Overview Behavioral Health Case Manager (O-5 Billet) Non-Supervisory — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Behavioral Health Case Manager coordinates behavioral health services for individuals in ICE custody, including care coordination and monitoring high-risk individuals. Responsibilities include compliance reviews, consultations, and facilitating care transitions. Requires advanced clinical credentials and travel. This position is open to current USPHS officers only; USPHS CAD candidates are not eligible.
Duties and Responsibilities Coordinate behavioral health services within the assigned area of responsibility for individuals in ICE custody. Services include case coordination/management, monitoring high-risk individuals, independent behavioral health reviews, behavioral health consultation services, and health record reviews. Communicate with individuals inside and outside the department; collaborate to meet program goals. Perform fact-finding, data analysis, report development, and problem resolution. May serve as primary contact for leading services as assigned.
Maintain awareness of program operational issues. Brief and advise supervisory chain on program activities. Communicate activities to agency leadership and stakeholders in various formats (reports, oral reports, support materials) and frequencies based on the audience.
Work with local ICE/Office of Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) to provide written evaluation reports on the mental health status of individuals on the Serious Mental Illness (SMI) List.
Collaborate with Managed Care Coordinators to address accessibility to healthcare services for SMI patients.
Facilitate appropriate placement for patients requiring higher levels of care and transfer to an IGSA or IHSC-staffed facility with enhanced BH resources.
Review and adjudicate requests for outside mental health services for detainees in ICE custody and CBP.
Conduct routine and ad hoc site visits to ICE-designated facilities within the Field Office Director's Area of Responsibility (AOR).
Provide orientation and guidance to custody and medical staff regarding IHSC policies and procedures.
Collaborate with other BHCMs and RBHC to provide coverage and support as needed (e.g., annual leave, TDY, illness).
Assist with evaluating compliance with ICE National Detention Standards (NDS) and PBNDS at local/detention facilities and report findings to RBHC for review and approval.
Investigate complaints related to detainee behavioral health care and provide reports as assigned by IHSC leadership.
Ensure a continuity-of-care plan is established prior to release/removal of detainees with complex health care needs; update Field Office and IHSC Headquarters on detainees in hospital and respond to significant event notifications as needed.
Travel required — 25% TDY as needed to provide clinical care support at IHSC-staffed detention facilities with critical staffing needs.
Follow the supervisory chain of command.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements and Conditions You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
You must successfully pass a background investigation and a drug screen.
Males born after 12/31/59 must certify Selective Service registration.
Meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
Service Remaining Requirement Agreement: 18 to 24 months of service to IHSC upon appointment.
Assignment Pay Agreement: If you have a current Assignment Pay Agreement, it must be fulfilled within 90 days of application submission.
Applicants must be a current USPHS Commissioned Corps Officer; CAD candidates are not eligible. Civilians are not eligible.
PHS officers must participate in IHSC TDY On-Call Schedule (ITOS). ITOS is typically a month or two 16-day periods per year as required by the agency.
Qualifications and Education PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Sitting/standing for extended periods; bending; average manual dexterity for computer use; extended phone use.
Education and Certification Options (one of the following):
Clinical Social Worker track: Master’s in Social Work (MSW) with an active, unrestricted clinical license to practice independently in the U.S. Licensure must be maintained in permanent, full, independent status. License must be the highest clinical license in the issuing jurisdiction. Clinical privileging by IHSC required.
Clinical Psychologist track: PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology; APA-accredited program preferred; full, current, unrestricted license to practice psychology in the U.S. required; clinical privileging by IHSC.
Minimum three years of independent practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Clinical Psychologist (supervision not required).
Maintain BLS for Healthcare Providers certification (American Heart Association).
Knowledge of case management processes and a range of therapeutic modalities (e.g., CBT, DBT, ACT, motivational interviewing, etc.).
Ability to coordinate care telephonically, via tele-psych videoconferencing, and in-person.
Knowledge of HIPAA/Privacy Act and PII confidentiality.
Knowledge of ICE NDS, PBNDS, and FRS; maintain detention healthcare standards proficiency.
Plan and organize workload and travel in accordance with IHSC travel policies.
Computer literacy (Microsoft Office).
NASW Certification in Case Management or CCM credential within 18 months of hire (clinical psychologist will need CCM only).
Detention/correctional or residential healthcare experience preferred.
English proficiency required; Spanish preferred.
Additional Information This is a U.S. Public Health Service position within ICE, DHS, IHSC. This is a non-supervisory position located within IHSC Headquarters; national program within the Behavioral Health Unit. The IHSC National Policies and Procedures guide case management and care coordination for high-risk individuals in ICE custody.
Evaluation and Benefits You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications. Your resume and supporting documentation will be reviewed to confirm minimum qualifications. You may be selected for an interview. Benefits information is provided by the hiring agency and may vary by appointment type.