Serves as Deputy Chief (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor 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

Program 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. 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. LPMHCs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Education. Master's or doctoral degree in: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; or a related field, from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Examples of related mental health counseling fields include, but are not limited to Addiction Counseling; Community Counseling; Gerontology Counseling; Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP defines the date when graduates are considered to have graduated from a CACREP accredited program. Additional information may be obtained from http://www.cacrep.org/directory/. NOTE: Traditional Rehabilitation counseling programs that are accredited by CACREP do not meet the LPMHC qualification standards as Traditional Rehabilitation counseling differs from Clinical Rehabilitation counseling. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-101 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. 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. Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (Program Manager), GS-13. Experience, Education and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. The experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-12 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1. Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management. 2. Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process. 3. Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided. 4. Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs. References: VA Handbook 5005-106, Part II, Appendix G43. The full performance level of this vacancy: GS-13 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]