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This announcement is for the IMPACT Unit Leader (IUL)/Section Chief of one of the sections in the VASDHS Mental Health Care Line (MHCL). The primary purpose of the IUL is to provide supervision, budgetary oversight, and programmatic management to programs and staff. This position is multi-disciplinary, and is being offered to Physicians (Psychiatrist), Registered Nurses, Psychologists, and Social Workers. The candidate will be chosen from one of four different announcements. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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 (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 respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization 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. 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. [Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards. 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 (pre1979) 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. NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard. 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. d. Board Certification and Loss of Credential (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. (2) Loss of Credential. Once board certified, psychologist must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment. A psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists. 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). English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grade Determinations: Psychology Program Manager, GS-14 (a) Experience. At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. 2. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. 3. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. 4. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. 5. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. 6. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. 7. 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 Appendix G18 Physical Requirements: Most work is performed in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts and the work is generally sedentary. ["Major duties include but are not limited to: Plans, controls, organizes, and directs the activities of staff within the IMPACT Unit (IU), ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and meets customer and stakeholder needs. Develops goals and objectives that integrate organization and multidisciplinary staff objectives. Plans, analyzes and monitors data from VSSC, ProClarity and other VA databases to ensure IU is succeeding on all performance Measures and monitors related to IU's functioning. Researches, interprets, analyzes and applies MHCL, VASDHS, VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network, JCAHO, CARF and related professional, Federal and VHA policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure compliance and successful outcomes for any site visit or audit. Establishes, assesses and revises policies and procedures for administrative and clinical operations of staff within the IMPACT unit. Plans and schedules work in a manner that promotes a smooth flow and even distribution. Coordinates plans and schedules with other IULs, managers and customers as appropriate. Identifies need for changes in priorities and takes action to implement such changes. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules. Assigns work to subordinate employees based on the IUL priorities and consideration of difficulty and requirements of assignments such that the experience, training, and abilities of staff are effectively utilized to meet organization and customer needs. Reviews MHCL organization mission, functions, and staffing. Identifies requirements and initiates requests for additional resources including personnel, overtime, equipment, supplies, and space to ensure success in meeting goals and objectives. Works with subordinates to ensure optimal utilization of training resources and, if appropriate, ensures high quality training is provided within the IU. Provides advice to the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health regarding significant issues and problems related to work accomplishment. Establishes metrics and analysis systems to ensure actions are timely and reviewed at critical points. Accepts, amend, or rejects work presented by subordinates. Exercises supervisory personnel management responsibilities in conjunction with subordinate's Service Chief or Lead. Explains performance expectations to employees and provides regular feedback on strengths and weaknesses. Holds employees responsible for satisfactory completion of work assignments. Appraises subordinate workers performance ensuring consistency and equity in rating techniques. Recommends awards when appropriate and approves within-grade increases. Hears and resolves employee complaints and refers serious unresolved complaints to higher-level management. Initiates action to correct performance to conduct problems. Affects minor disciplinary measure such as warnings and reprimands and recommends action in more serious disciplinary matters. Reviews position descriptions to ensure accuracy, and the most effective utilization of personnel resources. Participates in special projects and initiatives and performs special assignments. Determines appropriate recommendations for unresolved or questionable problems and performs follow-up. Develops both short and long-range policies and plans for the IMPACT Unit by coordinating the mental health administration needs. Responsible for making and implementing decisions directly affecting patient care and has the final line decision-making authority under the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health. Adapts the principles, practices, processes, and techniques common to any situation to the specialized requirements of the Medical Center. Provides for maintenance of date related to budget and expenditure estimates. Advises on fund shortages and recommendations regarding funding or program adjustments. All other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 08:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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