Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - Associate Chief of Staff, Behavioral Health

Summary

The Associate Chief of Staff, Behavioral Health will lead a multidisciplinary staff in the delivery of Behavioral Health care to our nation's veterans. The incumbent is responsible for the supervision and management of all Behavior Health Services at the Butler VAMC; this includes all outpatient mental health services at the main facility and all satellite clinics as well as the residential MHRRTP programs and all services and staff housed under Social Work Services and Psychology Services.

Duties

The Associate Chief of Staff, Behavioral Health will lead a multidisciplinary staff in the delivery of Behavioral Health care to our nation's Veterans. Major Duties include but are not limited to: Ultimately responsible for the day-to-day program operation of the Behavioral Health Service line. Develops and manages the multiple clinical programs of the service to meet current and anticipated patient care requirements of the behavioral health patient population. Provides oversight, direction, integration, and coordination of activities required to support the delivery of quality, customer-focused and cost-effective services in a timely manner within the clinics of the BHC and as liaison with other areas, as appropriate. Manages patient care activities to conform with VHA directives, the professional guidelines of the Joint Commission, the OIG, and CARF. Analyzes clinically appropriate data to effectively monitor and optimize quality, performance, and productivity. Sets priorities, delegates tasks, and solves problems in order to meet multiple action item deadlines and identify/address organizational problems/needs. Serves as a role model, educator, and subject matter expert in the delivery of trauma informed care, ensuring that behavioral health follows the TIC model and advocates for other services to consider the roles of trauma in their delivery of care, physical environment, and policy development. Develops/implements all departmental policies and procedures, ensuring that SOPs are compatible with the Butler VAMC and VHA policies and regulations. Provides feedback to the VISN on new policy implementation and assists other sites in complying with directives and policies. Periodically reviews and updates scopes of practice, functional statements, position descriptions, and competencies for clinical and administrative staff. Ensures adequate staffing levels, interviews and selects qualified applicants, monitors/evaluates performance, and maintains ongoing communication with HR to ensure seamless recruitment/hiring and orientation. Assigns new employees a mentor. Leads the BH Council meetings which sets priorities for the BH on an annual basis. Leads monthly interdisciplinary staff meetings. Closely monitors BH performance measures, creating action plans for measures that are not meeting expectations. Monitors compliance with national directives related to suicide prevention, completing chart reviews and referring to dashboards that monitor compliance with all screening and safety planning requirements. Problem-solves and works collaboratively with clinical staff. Educates clinical leaders in the medical center on the emerging changes regarding suicide prevention. Plans and maintains a work environment that promotes physical and psychological safety for staff. Actively attends and participates in facility committees, task forces, and executive bodies required by the position or requested by executive leadership. Participates in VISN and national committees and workgroups that promote quality health care delivery systems within the mental health field. Develops and manages the departmental budget with assistance from Fiscal budgeting. Ensures timely access to services, regularly monitoring access and providing guidance to Medical Support Assistants on scheduling of new and transfer patients. Development and monitoring of departmental SOPs and Medical Center Policies. Ensures all VA and accreditation requirements are met. Provides written responses to action items, congressional complaints, and White House complaints. Serves as a back-up Service Line Patient Advocate, addressing customer complaints fully and promptly. Ensures the competencies of mental health staff and is available for clinical consultation and supervision for all staff within the BHC line as well as other departments. Responsible for providing direct clinical and administrative supervision to supervisors within the program as well as general therapists and suicide prevention staff . Serves as the second-line supervisor to staff who work in the service line. Responsible for some administrative supervisory duties for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants and provides assistance to the COS line with additional supervisory duties. Demonstrates a commitment of EEO principles in all decisions, such as hiring practices. Ensures the availability of preceptors and clinically appropriate programming for undergraduate, graduate, PhD/PsyD, and medical students. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Available, Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized for Highly Qualified Candidates Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to LPMHC positions in the GS-0101 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. English Language Proficiency: LPMHCs must be proficient in spoke and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, GS-14 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 Experience, Education and Licensure above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Ability to make judgments and decisions associated with program management. Ability to monitor program outcomes using data driven quality assurance process. Ability to develop productivity standards appropriate to each service provided. Ability to manage a wide range of programs which include the operation and management of key clinical, training or administrative programs. 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. Preferred Experience: leadership and management of complex healthcare operations, mentoring and developing staff, strategic planning, and demonstrated excellence in teaching and clinical practice. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019

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/. How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Other Information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.