Specifications include, but are not limited to: Seeking a psychological mental health provider or medical group which provides psychological and mental health services to provide pre-employment, annual, critical incident, fit for duty and similar psychological services to meet the unique needs of the VBPD, VBECCS, VBFD and EMS. Services are requested to be provided both in person on and offsite, as well as via telehealth to the extent permissible by applicable federal laws and regulations. The selected provider or medical group shall: • Provide psychological services to prospective and incumbent employees identified by Human Resources, Occupational Safety and Health Services Division and the respective public safety department including but not limited to: (i) administering psychological and mental health tests and assessments; (ii) interpreting assessment results; (iii) providing professional opinion regarding fitness for duty; (iv) provide professional opinion regarding recommendations for further assessment, treatment and/or other counseling / intervention services; (v.) have providers to offer the recommended treatment. • The psychological and mental health services shall be provided in accordance with the following standards: the American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines for evidence-based psychological practice in health care, APA Professional Practice Guidelines, APA Professional Guidelines for Occupationally Mandated Psychological Evaluations, APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, OSHA requirements, NFPA and any other applicable laws, regulations, and standards. • Provide psychological health and safety program to support employee well-being and mitigate risk of work-related psychological injury and illness. • Provide 24/7 critical incident response services to employees in each department using the standards of practice herein. • Perform annual psychological and mental health fit for duty evaluation of incumbent department employees similar to pre-employment assessments. • Perform fitness for duty evaluations on individual employees who have objective and reasonable signs of distress or possible mental health condition or impairment which may make the employee unable to perform the essential functions of their job or pose a direct threat to himself or others. • Perform fitness for duty evaluations with attention to applicable legal, ethical and practice standards and guidelines.
