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. 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. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.g, this part.) Education 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 Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND 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 (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. 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. Loss of Credential. A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, 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 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 KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. 2. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. 3. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. 4. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). 5. 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) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. 2. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. 3. Knowledge of clinical research literature. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. An applicant may be selected in the range of GS-11 to GS-13. ["Duties include, but are not limited to: The psychologist will be responsible for providing diagnostic assessment and evidence-based psychotherapeutic intervention as part of a multidisciplinary team in our outpatient substance use disorder program, Supportive Recovery Services (SRS) in the Mental Health Clinic at the James J. Peters VAMC. The incumbent may participate in tele-mental health or similar activities to provide service for Veterans. The psychologist will provide evidenced based, recovery-oriented services to veterans with substance use disorders and other co-morbid mental health conditions. The psychologist will function as a full member of the substance use disorder program's mental health team, including but not limited to active participation in treatment team meetings as well as engaging with Veterans as appropriate and requested through intake evaluations, psychological assessment, individual psychotherapy and psychoeducation/counseling, and psychoeducational groups. The incumbent has advanced knowledge of culturally sensitive psychological assessment techniques, diagnosis, intervention, and behavioral health that qualifies them to provide advice and consultation to professionals representing a variety of disciplines. Clinical Responsibilities 1) Performs psychological evaluations and consultations for individuals with substance use disorders and other comorbid mental health conditions for purposes of diagnostic clarification and treatment planning. These evaluations employ a comprehensive diagnostic interview, review of available records, as well as objective tests when indicated. 2) Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions as a member of the SRS Program, including individual psychotherapy and psychoeducation/counseling as well as psychoeducational groups. Best practices, clinical practice guidelines, and evidence-based treatment protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions. 3) Ensures that all clinical work is documented accurately and in a timely fashion, consistent with the MHPCC and facility expectations and policies. 4) Assures that appropriate referrals to specialty programs, including community resources, are accomplished. This may include referrals to other Mental Health Programs (i.e., Mental Health Clinic, Neuropsychology, PTSD Clinic, Compensated Work Therapy, Homeless services, Vocational Rehabilitation, etc.). 5) Fully accountable for practice, including completing encounters, creating and updating treatment plans as appropriate, entering patient care notes, measuring outcomes to interventions, and meeting productivity standards, including prompt completion of clinical reminders. 6) Participates in the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using data-driven quality assurance processes. 7) Implements process improvement initiatives to promote optimal service delivery. 8) Promotes patient independence and achievement of optimal health through appropriate psychosocial education and community referrals. 9) Provides consultation to professional staff within the VAMC and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients. 10) Provides psychoeducation to patients, family members, and significant others. Academic/Teaching/Training 1) Involved in the Psychology Training Program and Training Committee and may provide clinical supervision to psychology trainees at all levels of training. 2) Participates in and provides educational presentations to VA psychology trainees. 3) May be involved in the training of medical students, medical and psychiatric residents, nursing students, fellows, and other graduate or post-graduate trainees, as appropriate. 4) Participates in monthly psychologist and mental health all staff meetings. 5) Assumes responsibility for professional development by attending relevant training and regularly reviewing the literature to improve clinical competencies and meeting professional continuing education requirements to maintain competence and licensure. Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21O73-A Retention Incentive: After 90 days of employment in this position, you may be authorized for a retention incentive. EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN2EDRPCoordinators@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
