Career Center

The PRRC is an outpatient supportive transitional learning center designed to support recovery and integration into meaningful self-determined community roles for Veterans challenged with serious mental illnesses and severe functional impairment. The Incumbent assists in coordinating treatment planning and delivery of services that best meet the needs of veterans served in the PRRC. The incumbent provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic assessment and individual/group therapy to veterans. 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. Licensure. 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. Education: (1) 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. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). OR Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the 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 the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship. [Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards.] OR Internships: 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 (pre1979) 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. 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. NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist, GS-11 (Entry Level): None beyond the basic requirements. Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level): At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance, Level): At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 PART II APPENDIX G18 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["FUNCTIONS/SCOPE OF DUTIES: The incumbent provides direct patient care as a licensed Psychologist with a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology. As a clinical care provider, the incumbent is a psychologist, defined as a credentialed and privileged Licensed Independent Practitioner who functions as an essential member of the interdisciplinary treatment team; Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care; Performs evaluations for veterans' mental health disorders; provides a full range of specialized individual and group-based empirically supported psychological interventions to mental health patients whose conditions indicate a need for the advanced skill and training of a licensed psychologist; Reviews and translates psychological research into practical interventions for improved patient treatment outcomes; consults with Medical Center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues; Assesses the need for referral for additional psychological services for patients; Coordinates with other providers throughout the BVAMC when other interventions such as psychiatric, medical or palliative care are required; is responsible for accurate, timely and appropriate completion of clinical patient care documentation. The incumbent also engages in non-direct clinical activities, including participating in staff meetings, data management, and program development. The incumbent may also engage in research, intern supervision/training, and administrative services consistent with the mission. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: This position is under the administrative supervision of the Mental Health Service Chief, who provides guidelines for work assignments that are consistent with the overall mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs, its policies, and its practices. With regard to supervision and evaluation of discipline-specific performance of assigned responsibilities and conduct, the incumbent reports to the Chief Psychologist. Assignments are made at a general level. As the incumbent is a fully qualified professional and a member of the Medical Staff, s/he is responsible for independently planning, initiating, coordinating, and carrying out all assigned clinical duties, and work is reviewed only for appropriateness and compatibility with discipline-specific knowledge, skills and abilities, program objectives, accreditation standards, and policies of the Medical Center. Direct supervision of clinical duties only as determined by immediate supervisor and/or Chief Psychologist. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Adhoc available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51218F - 51216F - 52788F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Contact shanista.lewis@va.gov. The EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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