Behavioral Health Clinical Consultant (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory - External Job in Dallas, TX

Vacancy No. IHSC-BHU-BHCC-O5-NS-2026 Department Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Salary $1.00 to $150,000.00 Grade 5 to 5
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/17/2026 Close Date 8/1/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Dallas, TX


Behavioral Health Clinical Consultant (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory - External

Department of Homeland Security
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC)

Summary

The Behavioral Health Clinical Consultant assesses detainee mental health, provides clinical consultation, manages cases, and develops training. Requires a Master's in Social Work or Doctorate in Psychology and relevant licensure. Must be skilled in various therapeutic modalities and able to work in a multidisciplinary, correctional setting.

This position is only open to current USPHS officers.
USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer. USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position. Civilians are not eligible for this position.

Duties

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Works in conjunction with ICE/OPLA legal counsel providing written evaluation reports on the mental health status of individuals placed on SMI (Seriously Mental Illness List).
  2. Provides weekly reports/updates on individuals on SMI list to the BHU.
  3. Provides counseling, psychotherapy, behavioral modification, substance abuse education and treatment, as required and warranted during field visits.
  4. Provides clinical consultation to field staff regarding acute mental health treatment to individuals that present with signs/symptoms of suicidal, dangerous, or psychotic behaviors.
  5. Possesses a high level of skill in assessing, recognizing, and treating behavioral or other mental health conditions that interfere with successful treatment.
  6. Serves as a mental health consultant to other health professionals and ERO.
  7. Provides education and training to medical, ICE, and contract staff on mental health topics.
  8. Responsible for case management which may involve community treatment placement, hospital placement, or other after care situations.
  9. Coordinates and monitors program functions including Post Order Custody Reviews (POCR), The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA), segregation and Availability of Health Care Programs.
  10. Obtains information to assist the Branch Chief and Division Director in responding to external inquiries regarding ICE Behavioral Health Unit related issues.
  11. Develops trainings/education materials for the Branch Chief and/or Division Director, as required.
  12. Assist in coordination alongside the BHU for continuity of care for placement in, or treatment of, detainees in appropriate settings as required by the conditions of release outlined by ICE.
  13. Utilizes Electronic Medical Record system for completing treatment authorization request, case entry and exit reports.
  14. Assists the ERO case manager in the development of detail-oriented research into the availability of healthcare in countries worldwide.
  15. Assists the local performance improvement coordinator in the completion of clinical performance improvement activities/risk identification and management directly related to mental health.
  16. Follows the supervisory chain of command.
  17. Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation.
  • You must successfully pass a drug screen.
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
  • Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
  • Service Remaining Requirement Agreement: Upon appointment to this position, officers will be required to serve an 18 to 24-month commitment to IHSC.
  • ASSIGNMENT PAY AGREEMENT: You must not have a current Assignment Pay Agreement. However, if you have a current Assignment Pay Agreement, it must be fulfilled within 90 days of your application submission.
  • Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer. USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position. Civilians are not eligible for this position.
  • PHS officers must participate in IHSC TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS.) ITOS is either an entire month or two 16-day periods a year where, depending on the needs of the agency, the officer is required to be available to serve.

Qualifications

COMPETENCIES:

  1. Strong oral and written communication skills.
  2. Leadership Skills.
  3. Active Listening Skills.
  4. Strong organizational and time management skills.
  5. Excellent interpersonal skills.
  6. Strong problem solving, judgment, and decision-making skills
  7. Critical thinking skills.
  8. Cultural competency.
  9. Integrity and honesty.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
  1. Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time (6-8 hours).
  2. Performing repeated bending motion.
  3. Average manual dexterity for computer operation.
  4. Phone use for extended periods of time.

Education

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

  1. Master's Degree in Social Work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
  2. Minimum of two years' experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, at the independent level as recognized in the state licensed, whereby clinical supervision is not required.
  3. Knowledge of the indications and contraindications, complications and techniques in the various psychiatric treatment and diagnostic modalities.
  4. PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology from a graduate program in Psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association.
  5. At least, two (2) years of supervised experience in Clinical, Counseling, or Health Psychology.
  6. Meet requirements for inclusion in the National Registry of Psychologist Providers if graduated after 1 January 1982.
  7. Knowledge of specific functions of Psychology to include but not limited to: Observation, Description, Testing, Evaluation, Interpretation, Diagnosis and Treatment.
REQUIRED LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:
  1. A current, permanent, full and unrestricted license to practice clinical social work independently in the state where the duty station is located.
  2. Licensed by a State or Territory at the Doctoral level for the independent practice of Psychology.
  3. This position requires privileging by IHSC.
  4. Maintains BLS for Healthcare Providers® certification through the American Heart Association®.
  5. Experience implementing and managing a new mental health treatment program and/or a Modified Therapeutic Community treatment model.(Preferred, not required)
  6. Experience in a detention/correctional or residential healthcare setting (preferred, not required).

