Staff Psychologist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency Requirement: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Education: You must have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) - the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) - or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed
• The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• OR Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and - in addition - successfully completed a re-specialization program meeting both of the following conditions: a) the re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program
• and b) the specialty in which you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are am applying for
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship: You must provide a copy of your transcript - program information and completion date in your resume - copy of current board certification - or a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program - as applicable - to receive credit
• You must have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• OR New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement - provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern
• OR VHA facilities that offered full-time - one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement
• OR Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• (NOTE: Once board certified - the employee is required to maintain board certification)
• OR Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program
• If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript - the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program
• Licensure: Candidates must hold a full - current - and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Exception: Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (c)(2)(B) for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed
• Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• Grandfathering Provision
• All persons employed in VHA as a psychologist on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education (i.e. - degree and internship requirements) and licensure/certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• Employees grandfathered under this provision for this revision may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions or beyond the assignment currently held for those being grandfathered to assignments above FPL
• Psychologists who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Psychologists initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level)Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Staff Psychologist - GS-12 (Developmental Level)Experience
• At least 1 full year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the GS-11 level.AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience - the candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs in their resume: Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations
• Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies
• Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures
• Ability to conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties)
• Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team - including research participant relations - research documentation - data acquisition - maintenance - and collaboration
• Preferred Experience: Provide evidence-based psychotherapies including but not limited to: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) - Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) - Motivational Interviewing (MI) - Problem Solving Therapy (PST) - and Collaborative Assessment & Management of Suicidality (CAMS) Work in an outpatient Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Team-Base Care using the Collaborative Chronic Care Model (CCCM) Adapt technology and computer assisted programs to deliver treatments and improve treatment outcomes Experience working in general integrated medical settings and experience working in primary care mental health integration is preferred
• QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED BELOW IN EDUCATION SECTION

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties of the Staff Psychologist-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) may include - but are not limited to: Provide a wide range of care including risk assessment and referral - intake/diagnostic and psychosocial assessments - comprehensive treatment planning - and evidence-based psychotherapy treatments in a manner consistent with clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based practices Provide emergency/crisis intervention services to Veterans experiencing acute psychological crises - and providing follow up care as needed - all occurring within the context of active treatment with you as the provider Provide evidence-based psychotherapies and interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Review the medical record and previous biopsychosocial assessments when the Veteran is referred - consult with the referring provider as needed - and provide a thorough treatment plan when a Veteran engages in mental health services Utilize tools and resources related to reporting and evaluation of care progress/outcomes and access (i.e. - dashboards - measures - note templates with health factors - etc.) Participate as a member of a BHIP treatment team and engage in active collaboration with Veterans and family as well as other interdisciplinary treatment team members - on a wide variety of patient care issues Work closely with the Suicide Prevention Coordinators - inpatient - ER - and specialty mental health programs to ensure a seamless transition to appropriate services for Veterans Possess knowledge of current literature and experience in psychological processes of change
• Provide consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and their families
• Assist leadership in the MHCL and BHIP in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program Other duties as assigned
• Clinical Responsibilities At the GS 11 level - the above clinical activities are expected in the assignment
• Practice is under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist
• At the GS 12 level - the above clinical activities are expected in the assignment
• If unlicensed - the individual must be supervised by a licensed psychologist and the experience and supervision must meet the standards for psychology licensure
• At the GS 13 level - the above clinical activities are expected in the assignment
• Academic/Teaching/Training May provide clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training - including trainees seeking licensure in psychology while also receiving supervision
• Graduate students Interns Fellows May be involved in Psychology Training Program and Training Committee
• Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staffs of units to which assigned while also receiving supervision
• Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients while also receiving supervision
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00-4:30 with possible evening/Saturday hours
• subject to change based on facility needs
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [email protected] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: FS 580-00036
• FS 580-00037
• FS 580-00038 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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