Physician - Visn Chief Mental Health Officer

U.S. Department Of Veterans Affairs; Durban; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency is seeking a Mental Health Officer to oversee their mental health programs across the VISN 7 network. This role demands a board-certified psychiatrist with strong leadership abilities and experience in mental health service management. Responsibilities include strategic planning, interprofessional team leadership, and ensuring compliance with health directives for veteran care. This position offers a competitive salary, federal benefits, and a structured work schedule in Durban, South Africa.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual performance bonus

Paid time off and sick leave

Federal retirement benefits

Malpractice protection

Qualifications

• United States citizenship required.
• Proficient in spoken and written English.
• 3+ years of leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning for mental health programs.
• Ensure compliance with VHA Directives.
• Conduct evaluations of mental health care services.
• Provide recommendations for mental health improvements.

Skills

Knowledge of evidence based practice of mental health treatments

Ability to create a strategic mental health plan

Strong communication skills

Ability to lead and mentor

Collaborative working style

Insight into performance measures

Education

Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree

Board certification in Psychiatry

Job description

Summary

The VISN 7 Network Mental Health Officer has overall responsibility for mental health programs and their outcomes within the VA Southeast Network (VISN 7). This position reports to the VISN 7 Chief Medical Officer and provides guidance to facility and network leadership on matters related to mental health. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.

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
• Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in medicine or osteopathic medicine; the degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed
• Current - full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program (psychiatry) leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.)
• Approved residencies are: • Those approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) • Those approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) • Other residencies (non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of five years of verified practice in the United States) - which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and a range of patient care experiences
• Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs)
• PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e. not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent or fee-basis
• PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision
• Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs
• Must be board certified in Psychiatry
• Proficiency in spoken and written English

Additional Requirement: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of state of the art - evidence based practice of mental health treatments and organized treatment programs including the familiarity with all the disciplines that provide mental health treatment services
• Ability to create a strategic mental health plan and vision
• Knowledge of and ability to communicate existing policies and regulations effectively
• Knowledge of analytical techniques to evaluate workload, fiscal, and performance measures data and other reports
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and writing with a diverse group of professional staff and management officials who are often at the highest management levels
• Strategic and tactical skills required to lead, communicate, and motivate a larger group of managers, supervisors, and employees at diverse medical centers
• Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives
• Skill in leading senior management officials in policy development
• Ability to influence high level officials in adoption of and conformance to performance measures, monitors, and other policy guidelines
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with the VHA Office of Mental Health Services (OMHS)
• A commitment to promote efficient, high quality mental health care, support research and educational activities, and enhance communication between the field, VISN office and VACO
• Willingness to perform site visits of mental health programs within the VISN on a routine and as needed basis
• Ability to coach and mentor MH leadership

Preferred Experience

• Experienced Physician Leader with minimum of 3 years of leadership experience over Mental Health programs
• At least 2 years experience as a facility Mental Health Service Chief or VISN Chief Mental Health Officer

Physical Requirements

This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity. The work requires occasional periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.

Duties

• Leads the VISN 7 Mental Health Integrated Clinical Community and facility mental health leaders in strategic planning, program development, improving veteran outcomes and compliance with VHA Directives
• Has responsibility for compliance and oversight of VISN 7 mental health programs and provides recommendations for improvements when indicated
• Leads interprofessional teams to meet performance standards in mental health for the VISN
• This position is responsible for working collaboratively with VISN and facility leaders to ensure mental health programs are implemented in a standard fashion across VISN 7
• Conducts on-site and virtual programmatic evaluations of VISN mental health care as needed
• Clearly communicates data driven recommendations to the executive leaders regarding changes needed in mental health care across the VISN and at specific medical centers
• Consider a broad spectrum of factors when making decisions and/or recommendations to the Chief Medical Officer and Network Director
• Has supervisory responsibility for the Network Homeless Coordinator and Suicide Prevention Program Manager

Total Rewards

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards: Pay - Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal K with up to 5% in contributions by VA. Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory. CME: Possible $****** per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification). Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided. Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm EST.

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