The Associate Chief of Staff Mental Health (ACOS MH) is responsible for the operational performance of Mental Health (MH) including all administrative elements of those sections, departments and functions assigned to the product line in accordance with the mission of the Medical Center and Network.

Duties

The ACOS MH provides administrative leadership to the Service. The Mental Health Service is a professional, highly complex mental health delivery system encompassing inpatient, outpatient, and vocational services to Veterans and their families. Directs the development and maintenance of innovative cost-effective programs, which meets JCAHO, Network 23, VHA Headquarters, CARF and medical center standards. Develops and maintains continuing programs in the areas of professional peer review, organizational improvement, continuing education, scope of practice, clinical privileging and other quality improvement activities. The incumbent assures sound financial, human resource, space and equipment practices, consistent with medical center goals and objectives. Assures a safe work environment. The incumbent serves as first line supervisor and has full administrative and supervisory authority over the six programs; Addiction Treatment Program (ATP), Inpatient Services, Outpatient Services, Consultation and Liaison Services, Homeless Program, and Compensation Work Therapy. Clinical Administrative/Supervisory Authority/Program Management: Responsible for the accountability and expenditure of funds. This includes maintaining a cost accounting system, forecasting budget requirements, and analysis of use trends. Assures that DVA contracts and mandatory sources of supply are used unless there are compelling clinical reasons to deviate. Responsible for establishing staffing levels, hiring, training, assuring competency and nurturing an appropriate mix of staff necessary to provide the range of product line services. Responsible for the development and implementation of policy and procedures, which guide professional and support staff in the entire range of functional activities. Responsible for the requesting, ordering and/or purchasing of services, supplies and equipment. Assures that rules, regulations, laws, standards of practice, benchmarks for productivity, quality, and customer service expectations are met or exceeded. Assures there are efforts in place to continually improve performance. Assures that appropriate external review organizational criteria are met or exceeded (i.e., is responsible for the development and implementation of a systematic internal review of activities and compliance with appropriate standards and requirements reviewed by external review bodies such as the JCAHO, External Peer Review Program, Inspector General OIG), CARF and other interested groups.) Clinical Responsibilities: Examine, diagnose, and treat Veterans and their families, and maintain medical records. Provide consultation within their discipline. Provide clinical leadership and problem solving for clinical programs of which Mental Health Service has direct responsibility. The incumbent spends a majority of his/her clinical time on the following: Treat mentally ill patients in various settings as required; Participate in treatment planning and meetings as required for clinical functioning; Provide quality care based on current standards of practice. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday Administrative Days Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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. Education. Hold a 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-0183 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to independently practice as a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Loss of Licensure. Once licensed, LPMHCs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted license to independently practice mental health counseling, which includes diagnosis and treatment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS-0183 LPMHC occupation and may result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 (Care Line Manager) 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-13 grade level. They must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills in administration, demonstrating progressively more professional competency skills and judgment. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-13 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Advanced knowledge and skill in management/administration of multidisciplinary mental health programs at complex facilities and/or across multiple sites which includes supervision, consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Demonstrated global knowledge of mental health counseling practice to develop, maintain, and oversee programs in all settings. Ability to provide consultation on policy implementation, qualification standards, counseling practice, and competency with medical center director, VISN, or national program managers that are consistent with organizational goals and Objectives. Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and mental health practice guidelines in multiple professional areas, and the ability to use these resources to guide the program staff in providing appropriate treatment interventions. Ability to influence high level officials in adoption of, and conformance to, performance measures, monitors, and other policy guidelines. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix 43 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 VA Black Hills Health Care System 113 Comanche Road Fort Meade, SD 57741 US
• Name: Breeze Hennes
• Phone: (320) 252-1670 X5222
• Email: [email protected]