Senior Behavioral Health Provider, Medical Asset Support Team (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory

About the role

Provides direct behavioral health care to detainees at IHSC-staffed facilities and supports Medical Asset Support Team (MAST) operations through assessments, treatment planning, crisis intervention, staff training, policy support, quality assurance, and program improvement. Requires frequent TDY travel, including short-notice assignments.

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

What you will do

• DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Clinical Care and Support Provides direct behavioral health care at IHSC-staffed facilities on temporary duty (TDY) assignments.
• Travel is a critical component of this position.
• While travel is generally expected to comprise approximately 50% of the incumbent's duty time, additional travel, including emergency and short notice assignments, may be required to support IHSC mission needs.
• Assignments may involve both domestic and international destinations based on operational priorities.
• Candidates must be prepared to travel on short notice and for extended periods, including overnight stays, and to work outside standard business hours as needed during travel.
• All travel will be conducted in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Practices in accordance with national, state, and local behavioral health laws and regulations, IHSC policies, directives, and accreditation standards.
• Maintains clinical professional skills through continuing education and daily practice; demonstrates proficiency in a wide range of behavioral health concepts, including correctional mental health, substance abuse, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care.
• Conducts psychological assessments and evaluations, including intake screenings, risk assessments, and disability needs accommodations.
• Develops and implements treatment plans, provides on-site primary behavioral health care, and coordinates follow-up care as needed.
• Works collaboratively with the on-site Clinical Director, Health Services Administrator (HSA), and other personnel for management of detainees with complex psychiatric conditions.
• Provides direct mental health services to detainees with identified mental health and substance abuse problems, utilizing psychoeducational and treatment modalities as appropriate.
• Demonstrates behavioral health triage process and screening, referring patients to higher levels of care as appropriate.
• Coordinates health care needs of detainees with the health care team and coordinates referrals to off-site providers as required.
• Provides staff teaching and training in accordance with Behavioral Health Unit policies.
• Maintains non-involvement in security/custody aspects of care.
• Promotes and fosters a multidisciplinary approach to detainee care and coordination with other disciplines.
• Follows all IHSC Public Health, Safety, and Preparedness Unit directives and guides to maintain environmental health and safety, infection control, and all hazards emergency preparedness daily.
• Performs record-keeping functions in accordance with program policies, documenting all detainee encounters in the electronic health record.
• Assesses and validates patient care delivery systems and recommends improvements at the local, regional, and national levels.
• Consultation, Program, and Administrative Support When not on TDY status, incumbent supports the DAD Clinical Services, the BHU and other IHSC units and programs with special projects and administrative tasks.
• Collaborates with HQ and regional behavioral health consultants to assess and validate the current patient care delivery system, ensuring clinical and staffing standards for mental health practice are consistent with current evidence-based research and professional standards.
• Offers recommendations regarding improvements needed in clinic operations or to improve patient outcomes.
• Develops and communicates a strategic vision of behavioral health care, including values and goals for a diverse group of behavioral health professionals.
• Formulates short- and long-range objectives for programs within the behavioral health unit to ensure integration with overall IHSC objectives and plans.
• Participates in planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating mental health policy.
• Supports the development and annual revisions of national, evidence-based mental health clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Provides behavioral health in-service training that increases understanding of policies and procedures, promotes best practices, and ensures compliance with accreditation standards.
• Participates in provider orientation and peer reviews and provides on-site or competency training in suicide prevention and other topics as identified by the BHU Chief.
• Acts as a resource for knowledge on a full range of primary behavioral health care provided to detainees, including assessments, intake screening, treatment plans, medical housing unit care, and procedures appropriate to the clinical setting.
• Conducts competency reviews to ensure scope of practice is consistent with licensure requirements.
• Attends BSU meetings as scheduled.
• Ensures compliance with IHSC policy, accreditation standards, and documentation requirements; participates in internal assessments and implements process improvements as needed SEE MORE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER QUALIFICATIONS

Education

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Master's degree in social work or doctorate degree in psychology. Full, current, and unrestricted license in any State, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territory (Clinical Psychologist License or Social Work Independent Practice License).

