Career Center

Summary

The Psychology Program Manager serves as the Program Coordinator and Supervisor for outpatient general mental health services provided through the Mental Health Clinic (MHC) within the Mental Health Service (MHS).

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
• English Language: Must be proficient in written and spoken English Education: 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
• 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 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: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program
• and - 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
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND Internships: 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 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
• 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
• 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 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
• 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)
• 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
• Assignment: For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and variety - and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Psychologist program managers have broad program management responsibilities for a specific program or programs that are designed to deliver specialized - complex - highly professional services that are important program components of the facility and that significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans
• Programs include but are not limited to addiction - posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - mental health intensive case management (MHICM) - mental health compensation and pension examination (C&P) programs - Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers - inpatient mental health - residential rehabilitation - domiciliary - palliative care - neuropsychology - and internship and postdoctoral fellowship training programs
• management of an off-campus site
• psychology program oversight and coordination throughout the facility and its affiliated clinics as a psychology executive - typically at lower complexity facilities
• Decisions made by the Program Manager affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment
• The type of program managed and scope of responsibility are critical aspects of the assignment at this level
• Responsibilities include operation and management of key clinical - training - research - or administrative programs to include full responsibility for managing the day to day activities of those programs
• Responsibility may include supervision of staff but is not required
• Psychologist Program Managers are responsible for strategic planning to ensure the provision of high quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans being served and planning - and developing and implementing short- and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the program's strategic plan
• They have oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and deploy those resources in support of the program needs
• They develop and implement programs - policies - and procedures to meet program goals - VHA policy and external accreditation requirements - and monitor outcomes using data-driven quality assurance processes - and implement strategies for improvement based on data analysis
• References: VA Handbook 5005/120 - Part II - Appendix G18 - Psychologist Qualification Standard - GS-0180 - Veterans Health Administration - dated September 10 - 2019
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Employee Occupational Health Service

Duties

• Major duties include but not limited to: Program Coordination: Responsible for the daily management and operational aspects of the MHC
• Implementation of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) teams within MHC Assists in the development and implementation of follow-up systems to track completed tasks or other issues of concern relating to this program
• Provides leadership - guidance - and coordination of staff following the mission/vision of the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System and program direction of the Mental Health Service
• Responsible for strategic planning for all aspects of the MHC program to ensure the provision of high quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans being served - including planning - developing - and implementing short and long term goals and objectives consistent with the MHC program's strategic plan
• Required to conduct - evaluate - and coordinate the execution of the MHC program
• Monitor staff productivity - ensures staff are labor mapped appropriately based on their clinical and administrative responsibilities and reviews individualized productivity targets with staff on a quarterly basis and makes changes to these targets as needed
• Administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to patients
• Develops and implements information systems to track service activities - including visits - referrals - patient demographics - equipment utilization - and patient satisfaction
• Ensures biopsychosocial assessments - treatment plans - and other clinical documentation are completed in a timely manner for Veterans seen by MHC staff
• Supervisory Duties: Supervise a group of employees performing work at various levels and provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the MHC program
• Exercises supervisory authorities and responsibilities involving work assignment and review - as well as the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised
• Ensures program staff receive appropriate training to perform the essential functions of their jobs in primarily outpatient settings
• Develop performance standards for employees assigned to this section
• Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff - which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system
• Advises - counsels - and instructs staff on both clinical and administrative matters
• Responsible for furthering the goals of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to assure the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives and by adhering to nondiscriminatory employment practices in regard to race - color - religion - sex - and affirmative action for the area under his/her supervision in the following: merit promotion of employees and recruitment and hiring of applicants
• fair treatment of all employees
• encouragement and recognition of employee achievements
• career development of employees
• and full utilization of their skills
• Clinical Duties: Provides biopsychosocial assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders - particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients
• Provides a full range of comprehensive - evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions - including individual - couples/family - and group psychotherapy
• Provides psychological assessment services - including cognitive testing - personality assessment - and differential diagnostic assessment for complex cases
• Clinical care will be based on programmatic needs
• Identifies patient problems requiring consultation with other medical center staff and makes appropriate referrals
• Provides education to patients - family members - and significant others
• Functions independently as a member of the VASNHCS Medical Staff with full clinical privileges
• Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm Monday - Friday Telework: This position is eligible for telework on an Ad- Hoc Basis Financial Disclosure Report: Not required