Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
Duties
Program Manager responsible for leading recovery-oriented mental health program development, implementation, and transformation across KCVAMC. Serves as consultant to all Mental Health programs, oversees policies, training, and recovery outcomes, and functions as Community Mental Health Integration Lead, advancing Veteran-centered, community-integrated care. Duties include but are not limited to: Program Management & Leadership Serves as the Psychologist Program Manager for Mental Health Recovery Programming and Transformation, providing broad program management across all KCVAMC facilities to ensure mental health services deliver specialized, complex, highly professional recovery-oriented care. Develops and implements mental health programs, policies, and procedures that support VHA's transition to a recovery-oriented system of care. Consults with all mental health programs and drives the development of new recovery-based programs, business cases, care plan templates, and service-wide training on recovery principles.- Serves as an active member of the Mental Health Executive Committee, reviewing and revising policies and providing subject matter expertise on psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery initiatives. Exercises wide latitude and independent judgment in determining administrative, training, and programmatic needs, including resource allocation for staff, patient education, peer support, and training materials. Recovery-Oriented Service Oversight Monitors recovery outcomes using a data-driven quality assurance process and ensures alignment with VHA Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery requirements. Ensures the availability of a full range of recovery-oriented services such as crisis intervention, case management, rehabilitation, enrichment, rights protection, self-help, and wellness/prevention programming. Oversees clinical programming in the Mental Health inpatient unit and ensures compliance with recovery-oriented programming standards and checklists. Provides expert consultation to staff across disciplines on psychiatric rehabilitative practices and complex cases involving Veterans with Serious Mental Illness (SMI). Develops and leads facility-wide strategic plans for staged implementation, evaluation, and sustainment of recovery-oriented services. Community Integration & Outreach (CMH Lead) Functions as the Community Mental Health Integration Lead (CMH Lead), coordinating outreach services and ensuring community integration efforts support Veterans and their families. Actively collaborates with community partners, councils, and task forces to promote awareness of VA mental health resources and ensure warm handoffs during transitions between systems of care. Builds and enhances community partnerships to support Veteran and Military Families, hosts annual Mental Health Summits, and strengthens relationships between VA and community health providers. Serves as liaison to the Veterans' Mental Health Council, representing council concerns and integrating feedback into the improvement of mental health services. Training, Teaching, and Mentorship Provides local, regional, and national training on recovery-oriented practices and serves as a mentor to LRCs across VISN 15 and nationally through the LRC mentoring program. Delivers clinical consultation and supervision to trainees and professionals from multiple disciplines and participates in psychology training and committees. Develops facility-wide recovery education plans for Veterans, families, and providers, including large-scale training efforts and resource materials. Accreditation, Compliance & Reporting Ensures compliance with all mental health-related VHA directives, including the Uniform Mental Health Services Handbook (1160.01), accreditation standards (CARF, JCAHO), and performance measures (SAIL). Prepares reports for SMITREC, OMHO, VACO, and other entities; completes program evaluations; and contributes to Issue Briefs and Congressional inquiries as needed. Coordinates budget, program development, and program oversight, managing data to evaluate program functioning. Clinical Responsibilities Provides comprehensive psychosocial assessments and treatment for Veterans with Serious Mental Illness, particularly complex or difficult cases. Coordinates outreach to Veterans with SMI who have disengaged from care, supporting reengagement consistent with VA Directive 2012-002. Delivers a full range of therapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy; psychoeducational groups; and case management. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Telework: Ad-hoc Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements
You 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. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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.
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/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
How you will be evaluated
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.