Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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: Applicant must 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 completed a 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 you were retrained is consistent with the assignment
• OR - Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship: Candidate must 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
• (NOTE: Once board certified - the employee is required to maintain board certification)
• 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
• NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard
• Licensure: Candidates must 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
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Psychology Program Manager - GS-14: 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 all of the following KSAs: Ability to organize work - set priorities - delegate tasks - and meet multiple deadlines
• 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 deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds - interests - and points of view
• Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives
• Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations
• Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program
• Preferred Experience: Experience working in inpatient Mental Health - familiar with inpatient mental health policies/procedures Experience evaluating and treating acute mental health crises - including active suicidal behavior and psychosis Experience providing evidence-based psychotherapies for suicidal behavior - substance use - PTSD - depression and other mental health conditions
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 14
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - puling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• The Inpatient Mental Health Program Manager (IMHPM) is a leadership position responsible for overseeing the clinical and administrative operations of the inpatient mental health unit at the G.V
• (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center
• This role requires ensuring high-quality - evidence-based therapeutic programming and compliance with VHA policies and directives - including VHA Directive 1160.06
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but not limited to: Oversees the Acute Mental Health Inpatient unit - a major program at GVSMVAMC - delivering specialized - complex - and highly professional care that significantly impacts Veterans' healthcare
• Manages key clinical - training - and administrative programs with full responsibility for day-to-day activities
• Performs strategic planning and resource allocation to ensure high-quality services for Veterans
• Ensures well-coordinated - high-quality post-discharge care for high-risk Veterans
• Supervises direct reports - including psychiatrists - nurse practitioners - nurses - psychologists - neuropsychologists - clinical social workers - marriage and family therapists - licensed professional mental health counselors - addiction therapists - vocational rehabilitation specialists - and/or peer support specialists
• Conducts performance evaluations - approve time and leave - monitor fund control points - and oversee daily operations - including budgetary oversight
• Implement cost-saving measures without impairing operational effectiveness
• Develops performance standards - position descriptions - and functional statements
• Request backfills or new positions as needed
• Provides direct clinical care to Veterans at least 50% of the time - ensuring active involvement in patient management and care delivery
• Patient care services may be delivered on the inpatient unit or in other outpatient or residential mental health settings - as determined by needs of the service
• Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services using the most appropriate assessment techniques
• Offer a full range of evidence-based therapeutic interventions including individual therapy - marital/family therapy - group therapy - and substance abuse treatment
• Participates in interdisciplinary treatment team (ITT) meetings as indicated - contributing to comprehensive treatment planning and coordination
• Oversees the clinical work of unit or other staff - reviews documentation - and performs chart reviews to ensure quality of care
• Provides clinical consultation to various disciplines and training levels
• Provides clinical supervision to pre-licensure students or other personnel as appropriate to scope and licensure
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm - subject to change based on the needs of the facility
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact rhonda.eady@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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 01441-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized