Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor -Suicide Prevention

The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full-time Mental Health Counselor for the Suicide Prevention Program within the Mental Health Department. This vacancy will be filled by either a Social Worker or a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor.

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. The Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) provides counseling and mental health services grounded in professional counseling theory and evidence-based practices. The incumbent functions as the Medical Center's Case Manager for the Suicide Prevention Program. The Suicide Prevention Program serves to facilitate implementation of suicide prevention strategies at the Fargo VA Health Care System and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). Activities include support for the identification of Veterans at high-risk; coordinating enhanced care when indicated; and education of providers, Veterans, families, and community agencies/individuals on the risk factors and warning signs for suicide and treatment options. The VA case management services are designed to improve/maintain Veterans' health and mental health, enhancing their ability to remain stable, housed, and community integrated. The role may also involve supporting clinical training of interns and other trainees, as appropriate. The LPMHC is responsible for ensuring adherence to all documentation procedures, including timely entries. They are fully accountable for their practice, which includes recording visit details. The LPMHC promotes the highest standards of professional and ethical practice across the interdisciplinary team and actively participates in administrative and informational meetings, including those of the LPMHC Service, Mental Health, and Medical Staff, as well as relevant program-specific meetings. The LPMHC must demonstrate a high degree of independent action. They engage in addressing and monitor the population-based needs of individuals. The LPMHC serves various committees, task forces, or rotations at the LPMHC, Mental Health Integrated Care Community (MH ICC), medical center, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and/or national VA levels, as assigned. They participate in the full range of treatment programming and may provide leadership and professional assistance to their junior and peer colleagues as appropriate. They may provide clinical training over the clinical practice of an unlicensed professional mental health counselor or trainee, as well as providing clinical training to aspiring professionals of other disciplines. FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: Provide professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendations for treatment planning and implementation. Conduct crisis screening and assessment, developing crisis management plans for the appropriate level of care. In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, follow the protocol of the Mental Health Clinic at the VA Medical Center. Provide consultation to professional staff within the Fargo VA Healthcare System and to community providers regarding patient diagnosis and treatment, as well as the delivery of care. Provide formal or informal clinical training for professional mental health counseling trainees and unlicensed colleagues, as assigned. Ensure that the practice of professional mental health counseling is consistent with the professional practice standards and ethics of National Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors, as guided by the NBCC Code of Ethics, and with the established policies and procedures of the Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LPMHC) Service, Fargo VA, State Licensing Board, and the Veterans Health Administration 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

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.