Registered Nurse – Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP) Mental Health Treatment Coordinator

Quick Facts

• Role: Registered Nurse – Mental Health Treatment Coordinator for BHIP / specialty mental health and community-based care

• Focus: Panel management, care coordination, measurement-based treatment, outreach, assessments, and transition-of-care

• EDRP: Eligible (must meet VHA policy requirements and submit application within 4 months of appointment)

Description

This role serves as a key member of the interdisciplinary mental health team, coordinating comprehensive behavioral health services for Veterans. The Mental Health Treatment Coordinator manages a patient panel, performs outreach and needs assessments, uses measurement-based screening tools, and ensures timely access and continuity across care settings. The position is eligible for EDRP, subject to VHA eligibility review.

Responsibilities

• Manage an assigned panel of Veterans receiving mental health services
• Identify Veterans needing outreach, engagement, follow-up, or service coordination
• Conduct proactive outreach to improve appointment adherence and continuity of care
• Perform comprehensive mental health and psychosocial needs assessments
• Assess appropriate placement among primary care mental health, BHIP, specialty mental health, and community care programs
• Coordinate care across interdisciplinary teams (psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, primary care, community providers)
• Serve as a point of contact for Veterans, families/caregivers, and the treatment team
• Develop, implement, and update individualized care coordination and intervention plans
• Establish and monitor follow-up schedules and ensure completion of recommended interventions
• Track referrals, consultations, diagnostic evaluations, and treatment recommendations to close care gaps
• Use standardized mental health screening instruments and review results (e.g., depression and suicide risk)
• Escalate elevated-risk cases per facility policies and clinical practice guidelines
• Facilitate transitions of care across inpatient, residential, outpatient, specialty mental health, community, and primary care
• Support discharge planning and specialty mental health transition when clinically indicated
• Analyze panel data and report trends/high-risk populations to improve outcomes and service delivery

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship (or limited non-citizen appointment per VA policy)
• English proficiency for direct patient care
• Graduate of an accredited nursing program (ACEN or CCNE) or meet eligible bridge/foreign-education pathway requirements
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN license
• Selective Service registration (if applicable)
• Background/security investigation
• VA online onboarding completion and pre-employment medical evaluation
• Seasonal influenza vaccination requirement
• Possible probationary period
• EDRP application submission within 4 months of appointment (if applying for EDRP)

Benefits

• Competitive salary with potential performance awards and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 50 days/year (annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays)
• Retirement: traditional federal pension and federal 401K with up to 5% VA contribution
• Insurance: federal health/vision/dental and other coverage options
• Work schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–4:00 pm; not telework and not virtual
• EDRP: up to $200,000 (award amount and eligibility period 1–5 years determined after EDRP review)