Serves as Deputy Chief (Psychologist Program Manager), Mental Health Service Line (MHSL) and has programmatic responsibilities for the delivery of mental health services at all sites of care. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the MHSL for all clinical, administrative, and quality performance matters.

Duties

Administrative (Management) Responsibilities: The Deputy Chief, Mental Health Service Line (MHSL), is a position that provides support to the Chief, MHSL in all areas of management, leadership and oversight of mental health clinical, educational, and research activities at the Atlanta VAHCS. The incumbent is a key member of the organization's clinical leadership team and reports directly to the MHSL Chief. The incumbent ensures observance of federal, national, and local regulatory policy and accreditation requirements governing the medical center. The incumbent is responsible for supporting strategic planning, budget oversight, staff recruitment and management, and quality assurance. The Deputy Chief, MHSL position is responsible for assisting the Chief in planning, organizing, developing, implementing, coordinating, and refining a comprehensive patient management/clinical support/administrative program which provides services and technical counsel necessary to meet clinical, procedural, legal and administrative requirements relating to the care and treatment of inpatients and outpatients. Incumbent provides a climate in which clinicians can care for patients with an awareness of administrative implications of his/her actions, without feeling he/she is working under unnecessary constraints. Expertise along broad clinical and administrative levels is required to meet the needs of this large, complex patient population, and to integrate Service Line functions with those of other Service Lines, as well as with other VA entities within and outside the local Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN). Incumbent manages multiple programs from the Service Line level. As such, incumbent is responsible for managing issues elevated to service line, monitoring metrics relevant to these units (including productivity, budget, accreditation issues, etc.) and providing management support and oversight as needed. Incumbent will contribute to implementing VA Central Office, VISN, and local policies and regulations governing broad administrative aspects of the medical center. Other key duties and responsibilities: Serves on a variety of medical center planning committees, advisory groups and chartered action teams. Oversees clinical and administrative performance measures. Assists with service line strategic planning, budget and resource management. Assist with developing formal, systematic improvement plans for quality measures, access and medical services delivery. Supports liaison with affiliated schools regarding medical teaching issues and provider appointments. Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements using programs using data-driven quality assurance processes. Assures all Mental Health programs are compliant with applicable Federal and State laws. Oversees the management of Veteran complaints and issues. Contributes to the development of program goals and objectives to meet VHA Mental Health requirements. Participates in performance appraisals of staff and addresses disciplinary issues. Participates in clinical teaching. Assists in overseeing appropriate training related to MH issues is completed for all Atlanta VAHCS staff involved in patient care activities. Contributes to the development of Mental Health Service policies and procedures consistent with VA Directives, as well as VA required accreditation by the Joint Commission, CARF and other MH accrediting organizations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00am - 4:30pm) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. NOTE: This applies to past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professions Trainees (HPT) only. VA HPT is an individual appointed to temporary positions in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or admitted to the VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC). 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. 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 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 you are am applying for; OR Doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internship. 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 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 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. 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: 1. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. 2. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. 3. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. 4. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. 5. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. 6. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. 7. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. References: VA Handbook 5005/103, Part II, Appendix G18, February 7, 2018, Psychologist Qualification Standard GS-0180. The full performance level of this vacancy: GS-14 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Atlanta VA Medical Center 1670 Clairmont Road Decatur, GA 30033 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]