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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · 1 day ago

Psychology Program Manager

Dayton, OH

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$135K/yr - $175K/yr

3+ years exp

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Psychology Program Manager to oversee the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program. This role involves managing specialized services for Veterans with mental health and substance use disorders, ensuring compliance with regulations, and leading quality improvement initiatives.

GovernmentMedicalNational SecurityPublic Safety

Comp. & Benefits

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Has broad management oversight - to include oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and responsibilities - for the MH RRTP that deliver highly specialized - complex - and professional Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders (SUD) related services and specialized - evidence-based interventions including assessment - case management - psychotherapy - medication management - and education for Veterans with substance use and mental health disorders

Establishes policies and procedures that adhere to VHA Handbook 1162: Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program

Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team - established by facility leadership - including the Program Director - Recovery & Residential Programs - and the Chief - Mental Health Service

VISN and National directive and state and local directive and accreditation and regulatory bodies

This includes ensuring the building is in full compliance with all safety and security regulations

Executes ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the MH RRTP programs

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 - but not limited to - admissions and discharges - referrals - patient demographics - equipment utilization and patient satisfaction

Develops - implements - and evaluates clinical guidelines and protocols to establish appropriate utilization of services

Facilitates liaisons with other Mental Health programs in the Mental Health Service - across the continuum of care - with non-clinical services - and across VA and community partners to effectively coordinate MH RRTP services

Ensures the MH RRTP and staff comply with national and local performance measures

Performs work related to the review - monitoring - analysis - planning and assessment of various programs in the MH RRTP

Responsible for key project activities related to the planning - development - and implementation of the project component

Participates in quality management activities of the Medical Center and/or research projects approved by the Institutional Review Board

Day to day operation and management of the MH RRTP

Performs the administrative and personnel management function relative to staff supervised

Incumbent establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff - which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system

Observes workers' performance

Demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques

Provides informal feedback and periodically evaluates employee performance

Incumbent is able to resolve informal complaints and grievances

Develops work improvement plans and recommends personnel actions as necessary

Provides advice - counsel and mentoring workers related to clinical and administrative matters

Effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area

Reviews and approves or disapproves leave requests

Incumbent assures that subordinates are trained and fully comply with the provisions of the safety regulations

Clinical supervision of unlicensed/dependently licensed staff

Occasional travel may be required

A valid driver's license is required and for official travel - the incumbent must be open to operating a government vehicle when available

Qualification

Doctoral degree in psychologyAPACPA accredited internshipFull unrestricted psychology licenseEvidence-based practicesProgram managementEnglish proficiencyLeadership skillsCommunication skillsOrganizational skills

Required

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 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

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 (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

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

Loss of Credential: A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure 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

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: Psychologist 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: (a) Ability to organize work - set priorities - delegate tasks - and meet multiple deadlines

(b) Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools

(d) Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives

(e) Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations

(f) Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards

(g) Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program