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

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• 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: 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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: 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience with veterans Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs) - use of fingers - ability to use and see computer screen and mouse - hearing (aid may be permitted) - working closely with others - working alone.

Duties

• Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf The incumbent serves as Staff Neuropsychologist - holding neuropsychological assessment specialty privileges which allow the incumbent to conduct in-depth neuropsychological assessments
• Duties will include: Clinical Responsibilities (80-85% of time) Independently provides specialized neuropsychological services at all levels of complexity for patients
• Provides diagnosis/evaluation of patients presenting with a variety of neurological - psychiatric - and medical complaints
• Carries out the full range of neuropsychological evaluation - assessment - and diagnosis using accepted procedures and test instruments
• Modalities may include tele-mental health
• Provides expert professional opinions and advice on the unique needs of neurobehavioral patients within the healthcare setting - including such topics as how patients may be expected to respond to treatment - why a patient is responding in a certain way or is non-adherent - and insight into the patient's psychological and neuropsychological conditions
• Develops person-centered - culturally sensitive treatment recommendations to address the neurorehabilitation needs of patients
• Responds to referrals from various internal sources - including but not limited to Neurology - Primary Care - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation - Behavioral Health - and Surgery
• Responds also to referrals from external sources when called upon to do so
• Provides results and feedback to the referral sources of the patients seen
• - Complies with all medical record documentation procedures - including timeliness standards for documentation and proper check-out procedures (e.g
• entering diagnostic and procedure codes)
• Complies with national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients
• Supports other treatment programs within the Behavioral Health Service - including but not limited to Biopsychosocial Intakes
• Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees to assist in neuropsychological case formulation and appropriate treatment expectations regarding the Veterans they serve
• Responds to patients requests for release of records
• returns telephone calls in a timely fashion
• With permission from patients - consults with patients' significant others/ support systems to aid in the facilitation of patients' treatment
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Academic/Teaching/Training (5-10% of time) Attends annual training programs sponsored by the VISN - VAMC and other APA recognized training programs to enhance knowledge - skills - and abilities in area of specialization
• Provides supervision to trainees in mental health or other health disciplines (e.g. - medical students - nursing students - and trainees of other disciplines)
• May serve as a faculty member for regional psychiatry residency
• As requested - may provide training and consultation for psychiatry residents completing rotations in psychiatry
• May seek and maintain clinical appointment through residency-affiliated university
• Administrative Duties (10% of time) Review and disposition Neuropsychological consults
• May serve on medical center committees or task forces as related to diagnosis - assessment - and/or treatment within mental health programs
• May represent the medical center at professional/program/community events and committees
• May serve on service - medical center - regional - and/or national committees or task forces related to assigned program
• Assists Behavioral Medicine Program Manager with other administrative duties - as assigned
• Work Schedule: 20 Hours/Week - Schedule to be determined by service
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized