Summary

This position is for a Program Manager in the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) of the Mental Health Service of VAAAHS. The incumbent organizes and manages the delivery of comprehensive mental health services and activities. This Position is expected to have relevant specific training and demonstrated expertise in Recovery and Serious Mental Illness.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• a
• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• b
• 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
• OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND (4) Internships (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
• c
• 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 for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care 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
• d
• Board Certification (1) Board Certification
• Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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
• The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education
• e
• English Language Proficiency
• Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: 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: Ability to organize work - set priorities - delegate tasks - and meet multiple deadlines
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds - interests - and points of view
• Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives
• Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations
• Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program References: VA Handbook 5005/103 - Psychologist Qualification Standard - Part II - Appendix G18 dated February 7 - 2018
• Physical Requirements: The work is largely office based in a sedentary setting
• No manual labor is required above ordinary situations
• The incumbent must be capable of using a computer given that clinical charting is electronic
• The incumbent may be tasked to travel to VAAAHS sites on a periodic basis.

Duties

• The VA Ann Arbor is a level 1B high complexity facility with a strong academic affiliate partner in the University of Michigan
• The VA Ann Arbor serves over 60 -000 veterans annually with 7 community-based outpatient clinics and 2 local offsite clinics serving Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio
• The Mental Health Service consists of about 30 clinical teams and an 18 bed acute inpatient mental Health unit
• In addition to our clinical mission - the VAAAHS has a strong tradition of training tomorrow's healthcare providers
• The Mental Health Service houses strong training programs with about 30 Psychology trainees from undergraduate trough postdoctoral study - Psychiatry residents and fellows - medical students - and social work and nurse practitioner trainees
• The research mission is also valued strongly as evidenced by VAAAHS serving as a home to the Center for Clinical Management Research - Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center (SMITREC) - the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) and the Center for Evaluation and Implementation Resource (CEIR)
• The incumbent has broad program management responsibilities - which include the operation and management of key clinical - training - or administrative activities
• Has direct responsibility for the professional activities of all program staff
• Responsibilities include broad development and active implementation of programs - policies - and procedures
• oversight of administrative and programmatic resources
• Further - responsibilities include monitoring of outcomes using a data-driven quality assurance process for a program that delivers specialized - complex - highly professional services that are important components of the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System - and significantly affect the health care provided to veterans
• The Program Manager is responsible for the continuous evaluation of outcome monitors - measurements - and improvements in all phases of substance use disorder treatment and quality improvement initiatives The program manager is responsible for compliance with all accreditation - VACO - and hospital requirements - policies - and procedures
• Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes
• Oversees development of new treatment protocols for patients
• Has direct responsibility for all aspects of psychological services in the program - including those conducted by trainees and staff
• Provides clinical supervision - guidance and consultation for staff and trainees
• Manages all personnel concerns including addressing performance concerns
• Consults with and serves as a resource for other professional personnel concerning the need for and development of psychological services Responsible for timely completion of all program evaluations and documents required by the Medical Center - VISN and VACO - ensuring compliance with appropriate accrediting bodies such as JCAHO
• Responsible for implementation of all directives - and completion of all action items assigned in a timely manner
• Is responsible for continuous quality improvement and action plan development and follow through
• Evaluates and diagnoses mental disorders - conduct psychological - neuro-psychological and/or brief/basic psychological assessments within their areas of competence and consistent with clinical privileges
• Treats mental health - substance use disorders - behavioral concerns - physical health - psychosocial problems - and other psychiatric comorbidities with evidence-based treatment approaches within their areas of competence and consistent with clinical privileges
• Completes all clinical charting and documentation required by the Healthcare system - as appropriate within established timeliness guidelines and consistent with quality and accreditation standards
• VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (7:30 a.m
• to 4:00 p.m.) Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93475-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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