Summary

Behavioral Health Provider delivers mental health assessment, counseling, and case management for ICE detainees. Duties include clinical evaluation, treatment planning, crisis intervention, staff education, and coordination with multidisciplinary teams. Requires doctoral or master's degree, clinical license, and 2+ years' experience. This position is non-supervisory.

This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.

Duties

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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES

1. Behavioral Health Clinical Practice
   
   1. Serves as a behavioral health and substance abuse consultant within the facility.
   2. Conducts behavioral health assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis of detained non-citizens.
   3. Provides supportive counseling, psychotherapy, substance abuse education, group therapy utilizing psycho-educational and other evidenced based treatment modalities as appropriate (may be delivered in-person or virtually).
   4. Utilizes the electronic medical record (EMR) to complete clinical documentation, to review and process telephone encounters, etc.
   5. Promotes and facilitates multidisciplinary (interprofessional collaboration) treatment approach to care for detained non-citizens.
2. Behavioral Healthcare Planning, Evaluation, and Development
   
   1. Coordinates with CD, Health Service Administrator (HSA), Regional Behavioral Health Consultants (RBHC), Behavioral Health Clinical Consultants (BHCC), and Psychiatric Services Program (PSP) in responding to Civil Rights Civil Liberties (CRCL) findings.
   2. Collaborates with the CD/or designee in providing behavioral health education and guidance to staff related to the care of Chemically Dependent detained non- citizens.
   3. Reviews reports (i.e., Executive Dashboard) and communicates regularly with CD, HSA, PSP, and BHU HQ team on trends, issues, challenges, etc. and impacts on Behavioral Health operations at the facility level (including, but not limited to, Access to Care, Productivity, Suicide Risk management, etc.) and work collaboratively to address the same.
   4. Participates in review of behavioral health processes and procedures within the facility; serves on the local performance improvement committee and assists in the completion of clinical performance risk identification/improvement process related to behavioral health; and assists in preparation towards accreditation/compliance.
   5. Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned
3. Behavioral Health Care Coordination
   
   1. Maintains ongoing communication with physicians, PSP Providers, and Advanced Practice Providers (APP) and reports on the detained non-citizen's response to and/or compliance with prescribed medication.
   2. Collaborates using multi-disciplinary team approach to plan and implement treatment for detained non-citizens identified with mental health conditions.
   3. Coordinates with BHUHQ to facilitate the continuity of care of detained non- citizens.
   4. Provides referral to higher level of care (HLOC) psychiatric treatment facilities for those cases of serious mental illness (SMI)/disorder, as clinically indicated.
   5. Provides consultation to healthcare staff, custody staff, and ICE for housing recommendations including, but are not limited to, suicide risk management, PREA issues, care of Transgender individuals, and other cases of behavioral health-related specialized needs related of detained non-citizens.
4. Behavioral Health Case Management
   
   1. Facilitates referral to psychiatric hospitalization, specialized community treatment, residential hospital placement, or other behavioral health-related specialized care service as indicated.
   2. Works in conjunction with ICE/Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) legal counsel providing written evaluation reports on the mental health status of individuals placed on SMI List.
   3. Maintains registry of detained non-citizens identified as having SMI and reports the same using Mental Health Review form (IHSC-883).
   4. Facilitates contacts between the detained non-citizens and their social support systems.
   5. Establishes and maintains liaison with CD, HSA, PSP, BHU HQ team (RBHC, BHCC, BH Case Managers, BH Medical Assets Support Team), and other IHSC personnel (Field Medical Coordinator, Managed Care Coordinator, etc.), other health services professionals, and mental health organizations to ensure continuity of behavioral health services as indicated.
5. Team Leadership (non-supervisory)/Administration
   
   1. Serves as field expert on BHU policy workgroup team.
   2. Leads/participates in peer review process as outlined by credentialing guidelines.
   3. Attends periodic meetings (scheduled and ad-hoc) with BHU HQ as indicated; facilitates new, emerging behavioral health initiatives as aligned with policy.
   4. Conducts Behavioral Health Provider competency training for behavioral health staff (PHS, civilian, and contractor).
   5. Provides education and training to ICE and medical staff on a range of behavioral health topics to include, but not limited to, suicide prevention, hunger strike, abuse and neglect, and on victims of torture, etc.,
   6. Travels to BHU HQ for training and education as required.

