Summary

The Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Program Manager Leader - RRTP Chief has broad responsibility for the administrative and complex clinical operations for the VA SORCC RRTP. Incumbent responsible for overseeing the RRTP staff (160+), program development, overseeing all RRTP leadership, overseeing processes and standard operating procedures from referral dispensation through discharge follow up.

Duties

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The incumbent is responsible for ensuring RRTP team are focused on high reliability organization principles as well as weekly rounding of staff, daily huddles, weekly team meetings, committee meetings requiring RRTP involvement, as well as Behavioral Health Service line leadership meetings and engagement opportunities to support continuum of care for all Veterans served. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining a high-quality leadership team, comprised of the deputy chief of programming, deputy chief of medical operations, deputy chief of safety, security, and operations, as well as two nurse managers.

Administrative Responsibilities 80%

The RRTP Chief is responsible for the administrative and clinical operations for the RRTP.

1. Duties include overseeing the strategic planning, operations, policies and practices of the RRTP.

2. Developing, directing and evaluating an integrated mental health program for the RRTP.

3. Responsible for maintaining accreditation standards, Joint Commission standards, Uniform Mental Health Handbook standards, and MHRRTP directive within the RRTP.

4. Maintaining 85% occupancy of RRTP beds according to the monthly gains and losses report.

5. The incumbent is responsible for the oversight of all clinical services within the RRTP. These responsibilities include participation in strategic planning and operational planning, establishing workload targets, reviewing staffing and resource utilization, and the development of overall policies governing the provision of mental health care. 6. The incumbent supervises the RRTP deputy chief, the RRTP medical director, the RRTP nurse manager, the RRTP program managers, as well as all staff within the RRTP.

Clinical Duties: 10%

The incumbent will provide patient care within the RRTP. Appropriate, timely documentation of care in CPRS is an essential component of the incumbent's duties. Patient care activities will include, but are not limited to:

1. Receive consults as needed.

2. Conducting pre-admissions assessments.

3. Initiating consults and referrals as indicated.

4. Clinical intervention as indicated for assigned patients.

5. Coordination of overall mental health care for patients within the RRTP.

6. Consultation to other providers about clinical issues with their patients.

7. Management of patients in crisis.

8. Completing all appropriate clinical reminders.

9. Triage difficult cases with teams and therapists/providers

10.Assist with the triage of cases needing admission to the RRTP.

Academic/Teaching/Training/Program Evaluation: 10%

1. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staffs of units to which assigned.

2. May be involved in the training of medical students, medical and psychiatric residents, fellows and other graduate or post-graduate trainees, as appropriate.

3. Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within the RRTP using a data-driven quality assurance process.

4. Responsible for the timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation of staff assigned to the RRTP.

5. As appropriate, presents outcome data and research results at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings.

6. May assist in preparation of requests for proposal (RFP) and grant proposals, as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800-1630

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): May be authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• 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.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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:(1) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE, (2) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR, (3) 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. Exception: The Secretary, or his/her designee, may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of State prerequisites for licensure examinations for a period not to exceed three years from the date of employment on the condition that MFTs appointed on this basis provide care only under the supervision of a fully licensed MFT with an AAMFT approved license. Non-licensed MFTs who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given an appointment as an MFT under the authority of 38 U.S.C.§ 7401(3). This exception only applies at the entry grade level (GS-9). For grades at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed. (1) MFTs that are not licensed at the time of appointment must become licensed at the independent level (Journey level) within three years of their appointment as a MFT. Most States require two years of post-graduate MFT experience as a pre-requisite to taking the licensure examination; VHA allows MFTs one additional year to pass the licensure exam. (2) It is VHA policy that a MFT who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be clinically supervised by an AAMFT approved licensed MFT at or above the journey level who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record.

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

Marriage and Family Therapist Program Manager Leader, GS-14 (Care Line Manager/VISN/National)

(a) Experience, Education, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively responsible assignments and experience at the GS-13 grade level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. The MFT Program Manager must have graduated from a COAMFTE approved program OR have passed the AMFTRB examination. The MFT Program Manager must have at least five years of post-licensed clinical experience in family systems theory/therapy and must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise. The MFT Program Manager must have an AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential.

Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to meeting the KSAs for GS-14 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

1. Advanced knowledge and skill in management/administration of multidisciplinary mental health programs at complex facilities and/or across multiple sites which includes supervision, consultation, negotiation, and monitoring.

2. Demonstrated global knowledge of the practice of marriage and family therapy to develop, maintain, and oversee programs in all settings.

3. Ability to provide consultation on policy implementation, qualification standards, counseling practice, and competency with medical center director, VISN, or national program managers that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives.

4. Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and mental health practice guidelines in multiple professional areas, and the ability to use these resources to guide the program staff in providing appropriate treatment interventions.

5. Ability to influence high level officials in adoption of, and conformance to, performance measures, monitors, and other policy guidelines.

Preferred Experience:

Minimum of one (1) year clinical experience in performing initial clinical diagnostic evaluations, and formulating treatment plans for psychiatric patients in inpatient and outpatient settings.

Minimum of one (1) year of leadership experience managing a team/program/ or supervising staff.

Experience prescribing medications; coordinating medical care for behavioral health patients with primary care or specialty medical/surgical colleagues.

Experience coordinating the admission and discharge of patients. Collaborating with other behavioral health positions. Minimum of one year of experience of leadership, either leading people or overseeing a program.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit