Summary

The Service Chief of Mental Health (MH) executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility & accountability for population groups & integrated programs that cross services and/or discipline lines and - influence the organizational healthcare mission. Contributes to strategic objectives by developing - implementing - and coordinating programs - in collaboration with VA CCHCS executive leadership and through collaboration with other leaders across VISN 21 sites.

Qualifications

THIS IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINED JOB ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 1 VACANCY. Refer to specific job announcement for each occupational series. 1. Physician (VM-0602-15) 2. Senior Psychologist (GS-0180-15) 3. Senior Social Worker (GS-0185-14) 4. Nurse Executive (VN-0610-IV)

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Licensure and Certification
• The following licensure and certification requirements are considered conditions of employment
• All Nurses must possess and maintain an active - current - full and unrestricted license as a Nurse to practice in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Nurse IV: Scope: Executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care
• Education: Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 4 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV
• OR Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV
• OR A Doctoral degree in nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV
• OR A Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and 3 years of professional nursing experience - one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Dimensions: Leadership
• Leads health care delivery by leveraging evidence-based practices - industry-leading research - and innovative care models
• Drives a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the program or service level
• Business Acumen
• Transforms health care by implementing new processes - technology - informatics - and data analytics using business models and fundamental concepts of resource management at the program or service level
• Inspiring an Industry-Leading Lifestyle
• Employs an industry leading - shared decision-making lifestyle
• Cultivates a workforce that serves Veterans - families and caregivers of all backgrounds and builds trust - lifestyle competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the program or service level
• Communication and Relationship Management
• Directs the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional organizational values - beliefs and practices at the program or services level
• Professional and Social Responsibility
• Operationalizes a lifestyle of holistic care - health advocacy and health equity
• Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the program or service level
• Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans and the community
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) 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) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory General Description of Assigned Duties:The Nurse IV Chief of Mental Health (MH) Service executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility & accountability for population groups & integrated programs that cross services and/or discipline lines and - influence the organizational healthcare mission
• The MH Service Line at VACCHCS includes Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) staff embedded in Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) - General Mental Health in the Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP) and Specialty Mental Health including Inpatient Mental Health - specialty PTSD services in the Trauma and Recovery Outpatient Program (TROP) - specialty Substance Use Disorder Program (SUDP) - and specialty services for those with serious mental illness through Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery Services (ICMHR)
• Supervision and resource management involve major decisions and work activities that significantly affect the ability of staff to provide comprehensive services to Veterans
• The MH service is a major component of the VACCHCS and the services or programs supervised are highly professional - technical - and complex
• Effectively contributes to strategic objectives by developing - implementing - and coordinating programs - in collaboration with VA CCHCS executive leadership and through collaboration with other leaders across VISN 21 sites
• Leads the organization toward achieving stated VHA and VISN program goals - in support of the VHA MH Strategic Plan and in concert with VHA and VISN Strategic and Performance Measurement plans
• Responsible for the development - coordination - review and evaluation of MH programs - policies and procedures and assumes the authority to ensure implementation - as well as to maintain and improve MH operations
• Provides oversight of mental health administrative and clinical programmatic resources and monitoring of outcomes using a data-driven quality assurance process
• Responsible for implementation of the various handbooks and directives (i.e. - VHA Directive 1160.01 Uniform MH Services in VHA Medical Points of Service dated 2023-04-27 or its revision) and standards for accrediting bodies (i.e. - Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Accreditation for MH programs - The Joint Commission - etc.)
• Provides oversight for the implementation of MH services and mental health hiring initiatives - as well as annual budgetary requests and tracking - and submission of grants and proposals for MH funding
• Additional duties outlined in Directive 1160.01 include: Chairing a Mental Health Executive Committee (MHEC) that propose strategies improve programming - reviews the timeliness of Veterans' access to mental health care - oversees the resources and efficient utilization of these available to MH programs - etc
• Collaborating with the VA medical facility Chief of Staff and the Associate Director for Patient Care Services to review recommendations submitted by the VISN
• Ensuring written plans consistent with national policy for responding to MH emergencies are developed and communicated broadly across the health care system to ensure Veteran safety
• Ensuring same day access - screenings and warm handoffs for Veterans who attempt to engage with MH services or regarding a concern
• Designating VA medical facility MH Discipline Leaders for Psychology - Psychiatry - MH Social Work and MH Nursing in collaboration with Nursing and Social Work leadership
• further - will consider leaders for other Mental Health disciplines (Mental Health PAs - Mental Health CPPs - VRCs - MFTs and LPMHCs) when staffing levels warrant
• Establishing clearly defined processes for how Veterans progress through the continuum of mental health (MH) care - including transitions to treatment settings where MH care may be provided by a non-mental health care provider (e.g. - in primary care with PCMHI support)
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement # 570 07300F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized to highly qualified candidate Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required