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: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) Education: Candidates must meet one of the following: Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE, Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR, Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to MFT positions in the GS-0182 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State. Loss of Licensure: Once licensed, MFTs must maintain a full, current and unrestricted license to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure will result in removal from the GS-0182 MFT series and may result in termination of employment. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency: MFTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part 11, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j. GRADE DETERMINATION: Marriage and Family Therapist Program Manager Leader, GS-14 Experience, Education, and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, Completion of one year of progressively responsible assignments and experience at the GS-13 grade level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. GS-13 equivalent experience is demonstrated by: Skill in assessing qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees to include staff performance evaluation and may include evaluations of lower level assignments and support staff; Ability to facilitate professional development of other MFTs across programs/or locations (i.e. CBOC, outpatient clinics, etc.) and guide them in current practice guidelines; Ability to collaborate with leaders of other disciplines within facilities, the community, VISN, and VACO; Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives, reporting requirements and the ability to devise ways to adapt work operations to new and changing programs, staffing and budget requirements. This includes knowledge of VA policy and procedures as well as fair, principled and decisive leadership practices; Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program; Ability to clinically supervise in areas related to the provision of marital and family therapy services to accomplish organizational goals and objectives. Graduated from a COAMFTE approved program OR have passed the AMFTRB examination. At least five years of post-licensed clinical experience in family systems theory/therapy and must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise. Must have an AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential. Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to meeting the KSAs for 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 the practice of marriage and family therapy 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. 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). Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a MFT on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education that is part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance journey) level, demoted, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) MFTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) Employees who are retained as a MFT under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a MFT. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G44 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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]