Psychology Program Manager-Inpatient Mental Health Associate Director

The Associate and Patient Mental Health Director serves as Program Manager and clinical supervisor for the 40-bed, 2-wing Mental Health Center for Acute Recovery and Empowerment (C.A.R.E.) Unit at OVAHCS.

The incumbent oversees all aspects of state-of-the-art, recovery-oriented psychiatric rehabilitation and acute inpatient consulting/liaison services for Veterans with high-risk and complex mental health needs, including those at greatest risk to self or others.

The director provides broad program and clinical management, multidisciplinary staff supervision, policy development, regulatory compliance, program evaluation, and continuous quality improvement to ensure the highest standards of patient care and safety across the inpatient continuum.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Oversees and ensures high-quality evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning, and management of all Veterans in the Acute C.A.R.E. Unit and related consultation/liaison services (including ED and medical/surgical units).

Directs, monitors, and supervises individualized, evidence-based clinical interventions (with an emphasis on crisis response, suicide prevention, recovery, and discharging planning). Practices and champions evidence-based, culturally competent, and recovery-oriented care for Veterans with serious mental illness, substance use, and/or homelessness.

Provides, and ensures delivery of, the full spectrum of psychological services, including direct care, assessment, and psychotherapy. Holds direct and indirect supervisory responsibility for staff and trainees from psychology, psychiatry, social work, nursing, rehabilitation, counseling, and peer support disciplines.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 08:00am - 04:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc/Situational-Occasional, Non-routine Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 82728F EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN8CCOE@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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 United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

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.

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: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, 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.

Internship 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.

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.

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.

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 meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Psychology Program Manager, GS-14 Experience: At least three (3) years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one (1) year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

(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.

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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Preferred Experience: Inpatient clinical experience conducting individual/group interventions, crisis intervention and medical/health psychology interventions. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment may require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing.

May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.