Requirements

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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

COMPETENCIES:

1. Superior oral/written communication skills
2. Leadership skills
3. Active listening skills
4. Strong interpersonal skills
5. Strong organizational and time management skills
6. Strong problem solving, judgment and decision-making skills
7. Integrity/honesty
8. Cultural competency

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

1. This position is considered a hazardous duty assignment.
2. Required to walk unaided at a normal pace for up to 5 minutes and maintain balance.
3. Required to walk briskly/jog up to quarter mile.
4. Required to perform CPR/emergency care while standing or kneeling.
5. Must have the ability to assist sick, injured or aging detained non-citizens or staff exiting the building (may require lifting, pulling, wheeling, or carrying someone who weighs significantly more oneself to safety)
6. Must be able to see, hear and smell with aids if necessary.
7. Must easily alternate between kneeling and standing.
8. Must be able to lift, push, or carry 30 pounds.
9. Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time [6-8 hours].
10. Must perform the duties of job in a stressful and often austere environment without physical limitations.

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

1. For Psychologists, successful completion of a Doctoral Degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical or counseling psychology. For Social Workers, successful completion of a Master's degree in Social Work from a graduate program in social work accredited by Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
2. Licensure Requirement: Psychologists and Social Workers must both hold a full, current, and unrestricted licensed by a State or Territory; at the Doctoral level for psychologists and at the Master's level for social workers (LCSW, LICSW, LMSW-C, or equivalent).
3. Minimum years of post-licensure clinical experience: O-3 is 2 years; O-4 is 3 years; O-5 is 4 years.
4. Must possess the knowledge and perform specific functions of Behavioral Health Provider to include but not limited to: Psychological Testing (for psychologists only), Evaluation, Interpretation, Diagnosis and Treatment.
5. Knowledge of and experience in techniques of various evidence-based treatment modalities.
6. Must maintain full and unrestricted license to practice in any state jurisdiction; and BLS certification every two years is required.
7. It is the incumbent's responsibility to fulfill the obligation(s) of their licensing or certifying body to maintain competency. This position requires Behavioral Health Providers to always perform within their scope of clinical.

Additional information

This position is located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC), Office of the Deputy Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Behavioral Health Unit (BHU). The incumbent will report directly to the Clinical Director (CD) or facility Supervisory Behavioral Health Provider, if designated. The non-supervisory Behavioral Health Provider shall serve as Team Lead if there is no appointed Supervisory Behavioral Health Provider at the facility. The designated Team Lead shall assume all related duties and responsibilities.

IHSC provides direct care daily to approximately 15,300 detainees housed at 20 designated facilities throughout the nation. The health care provided includes medical, dental and mental health care, and public health services. IHSC provides medical case management and oversight for an additional 22,600 detainees housed at approximately 112 non-IHSC staffed detention facilities daily across the country. In addition, IHSC oversees the financial authorization and payment for off-site specialty and emergency care services for detainees in ICE custody. The ICE detainee population is approximately 34,000 detainees on a daily basis, with an average length of stay of approximately 30 days, surpassing 400,000 detainees annually. IHSC provides medical support during ICE enforcement operations in the air, on the ground and at sea.

As the Behavioral Health Provider, the incumbent is responsible for assessing and evaluating the mental health of detained non-citizens and refer to outside treatment facilities, if necessary. Additionally, the Behavioral Health Provider collects and reports pertinent mental health data.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

Incumbent reports to the Supervisory Behavioral Health Provider. If there is no appointed Supervisory Behavioral Health Provider at the facility, the incumbent shall report to the Clinical Director (CD).

Assignments are usually subject to a service remaining requirement (SRR) agreement for a predetermined period of time. Officer reports to the Supervisory Behavioral Health Provider, CD, or designee and organizes work, determines sequence of assignments, selects, and develops methods. When clinically indicated, Behavioral Health Provider seeks assistance from Supervisory Behavioral Health Provider, CD, RBHC, BHCC, etc.

Work is reviewed regularly by those in the chain of command for adherence to clinical standards and attainment of objectives. The officer uses judgment in interpreting and adapting guidelines such as DHS/ICE/IHSC policies, regulations, precedents, and work direction for application to specific cases. Officer keeps those in supervisory chain of command informed on the overall status of clinical operations and routinely consults with the same, prioritizing items of high significance for appropriate guidance as indicated.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.