Clarification from the agency

Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer or USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidate. Civilians are not eligible for this position.

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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Clinical Care and Support
   1. Provides direct behavioral health care at IHSC-staffed facilities on temporary duty (TDY) assignments. Travel is a critical component of this position. While travel is generally expected to comprise approximately 50% of the incumbent's duty time, additional travel, including emergency and short notice assignments, may be required to support IHSC mission needs. Assignments may involve both domestic and international destinations based on operational priorities. Candidates must be prepared to travel on short notice and for extended periods, including overnight stays, and to work outside standard business hours as needed during travel. All travel will be conducted in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
   2. Practices in accordance with national, state, and local behavioral health laws and regulations, IHSC policies, directives, and accreditation standards.
   3. Maintains clinical professional skills through continuing education and daily practice; demonstrates proficiency in a wide range of behavioral health concepts, including correctional mental health, substance abuse, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care.
   4. Conducts psychological assessments and evaluations, including intake screenings, risk assessments, and disability needs accommodations.
   5. Develops and implements treatment plans, provides on-site primary behavioral health care, and coordinates follow-up care as needed.
   6. Works collaboratively with the on-site Clinical Director, Health Services Administrator (HSA), and other personnel for management of detainees with complex psychiatric conditions.
   7. Provides direct mental health services to detainees with identified mental health and substance abuse problems, utilizing psychoeducational and treatment modalities as appropriate.
   8. Demonstrates behavioral health triage process and screening, referring patients to higher levels of care as appropriate.
   9. Coordinates health care needs of detainees with the health care team and coordinates referrals to off-site providers as required.
   10. Provides staff teaching and training in accordance with Behavioral Health Unit policies.
   11. Maintains non-involvement in security/custody aspects of care.
   12. Promotes and fosters a multidisciplinary approach to detainee care and coordination with other disciplines. 7/2026.
   13. Follows all IHSC Public Health, Safety, and Preparedness Unit directives and guides to maintain environmental health and safety, infection control, and all hazards emergency preparedness daily.
   14. Performs record-keeping functions in accordance with program policies, documenting all detainee encounters in the electronic health record.
   15. Assesses and validates patient care delivery systems and recommends improvements at the local, regional, and national levels.
2. Consultation, Program, and Administrative Support
   1. When not on TDY status, incumbent supports the DAD Clinical Services, the BHU and other IHSC units and programs with special projects and administrative tasks.
   2. Collaborates with HQ and regional behavioral health consultants to assess and validate the current patient care delivery system, ensuring clinical and staffing standards for mental health practice are consistent with current evidence-based research and professional standards.
   3. Offers recommendations regarding improvements needed in clinic operations or to improve patient outcomes.
   4. Develops and communicates a strategic vision of behavioral health care, including values and goals for a diverse group of behavioral health professionals.
   5. Formulates short- and long-range objectives for programs within the behavioral health unit to ensure integration with overall IHSC objectives and plans.
   6. Participates in planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating mental health policy.
   7. Supports the development and annual revisions of national, evidence-based mental health clinical guidelines and protocols.
   8. Provides behavioral health in-service training that increases understanding of policies and procedures, promotes best practices, and ensures compliance with accreditation standards.
   9. Participates in provider orientation and peer reviews and provides on-site or competency training in suicide prevention and other topics as identified by the BHU Chief.
   10. Acts as a resource for knowledge on a full range of primary behavioral health care provided to detainees, including assessments, intake screening, treatment plans, medical housing unit care, and procedures appropriate to the clinical setting.
   11. Conducts competency reviews to ensure scope of practice is consistent with licensure requirements.
   12. Attends BSU meetings as scheduled.
   13. Ensures compliance with IHSC policy, accreditation standards, and documentation requirements; participates in internal assessments and implements process improvements as needed

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must successfully pass a drug screen.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
• Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Service Remaining Requirement Agreement: Upon appointment to this position, officers will be required to serve an 18 to 24-month commitment to IHSC.
• ASSIGNMENT PAY AGREEMENT: You 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.) ITOS is either an entire month or two 16-day periods a year where, depending on the needs of the agency, the officer is required to be available to serve.

Qualifications

ADDITIONAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBLITIES

1. Collaboration and Communication
   1. o Collaborates with site leadership, including the HSA, Clinical Director, and multidisciplinary teams to establish and maintain processes and procedures that meet all applicable medical and operational standards.
   2. Provides consultation to medical, ICE, and contract staff regarding risk assessment for violence, housing recommendations, and management of difficult or mentally ill detainees.
   3. Conveys operational and quality issues to facility leadership and participates in meetings as needed to represent BHU
2. Quality Assurance, Data, and Reporting
   1. Quality Assurance, Data, and Reporting
   2. Monitors and documents clinical activities, reviews behavioral health documentation for accuracy and compliance, and assists with data collection and reporting for quality assurance purposes.
   3. Participates in the development and review of national, evidence-based behavioral health clinical guidelines and protocols.
   4. Identifies, analyzes, and reports on behavioral health, theoretical, and factual data, conditions, and problems; develops and implements corrective action plans as needed.
   5. Facilitates ease of data reporting, collection, and the generation of required reports; prepares statistical information and special reports as necessary.
3. Professional Development and Leadership
   1. Maintains knowledge of current behavioral health research trends and applies evidence-based practices.
   2. Serves as a mentor and resource to behavioral health staff, providing guidance, training, and support for professional growth.
   3. Serves in behavioral health leadership and team lead roles, as needed.
4. Other Duties - Performs additional duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of IHSC's mission and operational requirements.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

1. Must be able to perform duties in a fast-paced environment without physical limitation.
2. Requires physical exertion such as lifting objects greater than 30 pounds.
3. Must have the ability to assist sick, injured, or aging detainees or staff exiting the building (may require lifting, dragging, wheeling, or carrying someone who weighs significantly more than self).
4. The work may necessitate some physical demands that will be required when responding to an emergency, such as running short distances, prolonged standing, and working in an austere environment.
5. Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time (6-8 hours).
6. Required to perform CPR/emergency care standing or kneeling.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. You may be selected for an interview at the hiring authority's discretion. You will be notified of selection or non-selection.