Staff Psychologist (Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program)

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.

Access Care is a primary entry point to mental health services, providing walk-in and phone triage, intake, outreach, orientation, post-hospitalization discharge follow-up, and high risk case management services to Veterans who are self- or provider-referred to the Mental Health Service. Critical triage functions include crisis evaluation and intervention, disposition of patients to the appropriate level of care, and acting as liaison for the inpatient, outpatient, primary care and community agencies involved in the provision of care for the Veteran population.

The Access provider carries out assessment of the full range of mental health issues and also provides time-limited treatment services. Incumbent employs a full range of treatment modalities with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Services will generally be provided in the clinic, and under certain circumstances, via telehealth. The incumbent is capable of providing advanced evaluation and treatment strategies, including evidenced based therapies, making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnosis within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.

The primary job functions of psychologists at the GS-13 level include the provision of direct psychological patient care, consultation services on difficult or complex cases, education of staff. The incumbent may participate in Psychology Training Program(s), including training committee activities, providing didactics, and supervision of practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows, with protected time consistent with guidelines established by OAA and the VANCHCS Supervision Manual.

At the GS-13 level, duties for the position may include but are not limited to: Works with Veterans, their families and interdisciplinary team members in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of treatment needs related to Veterans that present in crisis with psychiatric disorders, with particular regard to addressing situations related to risk of harm to self, others or grave disability. Develops individual safety plans.

Incumbent will perform voluntary/involuntary admissions as needed. Responsible for reviewing all consults/referrals for Veterans requesting mental health services. Determines the urgency of the request and Veteran state, arranging for evaluation appointment, ensuring that the consults are responded to in a timely manner. Independently provides specialized services for complex patients with service delivery to include intake evaluation, DSM-V diagnostic assessments, psychotherapy and patient education.

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. Attends regularly scheduled treatment team meetings to ensure efficiency and continuity of service delivery.

Ensures timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system as appropriate. Uses diagnostic knowledge of the patient's need(s) to make referrals to a variety of VA and non-VA resources in support of the treatment objective of the patient. Collaboration with community, health, welfare, and service agencies. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients.

Completes assigned Performance Improvement activities at the program, service line and medical center level. Records information, in the patient's medical record, related to the patient's data base, psychosocial diagnosis, treatment plan, and progress in therapy. May provide clinical supervision to unlicensed staff and psychology trainees, including practicum students, interns, and residents. Work Schedule: Full Time; Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Available ad hoc as per agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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: 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. OR Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: (a) the respecialization 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 respecialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship. 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.

Please indicate clearly on your cv/resume or cover letter what your current licensure status is, and if unlicensed where you are in the process of obtaining your license.(e.g., "Passed EPPP 6/2020, CA state exam scheduled 10/15/21") 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: GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level) Experience. At least 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.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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.4. 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 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level) Experience. At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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.3. Knowledge of clinical research literature. Reference: VA handbook 5005/103, Part II, Appendix G18, Psychologist Qualification Standard, Veterans Health Administration, dated February 7, 2018.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 toGS-13. Physical Requirements: This position requires hearing (aid permitted).