Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider (O-4/O-5) Non-Supervisory

Immigration and Customs Enforcement • Pearsall, TX

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider delivers psychiatric care to ICE detainees, including evaluations, treatment plans, medication management, and crisis intervention. The role involves collaboration with psychiatrists, clinical directors, and consultants, mentoring peers, and supporting policy development. It requires psychiatric certification, clinical expertise, and adaptability to schedule changes. This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Upon appointment to this position, officers will be required to serve an 18 to 24-month commitment to IHSC.
• Must not have a current Assignment Pay Agreement. However, if you have a current Assignment Pay Agreement, it must be fulfilled within 90 days of your application submission.
• Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer or USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidate.
• Civilians are not eligible for this position.
• Applicants without a USPHS commission must begin the USPHS Commissioned Corps application process before applying to this position.
• Applicants must review the USPHS application requirements and submit an application at www.usphs.gov/apply-now/.
• Continued employment is contingent upon appointment to, and maintenance of, active-duty status in the USPHS Commissioned Corps.
• PHS officers must participate in IHSC TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS).
• Cultural Competency
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
• Integrity/Honesty
• Adult learner teaching skills
• For O-4 Billet: Must have a minimum of 6 months of full-time experience as a Psychiatric APP in direct patient care or the express approval of IHSC Chief Psychiatrist.
• For O-4 Billet: Nurse Practitioner - Requires unrestricted PMHNP state license and national board certification through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC).
• For O-4 Billet: Nurse Practitioner - Current licensure as a PMHNP by a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or territory of the United States.
• For O-4 Billet: Nurse Practitioner - PMHNP degree from a graduate school of professional nursing accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), typically a Master or Doctorial level education.
• For O-4 Billet: Nurse Practitioner - PMHNP board certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
• For O-4 Billet: Physician Assistant (PA) - Requires unrestricted PA state license and national board certification through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
• For O-4 Billet: Physician Assistant (PA) - Current licensure as a PA by a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or territory of the United States.
• For O-4 Billet: Physician Assistant (PA) - Graduate from a PA program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
• Maintains a current license and meets continuing education requirements for the State(s) licensed in.
• Maintains unrestricted license with state of licensure.
• Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe controlled medications-not required at the time of hire, but must be obtained within 90 days of the start date.
• Maintains basic readiness status.
• Maintains current CPR/BLS certification.
• Maintains clinical professional skills via continuing education opportunities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of managing non-compliant patients, special needs populations, and patients with significant deficits in coping skills, thereby requiring continuing professional clinical support.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements.
• For O-5 Billet: Preferred minimum of 3-5 years of full-time experience as a Psychiatric APP in direct patient care or must have the expressed approval of IHSC Chief Psychiatrist.
• For O-5 Billet: Physician Assistant (PA) - Certificate of Added Qualification in Psychiatry from the NCCPA - required.
• For O-5 Billet: Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist - Requires unrestricted pharmacist state license and board certification in psychiatric pharmacy through the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS).
• For O-5 Billet: Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist - Current licensure as a pharmacist by a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or territory of the United States.
• For O-5 Billet: Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist - Graduate from a Doctor of Pharmacy program accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE).
• For O-5 Billet: Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist - Board Certification in Psychiatric Pharmacy (BCPP) by the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS).

Nice To Haves

• Certificate of Added Qualification in Psychiatry from the NCCPA - preferred, not required (for O-4 Billet).
• Knowledge of forensic psychiatry concepts and principles.
• Correctional health care experience.
• Certification as Correctional Healthcare Professional (CCHP).
• Knowledge and/or experience with IHSC policies, NCCHC and PBNDS requirements.
• Bilingual communication capability preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct psychiatric care to detainees via onsite and telepsychiatry services for scheduled appointments, emergency, or urgent care visit.
• Consults with the Psychiatrist and/or Clinical Director for complex psychiatric patients and as required by IHSC policy.
• Provides infirmary care including admission, discharge, and daily rounds for detainees that require higher levels of psychiatric care or monitoring.
• Performs comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and initiates treatment plans for detainees as required by IHSC policy, or as required for detainee psychiatric complaint.
• Works within and performs functions as outlined in the IHSC Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider Collaborative Practice and Prescriptive Authority Agreement and the IHSC formulary.
• Follows IHSC policies in the management of significant mental illness including prevention of violence, homicide, self-harm and suicide.
• Applies knowledge of drugs and therapeutics when prescribing medication.
• Applies patient-specific knowledge to monitor and control stress levels and provide emotional support and counseling to detainees.
• Coordinates psychiatric care needs of detainees including referrals to off-site consultants.
• Solicits and reviews pertinent psychiatric records as indicated.
• Interprets diagnostic and laboratory results when required for psychiatric evaluations.
• Adheres to universal precautions.
• May serve as medical escort of detainees as needed, for domestic/overseas travel.
• Utilizes and documents interpretation and/or translation and/or assisted communication services as needed to ensure ability to communicate with detainees or others who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) or have a communication disability or impediment.
• Maintains flexibility and adaptability to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements.
• The incumbent will be required to provide on-call coverage as needed after regular work hours and may need to return to the facility outside of normal work hours for urgent mental health needs.
• Provides relevant patient education to detainees verbally and/or with handouts.
• Documents detainee care visits in the required health record using required format, in compliance with IHSC policy and guidance.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and confidentiality of medical records.
• Completes all training as required/assigned.
• May serve in acting capacity as part of the IHSC Psychiatry Services Program leadership team.
• Mentors Psychiatric APP onboarding and training.
• Attends on-site, regional, and national meetings as required.
• Participates in the Psychiatric APP peer review process.
• Assists in program development, policy review and revisions, and data collection.
• Travel may be required up to as much as 20% annually.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Review our benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level