Summary 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 the Deputy Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Behavioral Health Unit (BHU). This position is supervisory. This position is only open to current USPHS officers. USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position.
This job is open to - The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer. USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position. Civilians are not eligible for this position.
Videos Duties DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Behavioral Health Clinical Practice
- Serves as a supervisory behavioral health and substance abuse consultant within the facility.
- Conducts mental health assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis of detained non-citizens (including the utilization of the DSM-V to formulate findings).
- Provides supportive counseling, psychotherapy, substance abuse education, group therapy, etc. 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, and to review and process telephone encounters, etc.
- Promotes and facilitates multidisciplinary (interprofessional collaboration) treatment approach to care for detained non-citizens.
- Provides referral, identification, and evaluation for those identified as having a serious mental illness using Mental Health Review form (IHSC-883). Works in conjunction with ICE/OPLA to manage serious mental illness (SMI) caseload.
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 non-citizens.
- 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; assists in the completion of clinical performance risk identification/improvement process related to behavioral health; and assists in preparation towards National accreditation/compliance.
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.
- Facilitates multi-disciplinary treatment (MDT) team meetings using a collaborative approach to plan and implement treatment for detained non-citizens identified with mental health conditions.
- Coordinates with BHU-HQ to facilitate the integration of care at the macro level for the detained non-citizens.
- Provides referral to higher level of care (HLOC) psychiatric treatment facilities for those cases of serious mental illness (SMI)/disorder and related conditions, 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 to the care of detained non-citizens.
Behavioral Health Case Management
- 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 and regular updates 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 (i.e., Field Medical Coordinator, Managed Care Coordinator, etc.), other health services professionals, and mental health organizations to ensure integration of behavioral health services as indicated.
- Works with BHPs to establish a safe release plan for case management of those SMI patients and/or detained non-citizen cases determined to be mentally incompetent by immigration judge (IJ).
Team Leadership/Supervisory Duties and Administration Responsibilities
- Serves as a field expert on BHU policy administration, implementation, and review for accreditation compliance.
- Serves as a first line supervisor of staff. Plans, schedules, assigns, and directs work; ensures adequate training of staff; exercises complete administrative control over subordinates; and carries out program policies.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Requirements Conditions of Employment - You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
- You must successfully pass a background investigation.
- You must successfully pass a drug screen.
- Males born after 12/31/59 must certify registration with Selective Service.
- Requirements by Closing Date: Unless otherwise noted, you must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- Service Remaining Requirement Agreement: Upon appointment to this position, officers will be required to serve an 18 to 24-month commitment to IHSC.
- Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer. USPHS Call to Active Duty (CAD) candidates are not eligible for this position. Civilians are not eligible for this position.
Qualifications COMPETENCIES:
Superior oral/written communication skills Superior Clinical Skills Leadership Skills The flexibility to work independently, as well as in a team-centered environment Active Listening Skills Reading Comprehension Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills Demonstrates strong organizational and time management skills Demonstrates strong problem solving, judgment and decision-making skills Integrity/Honesty Cultural Competency PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
This position is considered a hazardous duty assignment. Required to walk unaided at a normal pace for up to 5 minutes and maintain balance. Required to walk briskly/jog up to quarter mile. Required to perform CPR/emergency care while standing or kneeling. 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) Must be able to see, hear and smell with aids if necessary. Must easily alternate between kneeling and standing. Must be able to lift, push, or carry 30 pounds. Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time [6-8 hours]. Must perform the duties of job in a stressful and often austere environment without physical limitations. Education REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
Clinical Psychologists require successful completion of a PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology from an accredited graduate program. A graduate program in Clinical Psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association is preferred. Psychologists must hold a full, current and unrestricted licensed by a State or Territory at the Doctoral level for psychologists. The Clinical Psychologist license must be maintained in a permanent, full, independent, and unrestricted status during the term of employment. This position requires clinical privileging by IHSC. -OR- Clinical Social Workers require successful completion of a Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) from a graduate program in social work accredited by Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Licensed Clinical Social Workers must hold a current, active, valid, and unrestricted clinical license to practice clinical social work independently, offered by a U.S. State, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth, territory, or jurisdiction is required. The clinical social worker license must be maintained in a permanent, full, independent, and unrestricted status during the term of employment. The clinical social worker license must be the highest clinical license of clinical social work designated by the licensing board where it was received. This position requires clinical privileging by IHSC. Minimum of 7 years post-licensure clinical experience providing independent clinical assessment, diagnosing using the DSM-V-TR, and developing clinical treatment plans without supervision. Minimum of 3 years administrative experience in a supervisory capacity. Provide documentation/transcripts demonstrating clinical work within completed graduate program as requested. Require completion of 20 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) annually approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Additional CEU hours may be obtained by another sponsoring equivalent. Must maintain membership with licensing board associated with clinical license and submit required completion of CEUs to the licensing board annually as required. Membership with the state or territory clinical licensing board is required. Knowledge of specific functions of mental health and psychopathology to include, but not limited to: Observation, Description, Evaluation, Interpretation, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Knowledge of the indications and contraindications, complications and techniques in the various psychiatric treatment and diagnostic modalities. Knowledge of and experience in techniques of various evidenced-based treatment modalities (i.e., group treatment, individual cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-informed care etc.) BLS certification and completion of annual trainings to maintain competency and licensure. It is the incumbent's responsibility to fulfill the obligation(s) of their licensing or certifying body to maintain currency. This position may be required to perform clinical activities with the scope of clinical license in times of critical needs within the agency. Complete ICE Supervisory Leadership Training and Advanced ICE Supervisory Leadership Training. Cultural competency maintained through agency/other training. 