Career Center

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
• 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 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: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program
• and - the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship 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
• 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
• 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above - the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• Staff Psychologist GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Staff Psychologist GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience: At least one (1) 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
• Staff Psychologist GS-13 (Full Performance Level) Experience: At least two (2) years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one (1) year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Physical demands are generally minor - and the work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings
• There may be occasional light lifting/carrying (15 pounds or less) requirements to relocate boxed materials from one area to another - equipment and room set-up - and ambulation related to physical inspections of facilities
• The incumbent will be expected to successfully negotiate various functional requirements (i.e. - lifting - ambulating - reaching above their shoulder(s) - the use of hands or fingers - sitting - standing - repeated bending - using stairs or elevators - functional vision - clear speech - hearing - and emotional stability) and environmental factors (i.e. - working independently and at times closely with others - moving about the campus for appointments and/or meetings) for the position - with or without adaptive devices - technology - or reasonable accommodations that are more thoroughly evaluated in the current version of Certificate of Medical Examination - U.S. Office of Personnel Management Optional Form 178 (OF178)
• Use of fingers may be required to operate computers.

Duties

• The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (BPVAHCS) Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service (MH&BSS) is a group of caring - supportive - and collegial professionals who value cultural diversity and Inclusion within our staff and training programs
• We are focused on creating an enduring - vibrant - and supportive community for Veterans - staff - and students through education - and advocacy for all people - regardless of race - gender - sexual orientation - age - class - religion - or ability
• We strive to uphold values of diversity and inclusion and welcome interested applicants from underrepresented groups who are also committed to cultural competence and humility
• Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Ability to diagnose mental health disorders - conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments
• Ability to treat mental health disorders through a variety of modalities - with an emphasis on Evidence Based Psychotherapies - and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders
• Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services - including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care
• Provides psychological assessments and individual and group psychotherapy for patients in their assignment
• Upon direction from BPVAHCS leadership - and in support of the VA patient care mission - conducts patient care services through face-to-face - and telehealth mediums - to include - but not limited to video and telephonic means
• If unlicensed - practice is under the supervision of a licensed psychologist
• Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team - established by the Service Chief - MH&BSS
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs to effectively coordinate services
• The licensed psychologist may be involved in the Psychology Training Programs and Training Committee and present at internship didactic training and Mental Health Grand Rounds
• The unlicensed Graduate Psychologist may present at internship didactic training and Mental Health Grand Rounds - but is considered an Ad Hoc - and not a full member of the Psychology Training Programs and Training Committee
• Establishes mechanisms for routine program evaluation and/or outcome evaluation of psychological interventions within the program or clinical area to which they are assigned
• Assists/advises other staff in processes and procedures related to VHA - BPVAHCS - or program specific performance measures and/or program outcome and evaluation
• Experience assessing - diagnosing - and treating Veterans presenting with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Substance Use Disorders - and Co-Occurring Disorders
• Ability working successfully as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 08:00 AM - 04:30 PM (although must be amenable to work outside normal tour of duty as a manager/supervisor to address emergent needs of Veterans/programs/facility) EDRP Authorized: If you have any questions or concerns - please contact the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at VISN8CCOE@va.gov 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 VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional