Summary This position is located within the Mid-Atlantic Service Unit (MASU), Department of Behavioral Health Services. MASU provides comprehensive outpatient behavioral health and integrated care services to the eligible American Indian/Alaska Native beneficiary population. MASU consists of the Mid-Atlantic Tribal Health Center and Monacan Health Center. The Behavioral Health Specialist will provide behavioral health services to children, adolescents, adults, and elderly patients. Responsibilities Provides direct clinical services to patients with varying degrees of mental health and substance use issues through individual, family, couples, and group psychotherapies. Conducts comprehensive assessments, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Provides crisis intervention for patients who present with acute needs including risk of harm to self and others and acute psychiatric emergencies. Coordinates service provision to patients and consults with professional colleagues as needed to promote optimal patient care including appropriate referrals for psychiatric evaluation or medication. Provides case management services to patients referred out to the community. Engages in ongoing assessment of patient, family and community needs in order to link patients with community services for employment, housing, and follow-up care. Proactively coordinates, facilitates, and advocates for the seamless delivery of services for persons in the community dealing with impairments and distress related to their mental health concerns. Attends staff meetings, participate in peer review and case conferences, and attend any other meetings to facilitate coordination of care and address needs of patients, the department, and service unit. Participates in committee, departmental and team meetings. Conducts outreach with the local Native communities to provide prevention programming aimed at improving the overall wellbeing of the targeted population. Requirements Conditions of Employment Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period. ESEP appointees typically serve a two-year trial period. U.S. Citizenship is required. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes. Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957 and seasonal influenza immunization is required for all staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities. COVID-19 vaccination is required for all selectees prior to entrance on duty. The selected individual is required to obtain and maintain medical staff clinical privileges, including any licensure requirements. If privileges are not obtained or maintained during employment, the employee will be subject to adverse actions, up to and including removal from Federal service. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/. You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you. Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process. Qualifications To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. 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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Experience includes providing a full range of professional mental health services to patients of all ages in a hospital or clinic setting that includes evaluation, diagnosis, counseling, psychotherapy, crisis intervention, referral and treatment of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. OR Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR Combination of Education and experience, in one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field, that when combined fully meet the minimum qualifications for this position. The total percentage equals at least 100 percent to qualify for this GS-11 grade level. Selective Placement Factor (Professional license): Must be a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) - Mental Health (MH) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Psychologist (LP) equivalent licensure to provide independent behavioral health services. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement. Education This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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/. Additional Information Per IHS policy (SGM 21-04) IHS selectees to positions located in Federally operated hospitals, health centers, and clinics must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entry on duty or have IHS approve a medical or religious exemption. If an exemption is approved then wearing a face mask and regular testing for COVID-19 will be required. Your Human Resources Specialist will provide a list of documents acceptable as vaccination proof and instructions on how to submit your vaccination documentation or how to request a medical or religious exemption, if needed. Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement. 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. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Recruitment incentives may be authorized. At least a 12-month service agreement will be required. This position meets the criteria specified in pillar number one of the five pillars of the PHS Commissioned Corps. PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps MUST apply online under the merit promotion announcement indicated above in order to receive consideration. For more information on PHS Commissioned Corps, visit the website at: https://www.usphs.gov/. This position has no promotion potential. This position is being announced concurrently under Delegated Examining Procedures. Please review vacancy announcement number IHS-23-NA-12214411-DE for eligibility requirements. NOTE: Applicants must apply separately for each announcement in order to be considered.