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:

• Citizenship Must be US citizen Non-citizens only appointed when it's not possible to recruit qualified US citizens English Language Proficiency Must be proficient in spoken & written English Education Have doctoral degree in psychology from graduate program in psychology accredited by American Psychological Association - Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System or Canadian Psychological Association when program was completed Specialty in which applicant is retrained must be consistent w/ applicant's assigned employment area Term "specialty area" refers to specific specialty areas recognized by accrediting body & not to specific job duties that may require special skills Currently - APA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology - counseling psychology - school psychology - or 2 or more combination specialty areas PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science
• CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology - counseling psychology - clinical neuropsychology - & school psychology
• VHA doesn't have any jobs that require a school psychologist skills so applicants w/ school psychology degrees aren't eligible for appointments
• Strictly for purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA - there is no distinction between the specialty areas - w/ exception of school psychology OR Have doctoral degree in any area of psychology & successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of approved internship completed as part of re-specialization program) - that meet following conditions: re-specialization program must be completed in APA or CPA accredited doctoral program
• & specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent w/ applicant's assigned employment area OR Have doctoral degree awarded between 1951 & 1978 from regionally accredited institution - w/ dissertation primarily psychological in nature AND Internships Have successfully completed professional psychology internship training program accredited by APA or CPA at time program was completed & specialty which applicant is retrained must be consistent w/ applicant's assigned employment area OR New VHA psychology internship programs in process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable to fulfill internship requirements - provided such programs were sanctioned by VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology & VHA Office of Academic Affiliations when individual was intern OR VHA facilities that offered full-time - 1 year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 - pre-1979 are considered acceptable to fulfill internship requirement OR Applicants who completed internship not accredited by APA or CPA when program was completed can only be considered eligible for hire if they are currently board certified by American Board of Professional Psychology in specialty area consistent w/ applicant's assigned employment area NOTE Employee is required to maintain board certification once board certified OR Applicants who have doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from regionally accredited institution w/ a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill internship requirement by having equivalent of 1 year supervised internship experience in site specifically acceptable to candidate's doctoral program If internship experience isn't noted on applicant's official transcript - applicant must provide statement from doctoral program verifying equivalent of 1 year supervised internship experience was completed at site acceptable to doctoral program NOTE Psychologists who meet revision requirements & who were employed by Department of VA prior to implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met qualification standard requirements Licensure Hold full - current & unrestricted license to practice psychology at doctoral level in State - Territory or Commonwealth of U S or District of Columbia
• Loss of Credential Psychologists who fail to maintain required licensure must be removed from occupation - which may result in employment termination Employees may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified & if opportunity placement exists at appointing officials' discretion Board Certification Persons hired to psychology positions in VHA who completed internship not accredited at time program was completed must be board certified by American Board of Professional Psychology in specialty area consistent w/ applicant's assigned employment area Board certificate must be current & applicant must abide by certifying body's requirement for continuing education Loss of Credential Once board certified - psychologist must maintain full - valid & unrestricted board certification to remain employment qualified Psychologists who fail to maintain required board certification must be removed from occupation - which may result in termination of employment Employees may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified & if opportunity placement exists at appointing officials' discretion
• Grade Determination requirements: Candidates must possess following grade determination requirements in addition to basic requirements GS-13 Experience At least 2 years professional psychologist experience w/ at least 1 year equal to GS-12 grade KSAs Candidates must demonstrate following KSAs plus experience 1) Knowledge/ability apply professional psychological treatments to patient population ranges 2) Ability provide professional advice/consult in psychology/behavioral health related areas 3) Clinical research literature knowledge Preferred Experience: Experience providing range of treatment services to patients w/ substance use & co-occurring disorders - is able to function is a fast-paced primary care environment - consult w/ 8-10 patients a day - experience using motivational interviewing skills & techniques & abstinence based interventions & harm reduction approaches to SUDs Reference please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ for qualification standards information
• The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Lift/carry <15 lbs - use computer equipment - sit - walk - stand - bend - carry papers - books - laptop/other items - rapid mental/muscular coordination - climb/descend stairs & complete - pass & maintain Basic Life Support certification
• Must possess and maintain valid state driver's license.

Duties

• vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf The full performance level of the Psychologist Substance Use Disorder - SUD - duties include - but are not limited to the following: Is available for staff consultations related to substance use concerns pertaining to appropriate level of care - e.g
• PCMHI - outpatient SUD treatment - or referral - etc
• for residential treatment Performs day-to-day operations w/ other PCMHI team members Works closely w/ SUD & PCMHI Program Managers by defining overall objectives - priorities & deadlines related to position Helps w/ unusual situations w/out clear precedents Singly plans work - resolves problems - performs successive assignment steps & makes adjustments using accepted standard operating procedure or practices
• fixes problems &/or deviations arising from established policies - regulatory & administrative guidelines - directives - instructions & accepted practices Refers new or controversial issues to SUD Program Manager for direction &/or assistance Supervisor reviews completed work for results achieved - technical soundness & conformance w/ applicable regulations - policies & requirements Provides functional assessment - triage - brief intervention - education & consultative services regarding SUDs upon referral from primary care providers & allied PACT members Conducts brief - focused functional assessments (30 minutes or less) to assess substance use concerns & triage/refer to specialty care as appropriate Uses population-based practice management strategies & maintains competences in core domains: conducts brief - focused functional assessments (e.g. - 30 minutes or less) to assess substance use concerns & triage/refer to specialty care as appropriate Applies principals of population-based care (defines role & identifies problems rapidly) Uses brief measurement-based assessments routinely (e.g. - BAM-R - PHQ-9 - PCL-5 - AUDIT C - etc.) Bases initial consultation appointments on PCMHI Functional Assessment model & develops recovery-oriented treatment goals based on functional outcomes Maintains daily same day access slots Regularly reviews schedule/grid & works to maintain next available \"scheduled\" appointment w/in 2 weeks Provides brief - time-limited - evidence based mental & behavioral health interventions (e.g. - 1-6 sessions) for substance use concerns for individual & group therapy formats Engages in thoughtful level-of-care decision-making & efficiently triages to specialty mental health services Assures compliance w/ Joint Commission standards Complies w/ national & local performance measures Complies w/ all documentation procedures - including timeliness standards according to policies Performs complex care management & has consultation responsibilities Participates in educational activities - completes unit based in-services - & mandatory educational activities in self-directed manner by deadlines Demonstrates positive - effective communication skills & professional behavior to promote cooperation & teamwork Practices good customer service & demonstrates VA I-CARE values Participates in unit-based quality of care performance improvement activities - unit based performance improvement measures & results Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data according to Privacy Act of 1974 provisions laws - federal regulations - VA statutes & policy Protects data from unauthorized release/loss
• alteration/unauthorized deletion
• follow applicable regulations & instructions regarding access to computerized files - release of access codes - etc
• Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: 7:30-4:00pm or similar schedule - can discuss during interview Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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 & regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 annual leave days - 13 sick leave days - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection w/ birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees w/ 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 monthly maximum of $416.66 Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) & federal 401K w/ 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) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PD09448A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized