Supervisory Licnsed Professional Mental Health Counselor-Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

Summary

Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (IPU) is a 30-bed, acute inpatient psychiatric treatment facility for Veterans with a wide variety of cooccurring mental health disorders. The IPU is an essential program component of the facility that significantly impacts the health care provided to Veterans and serves as a resource regionally and nationally.

Duties

Broad administrative and program management and development responsibilities for the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (IPU), a 30-bed inpatient unit for treatment of Veterans with wide range of psychiatric and substance use disorders. Responsibilities include ensuring efficient daily operation of the organizational unit, professional management, and assisting in administrative responsibilities that are complex in scope and that constitute a significant portion of the Medical Center. Direct supervisory responsibility, and both technical and professional accountability, for the IPU Assistant Program Manager, staff physicians, and night shift APRNs and PAs. Responsibility for development of staff competencies and performance as well as promotion of working relationships and an effective treatment team environment. IPU leadership and staff, responsible for management of an effective therapeutic milieu. This includes development and implementation of therapeutic programming, management of the social dynamics of patient interactions, and direction of staff-patient interactions. Assists in oversight of effective interventions administered by the interdisciplinary treatment team at individual and systems levels. Assists in maintaining a healthy environment of care. Engages facility services, such as Bioengineering, Information Technology, Patient Safety, and Environmental Services, to correct deficiencies in the treatment and work environment. Maintains awareness of physical safety of staff and patients. Assists in the development and implementation of safety protocols to address a variety of emergency scenarios. Ensures that staff and patients are trained in safety protocols on a regular basis. Works to ensure that treatment programming, staff development, and the environment of care are managed at a level that meets or exceeds required accreditation standards by the Joint Commission. Additionally. Ensure that the IPU operations meet or exceed local facility and VA Central Office expectations for service delivery including OIG and MHEOC. Policies and procedures are developed that accurately reflect operational procedures. Policies and procedures are used for staff training and in support of required accreditation and service delivery standards. Maximize program performance and patient outcomes. Implements and maintains a system of measurement to assess patient progress and treatment outcomes. Treatment programming is modified over time to maximize outcomes. Takes a lead role in developing and implementing new programming or special projects that improve the efficacy and safety of residential treatment. Assesses the efficacy of new projects and programming toward a goal of maximizing desired outcomes. May perform psychological and substance abuse assessments of patients on IPU. May provide a full range of therapeutic interventions, including: individual, group, and marital therapy, psychoeducation, and care coordination. Provides psychological consultation to non-psychologist team members on a wide variety of patient care issues. Holds faculty appointments in appropriate academic departments of local universities. May provide full clinical oversight to Psychology Interns or other trainees completing training rotations in the IPU. Involved in the Psychology Training Program and serves as a member of the Training Committee. Involved in the training of medical students, medical and psychiatric residents, and nursing students. Research/Program Evaluation Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements using data-driven quality assurance processes Assists in the timely completion of all program evaluations and documents required by the Medical Center, Health Care System, VISN, and VACO, ensuring compliance with appropriate accrediting bodies and monitoring entities. Plans and oversees the completion of research projects designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches. May present outcome data and research results at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings. Work Schedule: M-F 8:am -4:30pm. Telework: Ad-Hoc- Maybe available based on services needs. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:61574O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

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. 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 identification 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 and evaluation

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.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/19/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13111279. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) Other (1) Professional Certification SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.