Senior Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Stress Disorder Treatment Program Job in Topeka, KS

Summary

This job is open to

• The public

  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

• Federal employees - Excepted service

  Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

• Internal to an agency

  Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

• Family of overseas employees

  Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.

Duties

An applicant for this one position will be selected from one of the following announcement:

• Psychologist: CBSS-12813390-26-SO
• Social Worker: CBSS-12813391-26-SO
• Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor: CBSS-12813392-26-SO
• Marriage & Family Therapist: CBSS-12813392-26-SO

Duties to include:
Clinical Responsibilities:
1. Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients.
2. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others.
3. Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy.
4. Provides consultation to professional staff within VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients.
5. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for patients who require such treatment.
6. Functions independently as a member of the Eastern Kansas Health Care System Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.

Administrative Responsibilities:
1. Assists the LPMHC Program Manager (or related), Chief of Psychology, and BH SLM in the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers.
2. Adheres to operational policies and procedures established by the Chief of Psychology and Behavioral Health Service Line Manager (BHSLM).
3. Assists the Chief of Psychology and BHSLM in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program.
4. Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services.
Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients.
5. Adheres to VA regulations regarding documentation and completion of encounters. Documentation will be thorough, timely, consistent with treatment plan, proper check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes) and will follow established VA guidelines and required note format.
6. Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the LPMHC Program Manager (or related), Chief of Psychology, BHSLM (or designee) and facility Director.
7. Complies with and participates in peer review, Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE), Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE), and/or recommendations from the Professional Standards Board (PSB), as applicable.
8. Attends regular Psychology Service staff meetings, Medical staff meetings, and Behavioral Health Service Line staff meetings.
9. Completes all TMS and other education requirements timely.

Academic/Teaching/Training:
Possible activities which may include, but not limited to:
1. Provide discipline-specific clinical consultation and clinical supervision for counseling students, interns, residents.
2. Supports discipline-specific training program and training committee
3. Supports the training of medical students, medical and psychiatric residents, nursing students and fellows, as appropriate.
4. Provide leadership, guidance, and consultation on staff education and development.

Other Significant Responsibilities:
1. Serves on Medical Center or healthcare system, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces.
2. Represents the Medical Center at professional community group/events and committees, in conferences/meetings with higher ranking managers, supervisors, and staff from other disciplines or work units, and/or with representatives of local public interest groups, congressional district offices and employees of State and local governments.
3. Prepares Issue Briefs and responses to Congressional inquiries as needed.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Ad hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VISN15EDRP@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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Required Documents

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 11/04/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12813392.

1. 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.
2. 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.

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.