions in the hiring and identification of top candidates. Ability to provide leadership in facilitating the process of coordinating program consults, assessments, admissions, care assignments and discharges. Ability to provide subject matter consultation to other colleagues and trainees within the field of counseling working on an interdisciplinary team. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. Assignments. LPMHC Program Coordinators are administratively responsible for a clinical program and provide treatment to patients in a major specialty. They manage the daily operations of the program, develop policies and procedures, and prepare reports and statistics for facility, VISN, and national use. They may supervise unlicensed graduate LPMHCs and may administratively manage any employees assigned to their program. 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application. 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 This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Qualified applications will be referred every two weeks from the opening date of this announcement until the closing date, or until the position is filled, whichever is sooner. Receiving Service Credit or 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. 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.