Psychology Program Manager (Clinical Director) - EDRP Approved, Relocation/Recruitment Incentive

Full Job Description

The Primary Purpose of the position is: The incumbent serves as a Supervisory Psychologist in the position of Clinical Director for the Mental Health Acute Inpatient Unit.

The Organizational Location of the Position is: Acute Inpatient Unit, Mental Health Service, in the VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas TX.

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: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

Education: To be qualified for a GS-0180 Psychologist you must possess 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, OR Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the 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 applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.

AND 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.

Note: 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.

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: Psychology Program Manager, 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: 1.

Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. 2.

Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. 3.

Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups. 4. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. 5.

Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. 6. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. 7.

Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. (c) Assignment.

For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

Psychologist program managers have broad program management responsibilities for a specific program or programs that are designed 10 to deliver specialized, complex, highly professional services that are important program components of the facility and that significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans.

Programs include but are not limited to addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental health intensive case management (MHICM), mental health compensation and pension examination (C&P) programs, Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers, inpatient mental health, residential rehabilitation, domiciliary, palliative care, neuropsychology, and internship and postdoctoral fellowship training programs; management of an off- campus site; psychology program oversight and coordination throughout the facility and its affiliated clinics as a psychology executive, typically at lower complexity facilities.

Decisions made by the Program Manager affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment.

The type of program managed and scope of responsibility are critical aspects of the assignment at this level.

Responsibilities include operation and management of key clinical, training, research, or administrative programs to include full responsibility for managing the day to day activities of those programs.

Responsibility may include supervision of staff but is not required.

Psychologist Program Managers are responsible for strategic planning to ensure the provision of high quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans being served and planning, and developing and implementing short- and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the program's strategic plan.

They have oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and deploy those resources in support of the program needs.

They develop and implement programs, policies, and procedures to meet program goals, VHA policy and external accreditation requirements, and monitor outcomes using data-driven quality assurance processes, and implement strategies for improvement based on data analysis.

Preferred Experience: PE 1.Experience working as a supervisor in a MH Acute Inpatient Unit.

PE 2.Experience providing case management and psychotherapy along with interfacing with mental health court related to involuntary commitments PE 3.Experience in multidisciplinary settings, including managing across disciplines.

PE 4.Experience developing, evaluating, and improving programs PE 5.Experience treating a Veteran population PE.

6.Experience working with trainees (including psychiatry, psychology, social work) Major Duties:

Duties include but are not limited to: The incumbent is responsible for the maintenance, coordination, and supervision of both: 1) a multidisciplinary staff consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and nurses, and other mental health professionals, as well as 2) a highly complex inpatient mental health clinic providing a variety of critical medical and mental health services to Veterans.

The details of these duties are further articulated below.

Management /Supervision of Staff - The incumbent is highly effective in working collaboratively with and co­managing a multidisciplinary professional staff including the following: Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Nursing Assistants, and Peer Specialist(s).

The incumbent directly develops individualized productivity standards for psychology and social work staff and advises on productivity standards for remaining staff.

The incumbent also reviews productivity with staff on a quarterly basis and adjusts standards as needed based on changes in clinic procedures and staff utilization.

- The incumbent develops and maintains accurate position descriptions, functional statements and ensures their fit within the larger model of clinical care delivery.

Management/Supervision of Unit/Clinic - The incumbent co-manages the day-to-day operations of highly complex inpatient mental health unit which is staffed around the clock and spread across two semi-autonomous sub-units.

These operations include the provision of specialty inpatient care for geriatric patients, female patients, patients admitted for detoxification, patients admitted for psychiatric stabilization of psychosis, and patients admitted for due to suicidal intent and/or protective custody.

- The incumbent monitors the quality of care provided for the veterans seeking mental health services from the Inpatient Unit, to include review and documentation of patient care.

- The incumbent ensures unit operations follow all relevant sections of the Office of Mental Health Operations Handbook pertaining to inpatient hospitalization and treatment.

Clinical Functions - In this role, the incumbent performs psychological evaluations for individuals with psychological or medical disorders for purposes of diagnostic clarification and treatment planning/recommendations.

These evaluations employ a comprehensive diagnostic interview, review of available records, collateral contact when available, as well as objective and cognitive tests when indicated.

- The incumbent provides a range of group/individual psychotherapeutic interventions with veterans and their families utilizing empirically supported modalities when indicated.

- The incumbent consults with and serves as a resource for other professional personnel concerning the need for and development of psychological services.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more 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.

Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 55165-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized