The AVAHS operates Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Fairbanks, Kenai, and Wasilla, Juneau and Homer. The ACOS/MH is responsible for coordination and administration of Mental Health services across these facilities, as well as any future sites of care. The ACOS/MH is responsible for planning, developing, coordinating, directing, and evaluating mental health services within the AVAHS, to include integrating mental health services within the Primary Care Patient Aligned Care Teams.

Duties

S/He is responsible for three major service lines: Social & Behavioral Health; Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV)/Substance Use Disorders (SUD); and Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV). Programs aligned under these services include outreach, a 50 bed Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (DRRTP), Veterans Industries, a 24-bed Compensated Work Therapy Transitional Residence (CWT/TR), and a supported housing program with the Department of Health and Human Services (HUD/VASH). Duties include, but are not limited to: The ACOS/MH also provides oversight for a grant per diem program awarded to Fairbanks Rescue Mission. Other components include long term care programs (CNH, H/HHA, Respite Care, Palliative Care), OEF/OIF Program, Tele-Mental Health, medication management, case management for OEF/OIF, TBI, SCI, and Suicide Prevention High Risk, Recovery Coordination, addictions treatment, Individual and group therapy, psychosocial, neuropsychological, and psychological assessments, along with other mental health services. S/He fosters effective working relationships, creates an environment that facilitates delivery of value-added service to Veterans, resources, coordinates and evaluates programs, and provides leadership in improving andsustaining the quality and effectiveness of care in diverse and complex programs. Integrates all mental health service delivery programs with other AVAHS programs to assure the highest level of quality patient care in a cost-effective manner. Responsible for development of an overall business plan for mental health operations, including submission of business plans for any new programs. S/He is responsible for establishing policy for the Mental Health Service Line (MHSL), and provides leadership guidance/preceptorship/mentorship to supervisors and managers with the Service. establishes and maintains relationships with community resources including Vet Centers in Anchorage, Wasilla, Kenai, and Fairbanks. Establishes and maintains tele-mental health services as needed for delivery of mental health services to rural areas within the State of Alaska, and with lower-48 referral centers for peer-to-peer consults and specialized treatment. S/He interacts with Veterans Service Organizations, State and National Congressional Offices, and other stakeholder groups and establishes and maintains a Mental Health Council with membership consistent with Central Office directives. Establishes and maintains effective collegial relationships within the service, between services, within administration, and with other leaders in the health care community. Utilizes an inter-disciplinary approach to assess, design, measure, evaluate programs and analyze trends to identify opportunities, and develops the most effective and efficient method to produce reliable patient care/operational outcomes with minimal variances. Occasional travel for education and training will be required as will travel to the different healthcare delivery sites. Establishes quality control measures and associated data collection activities, to include professional peer review, systematic internal review, clinical privileging, and other improvement activities. Directly supervises all elements of practice under the Social Behavioral Health Services. These programs include high rates of activity and broad mission involvement. Retains full responsibility for program design, integrating the program with other related programs and organizational goals, monitoring, and responsibility for evaluating and administering the program, including outcomes. Ensures competency assessment is completed on each primary care assigned disciplines annually. Reviews the Joint Commission hospital guidelines to ensure the JV facility is in compliance with those guidelines. Reviews the SAIL report, Performance Measures, and other data for trends and early intervention; formulates follow-up plans with Associate Chief of Staff, along with direct managers, the involved services, and the VA and DoD medical center. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) 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) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Telework: Ad-hoc (as determined by the agency policy). Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (contingent of service needs). Compressed/Flexible: Telework: Ad-hoc (as determined by the agency policy). 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. 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. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6) OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Preferred Experience: Multi-disciplinary leadership experience in comprehensive mental health services Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse IV - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 4-5 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or related field and appropriate basic or advanced certification desired, and approximately 3-4 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The S/He may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The S/He may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The S/He must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The S/He who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Anchorage VA Medical Center 1201 North Muldoon Road Anchorage, AK 99504 US
• Name: Michael Lokrantz
• Phone: 503-220-8262 X57331
• Email: [email protected]