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 the Deputy Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Behavioral Health Unit (BHU). The incumbent will report directly to the Clinical Director (CD) and/or Regional Behavioral Health Consultant. The Supervisory Behavioral Health Provider shall serve as Team Lead for behavioral health at the facility. As a facility Supervisory Behavioral Health Provider, for IHSC, the incumbent contributes to the coordination, integration and utilization of primary and ancillary services for individuals with mental health needs in the custody of ICE; provides oversight in case coordination and monitoring on the high risk and co-occurring patient population; and is responsible for development, coordination and facilitation of discipline specific training for Behavioral Health Providers (BHP) under their purview. In addition, the incumbent will manage the development and provision of individualized patient case management and discharge planning consultation to support repatriation and/or release processes. The incumbent will also manage the development and implementation of enhanced individual and/or group programming at the assigned facility as clinically indicated and as local infrastructure will allow. IHSC has a multi-sector, multidisciplinary workforce of more than 1600 employees, including U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) commissioned officers, federal civil servants, and contract staff. The IHSC provides on-site direct patient care to ICE detainees at 20 detention facilities throughout the country and manages the provision of off-site medical care for detainees housed in approximately 240 additional Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) facilities. The ICE detainee population is approximately 34,000 detainees daily, with an average length of stay of approximately 30 days, and over 400,000 detainees annually. The IHSC also provides medical support during ICE enforcement operations in the air, on the ground and at sea. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: Supervisory Behavioral Health Provider works under the general supervision of the Clinical Director and receives Clinical supervision from the Regional Behavioral Health Consultant. Assignments are usually subject to a service remaining requirement (SRR) agreement for a predetermined period. Officer provides and supervises the provision of psychological interventions. Serves as an expert and provides staff training as appropriate. Organizes work, determines sequence of assignments, selects, and develops methods for self and subordinate staff. When clinically indicated, Licensed Supervisory Behavioral Health Provider seeks assistance from, CD, RBHC, BHCC, etc. Work has expanded independence but is occasionally reviewed by those in the supervisory chain of command for adherence to clinical standards and attainment of objectives. The officer uses judgment in supervising, interpreting, and adapting guidelines such as DHS/ICE/IHSC policies, regulations, precedents, and work direction for application in supervision to specific cases. Officer keeps those in supervisory chain of command informed on the overall status of clinical operations and routinely consults with the same, prioritizing items of high significance for appropriate guidance as indicated.
- Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. 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.
- Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
- Required Documents As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies. 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. S. Public Health Service Officers
- Cover Letter/Letter of Interest. Please include location preference here.
- Degrees. (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 Resume )
- A copy of your Certificate of Investigation (located in your eOPF).
- *Three most recent Commissioned Officer Effectiveness Reports (COER). (Place under Performance Appraisal )
- For current IHSC PHS officers, IHSC Recruiting requires applicants to provide 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 are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. - How to Apply To apply for this position, you must submit the required documentation outlined under the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section below. The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/30/2025. PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. If you need further assistance, contact the Human Resources Office representative listed on this announcement at least one day prior to the closing date for further instructions. Agency contact information IHSC Recruiting Email ...@ice.dhs.gov Address ERO-DRO-IHSC Public Health Service 500 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20536 US Next steps 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.
- Fair and Transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Criminal history inquiries
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Financial suitability
- New employee probationary period
- Privacy Act
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Selective Service
- Signature and false statements
- Social security number request
Required Documents 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. S. Public Health Service Officers
Cover Letter/Letter of Interest. Please include location preference here. Degrees. (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 Resume ) A copy of your Certificate of Investigation (located in your eOPF). *Three most recent Commissioned Officer Effectiveness Reports (COER). (Place under Performance Appraisal ) For current IHSC PHS officers, IHSC Recruiting requires applicants to provide 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 are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply To apply for this position, you must submit the required documentation outlined under the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section below. The complete initial Application must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/30/2025. PLEASE NOTE: If your materials are not received by the closing date, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Also, if you do not provide a valid email address, you may not be notified of the outcome of your application. To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log into your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process. Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position. Applications and supporting documentation will not be accepted by mail or email. If you need further assistance, contact the Human Resources Office representative listed on this announcement at least one day prior to the closing date for further instructions.
Agency contact information IHSC Recruiting Email ...@ice.dhs.gov Address ERO-DRO-IHSC Public Health Service 500 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20536 US
Next steps 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.
Fair & Transparent The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
- Criminal history inquiries
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
- Financial suitability
- New employee probationary period
- Privacy Act
- Reasonable accommodation policy
- Selective Service
- Signature and false statements
- Social security number request