Minimum of three years clinical behavioral health experience; correctional/detention healthcare experience preferred. Comprehensive knowledge of behavioral health concepts, principles, and practices for psychological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

Knowledge of psychiatric treatment and diagnostic modalities, including indications, contraindications, complications, and techniques. Experience managing non-compliant patients, special needs populations, and patients with significant deficits in coping skills. Ability to conduct psychological assessments, risk assessments, and develop treatment plans for diverse populations.

Ability to participate in the development, review, and implementation of behavioral health policies, procedures, and corrective action plans. Ability to collect, analyze, and report behavioral health data for quality assurance and program improvement. Maintains clinical professional skills via continuing education requirements for licensing and board certification maintenance.

Ability to interact effectively, and collaborate with other IHCS, ERO, ICE, and DHS offices, as well as all levels of management. Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats to perform the functions and duties listed above. Ability to develop and deliver staff training and in-service education in accordance with IHSC and BHU policies.

Knowledge of IHSC policies, NCCHC, and PBNDS requirements preferred. Ability to maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with IHSC policies and accreditation standards.

Must possess and demonstrate proficiency in electronic health record systems and common Microsoft Office programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint.

Maintain cultural competency through agency or other training. Flexibility and ability to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work-related requirements. Spanish language proficiency preferred, not required.

Maintains U.S. Public Health Service Readiness and Duty Requirements.

How you will be evaluated

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements. You may be selected for an interview at the hiring authority's discretion. You will be notified of selection or non-selection.

Documents you must provide

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package.
• Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position.
• A complete application includes: U.
• Public Health Service Officers Cover Letter/Letter of Interest.
• (Place under "Diploma/GED") Professional license.
• (If applicable) Additional professional certificates.
• (If applicable) Three professional references.
• (i.e., name, title and contact information) Official USPHS Promotion CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training.
• (Place under "USPHS Promotion CV") You may provide a civilian resume in addition to the USPHS Promotion CV to capture all relevant work experience.
• A copy of your Certificate of Investigation (located in your eOPF). *Three most recent Commissioned Officer Effectiveness Reports (COER).
• (Place under "Performance Appraisal") For IHSC USPHS officers only, a copy of your current Service Remaining Requirements Agreement.
• Indicate if you have an Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement and the date of the end of your AP Agreement.
• If you do not, please submit a memo attesting to no AP in the Assignment Pay (AP) Agreement section in the documents section of application.
• New Call to Active Duty Cover letter/Letter of Interest.
• Please include location preference here.
• (Place under "Diploma/GED") Professional license.
• (If applicable) Additional professional certificates.
• (If applicable) Three professional references (i.e., name, title, and contact information) CV - e.g., relevant experience, education, training.
• (Place under "USPHS Promotion CV") U.S. Public Health Service - Appointment Board Decision Letter/Email or a screenshot of AES dashboard to the United States Public Health Service

What to expect next

Once you submit your application, we will assess your experience and training, identify the best-qualified applicants, and refer those applications to the hiring manager for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process.

To check your status, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Application Status," and then click "More Information." We expect to make a job offer within 60 days after the deadline for applications. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. View more information on applying for federal employment.

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 Deputy Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Clinical Services Support Unit.

The Medical Asset Support Team (MAST) program consists of a cadre of physicians, advanced practice providers, behavioral health providers, and registered nurses that augment and respond to the needs of IHSC-staffed facilities and provide support for administrative tasks and projects to IHSC units and programs.

The incumbent serves as the Senior Behavioral Health Provider, MAST, providing direct behavioral health patient care at IHSC-staffed facilities as assigned, and serves as a subject matter expert to support behavioral health staff, behavioral health services, and the IHSC health care mission.

The incumbent provides clinical and administrative behavioral health support, collaborates with IHSC units and programs, and participates in tasks designed to improve behavioral health care within IHSC. IHSC provides direct care daily to detainees at designated facilities nationwide, including medical, dental, mental health, and public health services.

IHSC also manages medical case oversight for detainees at non-IHSC staffed detention facilities and oversees financial authorization for off-site specialty and emergency care. The ICE detainee population is approximately 34,000 daily, with an average length of stay of 30 days, surpassing 400,000 detainees annually.

IHSC provides medical support during ICE enforcement operations in the air, on the ground, and at sea. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The incumbent reports directly to the MAST Regional Program Management Officer (PMO), with the MAST Supervisory PMO serving as reviewing official.