The Chief of Behavioral Health effectively contributes to strategic objectives by developing, implementing, and coordinating programs, in collaboration with executive leadership and through collaboration with other leaders across VISN 17 sites. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive & Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual. This position is also being recruited for as a Social Worker (Program Manager) and Physician, Psychiatrist.

Duties

The Senior Psychologist, Chief of Behavioral Health (BH) effectively leads the organization toward achieving stated VHA and VISN program goals, in support of the VHA MH Strategic Plan and in concert with VHA and VISN Strategic and Performance Measurement plans. In support thereof, the incumbent is responsible for the development, coordination, review, and evaluation of BH programs, policies and procedures and assumes the authority to ensure implementation, as well as to maintain and improve BH operations. Administrative (Supervisory) Responsibilities (70%): Decisions are made with very wide latitude and independent judgment. Participates as chair of BH Executive Council in making decisions about BH services. Applies knowledge of state of the art, evidence-based practice of mental health treatments and organized treatment programs including a familiarity with all of the disciplines that provide mental health treatment services. Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and business acumen in order to effectively and efficiently communicate timely information/reports to a broad variety of audiences including the highest levels of management. Has supervisory responsibility for subordinates (Deputy Chief of BH/Psychology Executive, and BH Program Managers) and is responsible for all professional, management, and administrative aspects of BH services. Evaluates partnerships for other services including but not limited to Primary Care, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Whole Health, and medical services that have an embedded BH provider or may refer to BH services, using relevant VA statutes and regulations & takes action to improve identified deficiencies. Responsible for all administrative actions associated with BH including tracking and evaluating staff's workload and productivity, Action Items related to BH, creating, implementing and ensuring compliance with policies and procedures related to all aspects of BH services, documentation of clinical services and workload, performance improvement tasks, compliance with VA performance measures, meeting all appropriate strategic goals, compliance with requirements for follow up of Veterans who miss clinical appointments, ensuring utilization of clinical resources, etc. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with internal and external customers. Other Administrative Responsibilities (10%) Attends National, VISN, and medical center meetings as appropriate. Accepts when able additional and special assignments that are necessary to meet the needs and goals of AMAVAHCS in serving Veterans. Collaborates in the performance improvement processes and comply with performance measures as required by the VA for these specific programs. Participates in activities that obtain customer satisfaction feedback from clients (internal and external to the VA) and work to enhance services as needed. Clinical (20%) The ACOS-BH must have knowledge of and ability to apply advanced professional knowledge in psychiatry to address the full range of needs for the Veteran populations. Provides professional advice and consultation in areas related to psychiatry medicine and rehabilitation; performs psychiatry evaluations upon referral from primary care providers and other providers at the AMAVAHCS and its CBOCs as well as inter-facility consults. Provides direct care and clinical assessment and triage/case management, as assigned. Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. Performs psychological consultations, screenings, and evaluations. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual and group psychotherapy, psychoeducation, treatment planning, and participation in therapeutic community. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required

Requirements

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 Requirement: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Education Requirement: You 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 respecialization program meeting both of the following conditions: a) the respecialization 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, have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internship Requirement: You 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). NOTE: 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: 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 meet basic requirements based on grandfathering provisions, applies to employees who have been continuously employed within this occupations within VA since release of current qualification standard, 2/7/2018. Grade Determinations: Senior Psychologist (Service Chief) GS-15 Experience. At least four years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-14 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to supervise and manage a large group of professional staff effectively. Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution and ability to work collaboratively with supervisors from other units. Ability to accurately apply the qualification standards, assesses the potential of current and prospective employees, and promotes their professional development. Ability to develop appropriate productivity standards for professional staff, often across multiple program lines. Knowledge of the goals and objectives of the medical center and VISN and ability to communicate these to subordinates. Preferred Experience: Advanced Healthcare/ Business Management training or degree Supervisory VA Experience References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18: Psychologist Qualification Standard, Dated February 7, 2018 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-15. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-15. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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.

Accreditation Information: You must have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) https://accreditation.apa.org/accredited-programs, the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) https://www.pcsas.org/accreditation/accredited-programs/, or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) https://cpa.ca/ accreditation/CPAaccreditedprograms/ 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. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). OR, have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully completed a respecialization program meeting both of the following conditions: a) the respecialization 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, have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.

Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Note: If your school was accredited by APA or CPA at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet

Contacts

• Address Thomas E Creek VA Medical Center 6010 Amarillo Boulevard, West Amarillo, TX 79106 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]