Career Center

Summary

Psychologist in the Mental Healthcare Group participate in a full range of psychotherapeutic - diagnostic and training activities under the supervision of the Program Manager. VA Careers - Mental Health Professionals: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOMintJXa3Y Clinical Psychologist: www.youtube.com/watch?v=77qHlLw9Xck Review a sample Total Rewards package for a VA Psychologist: www.vacareers.va.gov/Home/PdfViewer?issuu=psychology_-_total_reward_of_a_va_career_flyer_9-

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:

• The basic requirements for employment as a VHA psychologist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. § 7402
• To qualify for appointment - all applicants for the position of psychologist in VHA must meet the following: 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
• 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
• ~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
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to psychologist positions in the GS-0180 series in VHA 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 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
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade level for each candidate
• GS-11 (Entry Level): None beyond the Basic Requirements
• 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
• ~AND~ Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): 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
• 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
• ~AND~ 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
• ~AND~ Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): 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 Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) VA handbook 5005/103 - Part II - Appendix G18 - Psychologist Qualification Standard - Veterans Health Administration - dated February 7 - 2018
• The full Performance level of the GS-0180 Psychologist job series is GS-13
• The actual grade at which a candidate may be selected for this vacancy is either the GS-12 or the GS-13 grade level.

Duties

• 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
• Duties The incumbent of this position is assigned to the Mental Health - Addiction & Recovery Treatment (ART) Program and functions as a part of outpatient and intensive outpatient (IOP) addiction interdisciplinary team
• Services are carried out in full accordance with specific program goals and broad objectives of the VA health care system
• The purpose of this position is to provide addiction treatment that falls between residential and general outpatient care
• IOP is intended to help Veterans establish clinical stability - identify initial recovery goals - provide evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders (SUD) - initiate care for co-occurring medical and mental health conditions - develop interpersonal support for recovery and promote engagement in continuing care
• Duties for the position may include but are not limited to: Provides specialized psychological services at all levels of complexity for patients - with service delivery to include intake evaluation - diagnostic assessments - psychotherapy and patient education
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual therapy - group therapy - and psycho-education classes
• Best practices - practice guidelines and evidence-based treatment protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions
• Participates in development of a treatment plan for each patient with whom major contact is expected - with measurable goals outlined - based on relevant psychological - medical and psychiatric information and principles of treatment matching
• Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues to include patient's decision ­making capacity regarding health care
• Develops person-centered - culturally sensitive treatment plans to address mental health needs of patients
• Conducts evaluations to aid in the differential diagnosis of complex cases
• Provides clinical supervision to unlicensed staff and psychology trainees - including practicum students - interns - and residents
• Respond to patients request for release of records
• return telephone calls - linking of services - and appropriate referrals as needed in a timely fashion
• With permission from patient - collateral consultation with significant others/ support systems to aid in the facilitation of patients' treatment
• Attends annual training programs sponsored by the VISN - V AMC and other AP A recognized training programs to enhance knowledge - skills - and abilities in area of specialization
• Participates on selection panels for Staff Psychologist position vacancies or other positions as assigned
• Provides consultation and clinical supervision as needed to Addiction Therapists in the same work unit
• Provides consultation to staff and educational/administrative support to training programs as needed
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Full Time
• Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m.
• Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN22HREducationReimbursementTeam@va.gov -the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay - 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) 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
• 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: Telework authorized per Agency policy
• this is not a virtual or remote position Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required