The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) see more details on EDRP under the Education Section of this announcement. This position serves as a Program Manager and is the Coordinator for the Local Recovery Program in the Western North Carolina VA Health Care System (WNCVAHCS).

Duties

Duties include, but not limited to: Program Management Responsibilities: This position is responsible for the supervision of the certified peer support specialists (CPSS). The incumbent is involved in all aspects of hiring CPSS, to include tracking of appropriate competencies, coordinating a team to rate applications and be involved in interviews. The incumbent provides individual and group supervision to certified peer specialists CPSS across the WNCVAHCS that are in different clinics. The incumbent approves leave requests and premium pay requests. The incumbent meets with CPSS regularly to give feedback on performance and as well as yearly reviews. The incumbent reviews notation of CPS to ensure proper documentation. Ensures appropriate workflow with peers and tracks data related to CPSS encounters. The Program Manager exercises independent judgment in the practice and provision of psychological services (clinical care, consultation, and education) and makes independent supervisory/administrative decisions. Develops a facility wide ongoing recovery services education plan for dissemination to providers, Veterans, and their families. This may include presentation by experts or recovering individuals, coordination of large-scale training efforts, and creation of resource guides, promotional materials, and promotional materials, and printed information. Provides reports on implementation progress to the VISN MH Lead and the National Recovery Coordinator Group (NRG) as requested. Has line and staff authority for resource allocations within the area of responsibility. Ensures efficient operation of the organizational unit. Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. Has contacts on a regular and recurring basis with individuals representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. Actively pursues outreach opportunities, which includes providing ready access to Veterans, family members, and the community-at-large with information about VA eligibility and clinical services, ensuring warm handoffs at critical points of transition between systems of care, and fostering ongoing collaboration between VA and Community Partners. Responsibilities also include strengthening the relationships between VHA and community mental health providers. The goal of these focused outreach efforts is to help ensure that Veterans and their families are effectively integrated into community services as appropriate; assist local VA and local social service agencies be better connected; addressing existing and potential barriers; and maintain liaison between VHA and Community Mental Health providers. Promotes awareness and utilization of VA mental health resources, helps Veterans gain access to services, has ready access to information about eligibility and available clinical services. Also, ensures those Veterans who are initially or later determined to require other interventions not offered within MHS programs will be referred to the appropriate specialty or community organization to provide those services. Makes resource allocation decisions regarding resources within the Recovery Program. Enriching Elements: Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients. Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy. Incumbent is an advocate for the use of evidence- based psychotherapeutic interventions for Veterans with SMI, such as Social Skills Training, Cognitive Therapy for Schizophrenia, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression. Outreach Responsibilities: The LRC actively seeks outreach opportunities and collaborates with MH programs and other services for community integration for Mental Health. This includes oversight of administrative and programmatic resources associated with VA's mission to build healthy communities for Veterans and their families via active collaboration and coordination with partners in the community, as well as clinical outreach activities. Representing mental health and actively engaging in community-based councils and task forces requires an individual with an extensive knowledge of the system and a high degree of professionalism. Provide ready access to information about VA and available clinical services, ensure warm handoffs at critical points of transition between systems of care, and provide ongoing liaison between VA and Community Partners. Performs other duties, as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8AM-4:30PM Telework: Ad-hoc; at discretion of Supervisor Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Onnie "David" Green at [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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 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). 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 re-specialization program meeting both of the following conditions: a) the re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and b) the specialty in which the 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; OR a past, current, or upcoming graduate of VHA Health Trainee Program. 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). OR, 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. Grade Determinations: Minimum Qualifications for GS-14: Experience: At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. Preferred Experience: Leadership level experience with the Local Recovery Program for Veterans and supervising peer specialists. References: VA Handbook 5005/103 Part II Appendix G18 Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 lbs.; Light carrying, under 15 lbs.; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking, Standing; Both legs required; Hearing (aid permitted).

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/.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Contacts

• Address Charles George VA Medical Center 1100 Tunnel Road Asheville, NC 28805 US
• Name: Christina Trull
• Phone: 828-318-6521
• Email: [email protected]