The Deputy Associate Chief of Staff, Behavioral Health plans, implements, directs, provides clinical and administrative oversight to Behavioral Health activities, including requirements for staff, budget, equipment, and supplies. This individual is expected to effectively handle supervisory responsibilities and programmatic oversight to provide patient centered care across diverse Behavioral Health programs to meet or exceed expectations from within and outside the medical center.
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Education. Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.OR Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re-specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions:(a) the re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internships. Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed;OR New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern;OR VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement;OR Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.OR Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program. Licensure. Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Exception. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 [(c)(2)(B)] for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. 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). Grade Determinations: Psychologist, GS-14 (Assistant Chief) Experience. At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meets multiple deadlines. Ability to supervise and manage subordinate employees effectively. Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. Preferred experience: Five or more years of clinical behavioral health experience. 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-14. Physical Requirements: The position is primarily sedentary, with some bending, walking and stooping required. This position requires the ability to read printed material and distinguish colors, such as reading computer screens and the ability to accurately perceive depth so as to move around work space safely and to appropriately make contact with patients and staff.
VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Essential Administrative/Supervisory Responsibilities Plans, implements, and provides clinical and administrative oversight to Behavioral Health activities including requirements for staff, budget, equipment, and supplies. Has direct administrative supervision of staff: Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Addiction Therapists, Trainees within the Mental Health Service Specifically, the incumbent has the supervisory responsibilities noted above, with additional responsibilities that include: a. Management of Human Resource aspects of assigned Behavioral Health operations, including hiring and disciplinary action, Labor/Management relations, performance appraisals, and professional boarding procedures for various disciplines. b. Primary responsibility for assigned aspects of administration within Behavioral Health Service and in the relationship to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at large. c. Monitors and reports to facility and VISN leadership regarding status of Behavioral Health Performance Measures for the Medical Center, with preparation and implementation oversight for any corrective actions necessary. Other Administrative/Supervisory Responsibilities Consults with and serves as a resource for other service lines and facility leadership concerning the need for the development of mental health services. Assists the ACOS, Behavioral Health in administrative oversight for the development of newly funded programs. Assists the ACOS, Behavioral Health in coordinating a mental health response in the event of critical occurrences of violence at the facility, disasters, and/or mass casualty occurrences. Develops responses to controlled correspondence at the Medical Center, VISN, and VACO levels, inclusive of responding to elected representatives and the OIG Hotline concerning patient care and other matters of public interest. Stretch assignments as delegated that include: Acting ACOS, Behavioral Health Service Clinical duties The employee will provide treatment for beneficiaries with general mental health disorders in a variety of treatment settings, including tele-mental health. The employee must be skilled in treating mental health disorders. The employee will ensure accreditation requirements are met including reviewing checklists compliance for JCAHO and CARF. The employee shall document patient care in the patient chart via the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). Training regarding the use of CPRS will be provided by the VAMC. All Documentation shall be completed in accordance with VA policy and procedures. The documentation requirements are noted in the clinical pertinent reviews given to each employee. The employee shall follow all VA guidelines regarding infection control and safety. The employee will be assigned to treatment teams and adhere to team meeting responsibilities. The employee will adhere to all quality management performance measures which will be reviewed monthly through peer reviews. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Brandon.Hughes2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available (Ad hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93072-O