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. 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. 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 Culture. Employs an industry leading, shared decision-making culture. Cultivates a diverse and inclusive workforce that serves Veterans, families and caregivers of all backgrounds and builds trust, cultural 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 culture 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 ["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 Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized. Telework: AD HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement# 570-07300F, Nurse IV (Chief of Mental Health) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required."]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
