Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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NOTE: This multi-discipline recruitment that will result in the hiring of one of the following disciplines:
Nurse Practitioner Posting: CBTD-12909026-26-CC
Physician Assistant Posting: CBTD-12912349-26-CB
Psychiatrist Posting: CBTD-12910547-26-CC
Psychologist Posting: CBTD-12909066-26-MK

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) is a program of the Mental Health Service (MHS) that utilizes a collaborative care model and is co-located in the Primary Care Setting. The program is organized around a stepped model of care that aims to support the mental health needs of Veterans being served in the Primary Care setting.

The Program Manager for PCMHI reports directly to the Chief of Mental Health or her/his designee; and shares responsibility with other MH Program Managers and Section Leads, along with the Chief and Assistant Chief of MHS for the overall quality of MHS clinical services and operations. The incumbent exercises broad program management responsibilities that are complex in scope, involving organization, direction, and management of outpatient treatment programming and staff from multiple professional backgrounds (psychiatrists, psychologists, advanced practice providers, social workers, professional counselors, et.al.). The program manager's oversight for PCMHI extends to all sites of care within the system that include a PCMHI component. The Incumbent serves as a subject matter expert for integrated mental health care and has sufficient depth and breadth of experience in this area to advise senior leaders on matters related to this field. The nature and scope of management duties is expected to change as the needs of the Mental Health Service evolve, and the incumbent is expected to adapt to these changing needs over time.

Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties:
Program Management Responsibilities

• The incumbent is responsible for the organization, direction, and management of the PCMHI program and has been delegated full managerial and supervisory responsibilities for all clinical areas with a PCMHI component (including the Togus VAMC and all CBOC locations throughout VAMHCS).
• Collaborates with Mental Health Administration, Section Leads, Human Resources, and others as necessary in the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention of team members. Initiates personnel actions, award recommendations, disciplinary actions, and other related activities in accordance with policy.
• Responsible for knowing, understanding, implementing, and monitoring a management system of work measurement, outcome measures, quality review, program evaluation, and accountability.

Clinical Service Provision Responsibilities

• Provides the full range of direct patient care services within the PCMHI program, consistent with the PCMHI model and the incumbent's scope of competence. Services include assessment, intervention, case management, consultation, and education.
• S/he may be responsible for coordinating activities of other health service personnel, resolving problems affecting patient care and providing appropriate education for the patient and/or family members regarding the patient's care, patient's illness and its management.

Enriching Elements

• As appropriate, engages in research and education activities that advance the mission of MHS, VA Maine, and VHA. Research activities are conducted in accordance with VAMHCS policies and IRB rules.

Other Responsibilities

• Communicates actively and effectively to maintain and strengthen relationships and collaboration among the various stakeholders that interact with PCMHI both within and outside of MHS.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30a.m. to 4p.m.
Telework: May be authorized; Ad-Hoc only
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: F04719
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

NOTIFICATIONS:

• This position is in the Excepted Service.
• Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.
• This position is not a Bargaining Unit position.
• This position is covered by a special rate pay.
• Selectee may be required to work at any VA Maine Healthcare System campus, as needed.
• May be required to attend conference at other facilities or other VA sites on occasion.
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• May be subject to satisfactory completion of our credentialing process.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education. Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work.
• Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
• English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-13 Program Coordinator

• Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.
• Licensure/Certification. Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs.

• (a) Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility.
• (b) Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive.
• (c) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
• (d) Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.
• (e) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action.
• (f) Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.
• (g) Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: No special physical qualifications are required to perform the work. The work requires the ability to move around the office and facility. The work is performed in offices and meeting rooms and is largely sedentary. Some travel is required to visit CBOCs. The environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of offices, exam rooms, and conference rooms. It also involves normal risks associated with a health care setting, including exposure to contagious diseases and disturbed patients. The work can be mentally and psychologically demanding and stressful, and the ability to utilize effective coping and self-care strategies is essential.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VHA employees.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.