Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Supervisor is a clinical and administrative position that provides direct supervisory responsibilities over the clinical, training and administrative areas of the BHIP staff within the Outpatient Behavioral Health Division.

Supervisory Responsibilities (approximately 25%)

• Supervises BHIP teams and provides management of the team's daily operations and adheres to national standards.
• Performs comprehensive staff management by setting clear guidelines and expectations, monitoring performance, providing feedback, resolving grievances, developing improvement plans, advising employees, handling disciplinary actions, approving leave requests, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
• Responsible for promoting equal employment opportunity by supporting affirmative action, ensuring nondiscriminatory practices in merit promotion, recruitment, fair treatment, recognizing achievements, fostering career development, and utilizing employees' skills.
• Manages resources, staffing, recruitment, space planning, and equipment needs; interviews and selects candidates; recommends appointments or disciplinary actions; and develops position descriptions and functional statements.

Clinical Responsibilities (approximately 70%)

• Actively participates in the Psychology Training Program Committee Meetings, and Didactics, and assists in the ongoing improvement of the Psychology Training Program (at least 15% of Clinical time.)
• The BHIP Supervisor serves as the primary supervisor for the BHIP internship rotation in conjunction with other GS 13 BHIP Psychologists when available. The supervisor is responsible for providing clinical supervision and instruction for psychology interns.
• Provides a full range of diagnostic and evaluation services, especially in the areas of psychological evaluation and suicide assessment.
• Provides a full range of psychological interventions consistent with training and expertise, with special emphasis on evidenced-based treatments.
• Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt completion of clinical reminders.
• Provides administrative duties including: Scheduling of Veterans and related issues, returning Veterans' phone calls and secure messages, writing reports, and attending organizational meetings.
• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Chief of Behavioral Health Service Line, Chief of Outpatient Behavioral Health/Chief Psychologist, Chief of Staff, and facility Director.
• Other collateral duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Moday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Ad-hoc only.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• 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).

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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. Candidates must meet one of the following:
  • Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE,
  • Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR,
  • Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession.
• Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to MFT positions in the GS-0182 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State.
• English Language Proficiency. MFTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j.

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:

Supervisory Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-12
Education, Experience and Licensure.Candidates must have successfully completed evidence based training in marriage and family therapy and must have graduated from a COAMFTE accredited program OR have passed the AMFTRBE. Candidates must have at least five years of post-licensed clinical experience in delivery of family systems therapy including one-year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. This experience must demonstrate possession of using evidence based family therapy model while demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise. Assignments responsible for providing clinical supervision must have an AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (b) below.

Demonstrated KSAs:

1. Ability to identify professional development needs of other MFTs and guide them in current family systems theory/therapy practice guidelines.
2. Ability to collaborate with members of other disciplines and supervisors and to represent the family systems theory/therapy profession both in and outside of VHA. This includes knowledge of the roles, contributions, and interrelationships with other disciplines.
3. Ability to perform the full range of administrative and clinical supervisory duties including responsibility for work assignments, competency assessments, performance evaluations, selection of staff, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary actions.
4. Ability to analyze clinical data and make recommendations for corrective actions to optimize quality, efficiency, performance, and productivity within service keeping in line with accrediting bodies and policy.

Assignments: At this level, MFTs administratively supervise professional staff which may include experienced MFTs, Advanced MFTs, MFT Program Coordinators, other Mental Health occupations and administrative staff. Duties include preparing work assignments, monitoring clinical performance, conducting performance appraisals, developing performance standards, as well as other clinical and administrative responsibilities. Interviews/recommends individuals for hire, trains, evaluates, disciplines and recommends for termination. Duties may include tracking of data to ensure that trends are analyzed and monitored, preparing appropriate administrative reports and quality assurance reviews. The supervisor at this level may be assigned to any program area. Supervisors may include coordinator responsibilities and may supervise other MFTs for licensure.

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Use of fingers; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Emotional and Mental stability;

Environmental Factors: Working closely with others; Working alone; Prolonged Sitting;

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.

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.