About the position
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT open until September 30, 2025, but may close before if a selection has been made. The first cut-off dates for referral of eligible applications will be 06/20/2025. All eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred to the hiring manager no later than 06/24/2025. Eligible applications received after 06/20/2025 date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. As the General Outpatient Mental Health Assistant Chief, the incumbent assists in planning, establishing, and implementing policies and procedures; developing individual or group goals and objectives as well as monitoring, operating, evaluating, coordinating, and overseeing the staff of the assigned program. The incumbent is responsible for determining and defining the objectives and the goals of the above mentioned mental health programs at the Savannah CBOC, Ralph H. Johnson VAMC in conjunction with leadership at the Charleston VAMC. The incumbent is responsible for monitoring accomplishment of and progress towards all established goals and objectives of the above mentioned mental health programs at the Savannah CBOC, Ralph H. Johnson VAMC.
Responsibilities
- Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for the serious mentally ill (SMI), complex or unusually difficult patients.
- Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others.
- Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy.
- Provides consultation to professional staff within VAMC and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients.
- Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt completion of clinical reminders.
- Functions independently as a member of the VAMC Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges.
- Assumes complete professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.
- Plans work to be accomplished, sets priorities and establishes schedules for the general mental health treatment program.
- Bases staff work assignments on treatment program priorities and match between the nature of work and staff capabilities.
- Interviews and selects candidates for each treatment program in coordination with appropriate discipline leaders.
- Makes recommendations for promotion and reassignment of the clinical staff in the mental health programs.
- Assesses quality and quantity of work accomplished by the clinical staff in the treatment programs.
Requirements
- Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.
- Knowledge of and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.
- Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
- Knowledge of clinical research literature.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits package for federal employees.
- Eligibility for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.
