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 The Local Recovery Coordinator (LRC) is in the Mental Health Service Line and serves to 1) develop recovery policies and procedures in the Mental Health Service and to 2) implement recovery services in Mental Health programs, 3) educate providers across WCHCS, veterans and their families on recovery and 4) evaluate recovery implementation efforts. The Local Recovery Coordinator for WCHCS is responsible for the recovery efforts and education at all primary and CBOC clinic sites within the VA WCHCS service area. The Local Recovery Coordinator has supervisory responsibilities over the Peer Support Program. The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Local Recovery Coordinator Program Manager practices at the advanced level and has specialized knowledge of practice related to the mentally ill population. VA Western Colorado Health Care System (WCHCS) is a Level 3 facility with service-lines serving medical, surgical, neurological, and psychiatric inpatients and outpatients, with a Level III Emergency Department, multiple VA Clinics, and a Community Living Center (CLC). There is a significant outpatient psychiatric population, with admissions for medical co-morbidities. Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) and telehealth nursing care is also provided. Home-Based Primary Care is provided in the veteran's homes. Local Recovery Coordinator Duties Include: Advises MH Chief on filling peer specialist positions and provides administrative and clinical supervision to peer specialists. Assists with VA regional or local recovery-oriented trainings, meetings, or conferences as needed. Serves as a MH Liaison to the facility Mental Health Council. Provides an annual report on implementation progress to the VISN, RC and the NRC; other reports will also be prepared as requested. Meets quarterly via conference call with the VISN RC to coordinate a network response to recovery implementation and implementation of policies and procedures related to recovery. Participates in facility MH leadership meetings and policy planning groups. Coordinates and facilitates the annual Mental Health Summit. Provides education to the facility staff on recovery and reducing stigma for Veterans with mental health needs. Revises and writes policy consistent with recovery orientation. Ensures recovery-oriented environment. Serves on interdisciplinary team that conducts the Mental Health Environment of Care Rounds and ensures overall safety and recovery orientation of the inpatient mental health unit. Monitors and reports on LRC-related SAIL measures. Leads SMI re-engage efforts and reports to VISN on SMI re-engage. SME for development and implementation of peer support services. SME for providing education to staff, Veterans, families, and/or the community on recovery, serious mental illness, or other areas of expertise. Provides consultation to VA medical facility Inpatient Mental Health Services (IMHS) staff regarding recovery-oriented care, including education and training as needed. This includes review of policies, procedures, staff trainings, Veteran treatment materials, and other components of IMHS at least annually. Develops a local Standard Operating Procedure addressing the education, staff training, and implementation of recovery oriented care on the inpatient mental health unit. Periodic climate assessments and observations of staff interactions with Veterans in the milieu are also recommended. Champion of recovery as "upstream suicide prevention" in all levels of care. Coordinates/Facilitates high-level outreach and community engagement. Consults on mental health policies, standard operating procedures, and mental health guidance documents to ensure that recovery principles and the voice of the Veteran are represented. Position requires that the incumbent possess and maintain a current valid state driver's license. Travel to national conferences will also be required. LRC is a supervisory position with responsibility for the outpatient mental health peer support specialists' direct reports. Manages all personnel issues for the peer supports specialists, including but not limited to the performance reviews, approval of leave, disciplinary actions. Engage in direct clinical services providing recovery-oriented care to seriously mentally ill Veterans. Provide coordination within the VISN and serving as a Point of Contact to the National Recovery Coordinator and National Recovery Advisory Committee. Work Schedule: M-F; 8:00AM-4:30PM Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60143-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Jillana Martinez (jillana.martinez@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. 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. Qualifications *** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until January 31, 2025. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be November 15, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** Basic Requirements: -Citizenship Be a citizen of the United States. -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. -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. Grade Determinations: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Manager), GS-13 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management. Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process. Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided. Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs. 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. Preferred Experience: VA experience preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The position is generally involving activities normally associated office based mental health practices. No unusual physical demands are placed on the incumbent. The work requires extreme patience and control of emotions in a multi-disciplinary work setting. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/. Additional Information 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.