Summary

The Service Chief of Mental Health (MH) executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility & accountability for population groups & integrated programs that cross services and/or discipline lines and - influence the organizational healthcare mission. Contributes to strategic objectives by developing - implementing - and coordinating programs - in collaboration with VA CCHCS executive leadership and through collaboration with other leaders across VISN 21 sites.

Qualifications

THIS IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINED JOB ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 1 VACANCY. Refer to specific job announcement for each occupational series. 1. Physician (VM-0602-15) 2. Senior Psychologist (GS-0180-15) 3. Senior Social Worker (GS-0185-14) 4. Nurse Executive (VN-0610-IV)

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: (1) 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
• For the purpose of meeting this requirement - the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills
• Currently - APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology - counseling psychology - school psychology - or combinations of two or more of those areas
• PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science
• CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology - counseling psychology - clinical neuropsychology - and school psychology
• There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist
• therefore - an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment
• Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA - there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology)
• OR (2) 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
• NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program - which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship
• [Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards.] OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND Internship: (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 (d) 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 (e) 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: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard.] Licensure: 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
• (1) Exception
• Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 [(c)(2)(B)] for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care 4 only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed
• Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• Grandfathering Provision: 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)
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service English Language Proficiency Requirement: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. - chapter 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Grade Determinations: Senior Psychologist - GS-15 (Service Chief) (a) Experience: At least four years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-14 level
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1
• Ability to supervise and manage a large group of professional staff effectively
• 2
• Skill in interpersonal relationships - including conflict resolution & ability to work collaboratively with supervisors from other units
• 3
• Ability to accurately apply the qualification standards - assess the potential of current & prospective employees - & promote their professional development
• 4
• Ability to develop productivity standards for professional staff - often across multiple program lines
• 5
• Knowledge of the goals & objectives of the medical center & VISN and ability to communicate these to subordinates
• (c) Assignment: Assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and range of variety - and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Sr Psychologist Service Chief at the GS-15 level generally manages programs in Complexity Level 1 (High Complexity) facilities or in facilities of lesser complexity levels that have large psychology or mental health programs.

Duties

• The Service Chief of Mental Health (MH) VA Central California Health Care System - (VACCHCS) - contributes to strategic objectives by developing - implementing - and coordinating programs - in collaboration with VA CCHCS executive leadership & other leaders across VISN 21 sites
• Leads the organization toward achieving stated VHA & VISN program goals - in support of the VHA MH Strategic Plan and in concert with VHA & VISN Strategic and Performance Measurement plans
• MH treatment programs deliver specialized - complex - & highly professional services that significantly affect the overall health care provided to Veterans
• In support thereof - the Service Chief - is responsible for the development - coordination - review and evaluation of MH programs - policies and procedures and assumes the authority to ensure implementation - as well as to maintain and improve MH operations
• Provides oversight of MH administrative and clinical programmatic resources and monitoring of outcomes using a data-driven quality assurance process
• Administrative Responsibilities (80%): Decisions are made with very wide latitude and independent judgment
• Participates as chair of MH Executive Committee (MHEC) in making decisions about MH services
• Applies knowledge of state of the art - evidence-based practice of mental health treatments and organized treatment programs including a familiarity with all of the disciplines that provide mental health treatment services
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and business acumen to effectively and efficiently communicate timely information/reports to a broad variety of audiences including the highest levels of management
• Has supervisory responsibility for subordinates (Deputy Chief of Mental Health/Psychology Executive - Outpatient Medical Director - Section Chief of Acute Psychiatric Services - SUDP Medical Director - Supervisory Program Analyst) and is responsible for all professional - management - and administrative aspects of MH services
• Evaluates partnerships for other services including but not limited to Primary Care - Geriatrics and Extended Care - Whole Health - and medical services that have an embedded MH provider or may refer to MH services - using relevant VA statutes and regulations and takes action to improve identified deficiencies
• Action Items related to MH - creating - implementing and ensuring compliance with policies and procedures related to all aspects of MH services - documentation of clinical services and workload - performance improvement tasks - compliance with VA performance measures
• Responsible for all administrative actions associated with MH including tracking and evaluating staff's workload and productivity - Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with internal and external customers and stakeholders including Lemoore Naval Air Station (NAS) - Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health - and academic affiliates including UCSF-Fresno Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatry residency program staff
• Attends National - VISN - and medical center meetings as appropriate
• Accepts when able additional and special assignments that are necessary to meet the needs and goals of VACCHCS in serving Veterans
• Collaborates in the performance improvement processes and complies with performance measures as required by the VA for these specific programs
• Participates in activities that obtain customer satisfaction feedback from customers and stakeholders (internal and external to the VA) and works to enhance services as needed
• Clinical Responsibilities (20%): Provides direct care - Social Work services - and triage/case management - as assigned
• Provides clinical consultation to various disciplines and levels of training - as time permits Provides a full range clinical services using the most appropriate case management and therapeutic techniques in providing quality care
• Performs psychological consultations - screenings - and evaluations
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual and group psychotherapy - psychoeducation - treatment planning - and participation in therapeutic community
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8am to 4:30 p.m
• Telework: Available - Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 06967-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized to highly qualified candidates Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required