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

Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent employees within Legacy VISN 4. . NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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

Conditions of employment

• 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

How you will be evaluated

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

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Other (1)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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