Career Center

Summary

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

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States 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 OR (2) 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 OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature AND (4) Internships (a) 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 (b) 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
• (c) 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 (d) Have 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 (e) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature - fulfilling 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 Licensure: 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 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 English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - 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
• Preferred Experience: Expertise in treatment of Dual Diagnosis (co-occurring Substance Use and other Mental Health Disorders)
• Preference for candidates with an expertise in Dialectical Behavior Therapy - Evidence Based Treatments for Affective - Stress - Mood and Impulse-control psychiatric disorders
• Experience with suicide-prevention and crisis management highly desired
• Grade Determination GS-11: Experience
• Education and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12: 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 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• 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
• GS-13: Experience
• 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: (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
• Licensure: GS-11/12 - Must obtain licensure at the doctoral level within two years of appointment
• GS-13 - Must currently possess a full - current - and unrestricted license at the doctoral level
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Duties

• Diagnoses mental disorders - conducts psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments - treats mental disorders through a variety of modalities - and provides adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and uses the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including - evidenced-based psychotherapies Participates fully in peer review - assessing the quality of professional psychology standards provided in the organization Responsible for identification of patient problems requiring consultation with other multidisciplinary medical center staff and making appropriate referrals Assures that appropriate referrals to specialty programs - including community resources - are accomplished Fully accountable for practice - including entering patient visits - measuring outcomes to interventions - and meeting productivity standards Provides clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training including but not limited to pre-doctoral interns and post-doctoral residents Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staff on units to which assigned Assists in the training of medical students - medical and psychiatric residents - nursing students - fellows and other graduate or post-graduate trainees - as appropriate Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their Veterans Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance process Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system - as appropriate If applicable - plans and oversees the completion of personal research programs - designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches Presents outcome data and research results at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings Assists in preparation of RFP's and grant proposals - as assigned Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System - VISN - and/or National VA committees or task forces Represents Psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System Actively participates in leadership roles on local - state - and national professional organizations Represents the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees Continually promotes teamwork by cooperating with and supporting staff - visitors and customers in achieving hospital goals/mission Consistently communicates with and assists customers - visitors - and staff in a courteous and professional manner Regularly creates and maintains an environment that ensures confidentiality and privacy for patients Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-Hoc Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required