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
• English Language Proficiency
• Psychologists who serve in a direct patient-care capacity must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Education
• Possess 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 possess 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 possess a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship
• 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 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
• 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: Psychologist - GS-13: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level AND demonstrate all of the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities [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
• Preferred Experience: Experience providing individual and group therapy to individuals with addictive disorders - including dual diagnosis
• 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
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor - as the position requires sitting - standing and walking
• A high level of self-awareness is essential
• Work - divided between office and clinical settings - is primarily sedentary
• May require prolonged standing - moderate walking - and manual dexterity
• Requires carrying light items - such as books - files - or laptop computer.

Duties

• Clinical Responsibilities Provides a full range of psychological or diagnostic assessment services for those with potential substance use disorders and concurrent mental health disorders
• Provides SUD related education to patients - family members - and significant others
• Provides comprehensive - evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions (e.g. - CPT - PE - MET - CBT-SUD -BCT)
• Provides consultation to professional staff within the ECHCS and to community providers - concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patient diagnosed with SUD and concurrent mental health disorders
• Develops - implements - and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients diagnosed with co-occurring SUD and mental health disorders - including prompt completion of clinical reminders
• Consistently utilizes systematic treatment response monitoring (e.g. - BAM - PCL) for purposes of continuously evaluating treatment effectiveness for patients
• Functions independently as a member of the ECHCS Medical Staff - with full clinical privileges
• Assumes complete professional responsibility of their clinical assessment findings - patient care decisions - and documentation
• May facilitate the design - development - and implementation of program evaluation for program development and quality improvement
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services
• Complies with all national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients
• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings (e.g. - EBP Steering Committee - Recovery Workgroup)
• Attends required program - service - and facility level staff meetings and complies with the MHS peer review procedures
• As a staff member - contributes to performance improvement activities within the Substance Use Disorders Clinic
• Staff Member may engage in research activities with the approval of the ACOS-MH
• May provide clinical supervision and instruction for psychology interns - psychology practicum students - postdoctoral residents - and unlicensed staff psychologists
• May provide training to staff through didactic presentations including psychology - social work - psychiatry - and other disciplines
• Incumbent may perform other related duties - as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54997-A