Remote Clinical Counselor – Safe Harbor Programs

Job Title: Remote Clinical Counselor – Safe Harbor Programs

This position is primarily remote and able to be supported from approved locations. However, candidates must be available to work during the below specified timeframe, regardless of their location. Candidates may also be required to surge in times of crisis.

Summary

The Remote Clinical Counselor works as a full-time employee of Zeiders Enterprises and provides assessment and short-term, solution focused non-medial counseling services to eligible Navy Wounded Warrior (NWW), Navy Gold Star (NGS), and Fisher House individuals as part of the CNIC Fleet and Family Support Program (FFSP) Global Staffing Contract.

Delivers virtual non-medical counseling (individuals, marital or intimate partners, families, and/or groups) to wounded, and injured Sailors, surviving family members, caregivers, and Fisher House families.

This position is virtual but must be located within a reasonable commuting distance of military installation for the purpose of CAC issuance.

In times of crisis, high-demand surge, or operational need, counselors must be available and willing to travel on short notice (within 24 to 48 hours) to provide on-site clinical support, crisis intervention, and disaster response at domestic or global locations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Scope of practice is limited to counseling services for Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention and Adjustment Disorders and may include presenting concerns including grief and loss, adjustment to catastrophic injury or illness, caregiver stress and compassion illness, and stress related to recovery or medical retirement.
• Maintain a virtual caseload dedicated to NWW, NGS, and Fisher House populations. Ensure referral for appropriate behavioral health follow-up of any psychological disorders or symptoms requiring longer-term and/or medical/psychiatric intervention. Conduct intake, screening, assessment, and referral of clients as appropriate. Work with the client to establish an individual treatment plan. Provide individual and couples and group counseling. Provide information about existing Navy programs such as non-medical counseling Services at the sites. Provide immediate intervention and risk assessment IAW best practices in the mental health community and educate and ensure adequate referral and follow-up of any case presenting suicidal or homicidal risk.
• Perform accurate assessment of the client’s presenting problem and plan effective treatment for that problem.
• Provide an initial clinical assessment and ongoing risk assessments using the Columbia Suicide Severity Risk Scale (C-SSRS). Provide ongoing safety planning using the Veterans Affairs Safety Plan.
• Report suspected child abuse and domestic abuse/violence to the local civilian authorities and the Family Advocacy Representative IAW Navy and state requirements.
• Coordinate and manage specialized assessment and intervention services for children and families not associated with met criteria incidents of child abuse/neglect or domestic abuse.
• Provide a warm handoff to the Family Advocacy Representative or FAP Victim Advocate for clients wanting to make a restricted domestic abuse report.
• Provide a warm handoff to the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator or SAPR Victim Advocate for clients wanting to make a restricted sexual assault report.
• Intervene in crisis situations, using sound professional judgment, ethical practice, and common sense.
• Remote Clinical Counselors may be authorized to provide temporary surge support (telephonically and through Navy authorized virtual platforms) across additional Navy Regions when there is an increased number of cases within a region. All efforts should be made to provide appointments in the time zone of the Sailor’s location.
• Participate in quarterly quality assurance procedures to ensure that all clinical services provided are safe and of good quality.
• Maintain counseling case documentation in the FFSMIS Clinical Counseling Record System for all non-medical counseling assessment and counseling services IAW all applicable policies, laws, and instructions.
• Ensure all non-medical counseling services are accounted for in the FFSMIS scheduling module.
• Maintain a primary schedule dedicated to virtual clinical counseling while remaining prepared to flex schedules (if possible) and deploy for short-notice (24 to 48 hour) on-site assignments to support urgent CNIC/surge operations when local or national events require a physical footprint.

Travel & Surge Requirements

• While primarily remote, this position requires willingness and availability to travel on short notice (sometimes within 24–48 hours) for specified surge periods to provide on-site clinical support at locations worldwide, including austere or disaster-area conditions, as directed by contract requirements.
• Must maintain eligibility, documentation, and readiness for deployment, including a valid U.S. passport, driver’s license, and required government health/medical clearances for military installations.
• Must maintain a valid U.S. passport, driver’s license, and reliable transportation.
• Due to potential worldwide travel, vaccinations may be needed per CDC guidelines.

Required Education And/or Experience Qualifications

• Minimum educational qualifications include one of the following; a master’s degree in counseling accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; a master’s degree in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education, or a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology and a one-year clinical internship accredited by the American Psychological Association.
• Current, valid and unrestricted clinical license or certification from a state or U.S. territory authorizing independent clinical practice in the fields of professional counseling, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy or clinical/counseling psychology- LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), LCP (Licensed Clinical Psychologist/ Licensed PhD in Psychology), LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), LCPC (Licensed Certified Professional Counselor), LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
• Each Remote Clinical Counselor must maintain current clinical credentials and privileges throughout their FFSP assignment.
• A minimum of two years- of full-time, post-master’s supervised clinical experience.
• Remote Clinical Counselors must meet the standards of professional and ethical conduct prescribed by their particular discipline or licensing board and demonstrate current clinical competence through at least periodic, direct service clinical experience during the 2 years preceding hire.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Proficiency in oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite software and skilled in the use of office software
• Must have a dedicated professional workspace that that provides a secure, private environment suitable for telehealth clinical services and is free of distractions or personal commitments during the workday.
• Must be physically located within a reasonable commuting distance of a military installation.
• Must be able to work core business hours of the assigned area of responsibility.
• Must be able to flex hours in times of surge or crisis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with wounded warriors, medically impacted families, or military populations
• Experience supporting clients navigating complex medical systems, catastrophic injury, or combat-related medical retirement.
• Knowledge of the difficulties of adjusting to general life stresses as well as those resulting from the requirements of military life, and experience providing short-term counseling for those issues
• Knowledge of standard documentation requirements for clinical services
• Knowledge of available military and community referral resources
• Experience working in a virtual environment and competency in telehealth clinical service delivery

Other Skills and Abilities

• All positions that require access to U.S. Government facilities and systems require U.S. Citizenship, a valid passport, driver's license, and reliable transportation to travel to assigned locations and nearby facilities.
• Incumbents must obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for Secret security clearance of access for the duration of employment, including background investigation and credit check.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following

competencies:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations;

Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.

• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and willing to explore options.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions;

Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.

• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; Communicates changes effectively; Builds commitment and overcomes resistance; Prepares and supports those affected by change