Behavioral Health Provider (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory

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 4 years' experience. This position is non-supervisory and may serve as Team Lead.

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

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.

Responsibilities:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Behavioral Health Clinical Practicea.
   • Serves as a behavioral health and substance abuse consultant within the facility.
   • Conducts behavioral health assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis of detained non-citizens.
   • 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).
   • Utilizes the electronic medical record (EMR) to complete clinical documentation, to review and process telephone encounters, etc.
   • Promotes and facilitates multidisciplinary (interprofessional collaboration) treatment approach to care for detained non-citizens.
2. Behavioral Healthcare Planning, Evaluation, and Development
   • 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.
   • Collaborates with the CD/or designee in providing behavioral health education and guidance to staff related to the care of Chemically Dependent detained noncitizens.
   • 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.
   • 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.
   • Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
3. Behavioral Health Care Coordination
   • 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.
   • Collaborates using multi-disciplinary team approach to plan and implement treatment for detained non-citizens identified with mental health conditions.
   • Coordinates with BHUHQ to facilitate the continuity of care of detained noncitizens.
   • Provides referral to higher level of care (HLOC) psychiatric treatment facilities for those cases of serious mental illness (SMI)/disorder, as clinically indicated
   • 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 Managment
   • Facilitates referral to psychiatric hospitalization, specialized community treatment, residential hospital placement, or other behavioral health-related specialized care service as indicated.
   • 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.
   • Maintains registry of detained non-citizens identified as having SMI and reports the same using Mental Health Review form (IHSC-883).
   • Facilitates contacts between the detained non-citizens and their social support systems.
   • 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
   • Serves as field expert on BHU policy workgroup team.
   • Leads/participates in peer review process as outlined by credentialing guidelines.
   • Attends periodic meetings (scheduled and ad-hoc) with BHU HQ as indicated; facilitates new, emerging behavioral health initiatives as aligned with policy.
   • Conducts Behavioral Health Provider competency training for behavioral health staff (PHS, civilian, and contractor).
   • 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.,
   • Travels to BHU HQ for training and education as required.