Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program - 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.

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
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3.g - this part.) 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 - the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System - or the Canadian Psychological Association 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
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND 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
• 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
• Board Certification
• Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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
• The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education
• Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Staff Psychologist - GS-12 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
• 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
• Staff Psychologist - 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
• 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 Preferred Experience: Advanced training and experience in culturally-informed mental health treatment services and work with diverse and intersectional populations - as well as experience in creating culturally responsive and safe environments for clients and employees
• References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ Physical Requirements: Must be able to perform primarily sedentary duties with occasional moderate physical demands - exercise patience - and control emotions.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf Major Duties and Responsibilities: Clinical Responsibilities (85% of time): -Diagnoses mental disorders
• -Treats mental disorders with a wide range of patients using a variety of modalities - including: individual - family and group psychotherapy - triage/crisis management - and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions
• -Conducts psychological assessments
• -Conducts initial intakes/biopsychosocial assessments and treatment planning in accordance with Joint Commission/VA requirements and service/clinic-level SOP
• -Practices measurement-based care using the Collect - Share - Act model - in accordance with Joint Commission/VA requirements and service/clinic-level SOP
• -Evaluates and makes disposition of patients to treatment programs in the OKC VA Health Care System - as well as referral to community programs and vocational placement
• Serves as a consultant to other staff in evaluating and assisting Veterans with complex vocational problems
• Places consults for Veterans when clinically indicated
• -Provides independent psychological services at all levels of complexity and consults with peers and supervisors as appropriate
• -Ensures documentation is completed timely and within the facility guidelines/regulations
• -Ensures coding is in accordance with the OMHSP MH Coding Guidelines
• -Ensures secure storage and proper retention/disposal of psychological assessment data in accordance with current VA Records Control Schedule
• - Places RTCs in accordance with VHA directives and scheduling guidelines to ensure accurate patient appointment scheduling
• - Obtains PMDB training in accordance with workplace setting per the annual Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment
• - Assists with other activities as assigned by OKC VA Health Care System Management
• Academic/Teaching/Training (Up to 5% of time): - Provides training and/or clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training (unlicensed graduate psychologists - psychology trainees - psychology technicians - psychiatry residents - and medical students)
• - Involved in Psychology Training Program(s) and Training Committee(s) - Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staffs of units to which assigned
• - Serves as a consultant to other OKC VA Health Care System staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients
• Research/Program Evaluation (Up to 5% time): - Involved in program evaluation and research activities - as supported by the service
• - Participates in active program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance process
• - Assists in preparation of RFP's and grant proposals - as supported by the service
• - Participates in completion of relevant IRB/R&D proposals and paperwork - as supported by the service
• Other Significant Responsibilities (Up to 5% time): - Serves on OKC VA Health Care System - VISN - and/or National VA committees or task forces (Psychology Staff Meetings - etc.)
• - Actively participates in leadership roles on local - state and national professional organizations
• - Represents the OKC VA Health Care System at professional/program community group/events and committees
• Work Schedule: Shift work - 8hrs each - Morning - Mid-Day - Evenings - may include weekends and/or holidays Compressed/Flexible: May be available based upon facility needs 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 David Billingsley Jr. - at david.billingsleyjr@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a 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 the monthly maximum of $416.66
• 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54066-A - 54067-A - 54068-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized