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 2+ years' experience. This position is non-supervisory. This position is only open to USPHS officers and Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Serves as field expert on BHU policy workgroup team. Participate in mental health initiatives and competency training. Works in conjunction with KBHU Program Manager, HSA, Regional Behavior Health Consultants (RBHC), Chief and Behavioral Health Clinical Consultants in responding to higher level taskings. Provides input regarding the mental health process review. Promote a multidisciplinary approach from a treatment standpoint.
Attend BHU bi-monthly meetings. Identify challenges that impede provider productivity and offer solutions to RBHC. Travel to Headquarters (HQ) for training and education, as required. . Provides appropriate referral to outside treatment facilities for those cases of extremely severe mental disturbance referring such detainees to the appropriate mental health facility for intensive mental health care.
Provides identification and evaluation for those identified as having a significant mental illness using Mental Health Review form (IHSC-883). Provides on-site counseling, psychotherapy, behavioral analysis, substance abuse education, and group therapy as required. Facilitates individual, group therapy and psychoeducational programs to detainees diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness (SMI).
Possesses a high level of skill in providing a full range of services to include assessing, recognizing, and treating problems related to adjustment, maladaptive behavior. complex differential diagnosis, psychotic spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders (including PTSD), affective disorders, substance use disorders, and medical comorbidities or other conditions.
Determines the need for and provide direct mental health services to detainees with identified mental health and substance abuse problems utilizing psycho educational and treatment modalities as appropriate in the treatment of mental disorders.
Assists the Clinical Director/Designees in providing orientation and guidance to medical staff in Detoxification of Chemically Dependent detainees and actions to take if a detainee is suspected of being chemically dependent on drugs or alcohol upon intake or during custody. Reports status to a physician if the expected outcome of drug therapy is not being achieved.
Utilizes the multi-disciplinary approach in the treatment planning process for detainees identified with mental health problems. Provides consultation to medical, ICE, contract staff regarding issues that include, but are not limited to risk assessment for violence, housing recommendations for handling difficult demanding, and mentally ill detainees. Serves as a mental health and substance abuse consultant within the facility.
Provides education and training to ICE and medical staff in the area of mental health to include, but not limited to, suicide prevention, hunger strike, abuse and neglect and victims of torture. Facilitates contacts between the detainee patient and his/her social support systems. Establishes and maintains liaison with other health services professionals and mental health organizations. Assists in preparation towards accreditation/compliance.
Assists the local performance improvement coordinator in completion of clinical performance improvement/risk identification and management directly related to mental health. Participates in the local performance improvement committee. 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 (Seriously Mental Illness List).
Coordinates alongside Headquarters (HQ) mental health unit for continuity of care for placement in, or treatment of, detainees in appropriate settings as required by the conditions of release outlined by ICE. Responsible for all case management which may involve community treatment placement, hospital placement, or other after care situations. Utilizes Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system for completing treatment authorization request, case entry and exit reports.
Participate in quarterly peer review. Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: For Psychologists, successful completion of a Doctoral Degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical or counseling psychology. For Social Workers, successful completion of a Master's degree in Social Work from a graduate program in social work accredited by Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Licensure Requirement: Psychologists and Social Workers must both hold a full, current, and unrestricted licensed by a State or Territory; at the Doctoral level for psychologists and at the Master's level for social workers (LCSW, LICSW, LMSW-C, or equivalent). Minimum years of post-licensure clinical experience: O-3 is 2 years; O-4 is 3 years; O-5 is 4 years.
Must possess the knowledge and perform specific functions of Behavioral Health Provider to include but not limited to: Psychological Testing (for psychologists only), Evaluation, Interpretation, Diagnosis and Treatment. Knowledge of and experience in techniques of various evidence-based treatment modalities. Experience in conducting group therapy is preferred. Experience in Serious Mental Illness (SMI) is preferred.
Must maintain full and unrestricted license to practice in any state jurisdiction; and BLS certification every two years is required. It is the incumbent's responsibility to fulfill the obligation(s) of their licensing or certifying body to maintain competency. This position requires Behavioral Health Providers to always perform within their scope of clinical license. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
Flexible and able to adapt to sudden changes in schedules and work requirements. Experience in a correctional setting is preferred. Bilingual English and Spanish speaker preferred. Credentialed and privileged with a current, permanent, full and unrestricted license to practice psychology or social work in any state jurisdiction.
This position is with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.
The posted pay range is $1 – $150000/yr.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-10-21.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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