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Must be familiar with or willing to obtain knowledge of Performance-Based National Detention Standards, National Commission on Correctional Healthcare and American Correctional Association Standards.

  1. Knowledge of the case management process commensurate with training and education at the master's level.
  2. Knowledge of and experience in the indications and contraindications, complications and techniques in the various social work treatment and diagnostic modalities.
  3. Ability to properly use equipment, materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures.
  4. Verbal and written proficiency in English and Spanish.
  5. Ability to implement and manage a new, multi-disciplinary mental health treatment unit.
  6. Possess a strong understanding of the Modified Therapeutic Community treatment model.
  7. Knowledge of a diverse set of group and individual therapeutic modalities (examples include, but are not limited to: art, music, drama, creative-writing, life skills, etc.).
  8. Ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual environment.
  9. Ability to utilize telephonic interpreter/translation services to complete assigned duties if not fluent in a language the patient understands.
  10. Ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and flexibility in work requirements.
  11. Ability to communicate proficiently in English and Spanish (verbal and written) in order to develop positive rapport with patients, co-workers and other stakeholders.
  12. Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships in a multidisciplinary environment.
  13. Ability to navigate in an electronic work environment including electronic health records, web-based training and communications.
  14. Knowledge of, and moderate proficiency in, common Microsoft Office programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and SharePoint.
  15. Knowledge of regulations (HIPAA/Privacy Act) regarding the confidentiality of patient medical records and information as well as Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

Additional information

This position is located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC), Office of the Deputy Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Behavioral Health Unit (BHU). The incumbent will report directly to the IHSC Chief of Behavioral Health Unit. This is a non-supervisory position.

As the Behavioral Health Clinical Consultant, the incumbent is responsible for assessing and evaluating the mental health of detainees and refer to outside treatment facilities if necessary. Additionally, the Behavioral Health Clinical Consultant collects and reports pertinent mental health data.

IHSC has a multi-sector, multidisciplinary workforce of more than 1,400 employees, including U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) commissioned officers, federal civil servants, and contract staff. The IHSC provides on-site direct patient care to ICE detainees at 23 detention facilities throughout the country and manages the provision of off-site medical care for detainees housed in approximately 240 additional Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) facilities. The ICE detainee population is approximately 34,000 detainees on a daily basis, with an average length of stay of approximately 30 days, and over 400,000 detainees annually. The IHSC also provides medical support during ICE enforcement operations in the air, on the ground and at sea.

DHS SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

  1. DHS
  2. ICE
  3. ERO
HHS SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
  1. DHHS
  2. USPHS CC
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
The Behavioral Health Clinical Consultant works under the general supervision of the IHSC Deputy Chief Behavioral Health Unit.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. You may be selected for an interview at the hiring authority's discretion. You will be notified of selection or non-selection.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position.A complete application includes:

U. S. Public Health Service Officers

  1. Cover Letter/Letter of Interest.
  2. Degrees. (Place under "Diploma/GED")
  3. Professional license. (If applicable)
  4. Additional professional certificates. (If applicable)
  5. Three professional references. (i.e., name, title and contact information)
  6. Official USPHS Promotion CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training. (Place under "USPHS Promotion CV")
    • You may provide a civilian resume in addition to the USPHS Promotion CV to capture all relevant work experience.
  7. A copy of your Certificate of Investigation (located in your eOPF).
  8. *Three most recent Commissioned Officer Effectiveness Reports (COER). (Place under "Performance Appraisal")
  9. For current IHSC PHS officers, IHSC Recruiting requires applicants to provide a copy of your current Service Remaining Requirements Agreement.
  10. Indicate if you have an Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement and the date of the end of your AP Agreement. If you do not, please submit a memo attesting to no AP in the Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement section in the documents section of application.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must submit the required documentation outlined under the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section below.

The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 08/01/2026.

PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.

Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. If you need further assistance, contact the Human Resources Office representative listed on this announcement at least one day prior to the closing date for further instructions.

Agency contact information

IHSC Recruiting
Email
IHSCrecruiting@ice.dhs.gov
Address
ERO-DRO-IHSC Public Health Service
500 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20536
US

Next steps

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer within 60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a comprehensive workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS.

The mission of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is to protect America from the cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety. ICE focuses on smart immigration enforcement, preventing terrorism, and combating the illegal movement of people and goods. ICE is the principal investigative arm of DHS and the second largest investigative agency in the federal government. Created in 2003, through a merger of the investigative and interior enforcement elements of the U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, ICE has more than 20,000 employees in more than 400 offices in the United States and around the world. ICE is a key component of the DHS layered approach to protecting our nation from a wide range of threats. For additional information about ICE and career opportunities, please visit www.ice.gov.

Agency contact information

IHSC Recruiting
Email
IHSCrecruiting@ice.dhs.gov
Address
ERO-DRO-IHSC Public Health Service
500 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20536
US

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https://www.ice.gov/detain/ice-health-service-corps


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