Summary

The incumbent is a Psychologist and serves in a full-time capacity as a member of the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program within the Mental Health Service (MHS) at VA Detroit Healthcare System, which includes John D. Dingell VA Medical Center (JDDVAMC) and its affiliated community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) Position may be filled as a Psychologist or Social Worker. Please ensure you apply to the appropriate announcement

Qualifications

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 Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
• Education Requirement - You must 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
• OR, have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully completed a 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 you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are am applying for
• OR, have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship Requirement - You must 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)
• NOTE: 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: Candidates 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
• Experience: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following: GS-11 Level: no additional experience beyond the basic requirement GS-12 Level: at least 1 full year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the GS-11 level, and are able to 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
• 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 Level: at least 2 addition years of experience, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level, as a professional psychologist that was obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post-doctoral psychology training program that demonstrates 1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and/or 2) a full, current and unrestricted license
• To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current psychology practice: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to a 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
• *Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed
• Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS11 to GS13
• Physical Requirements: Ability to physically access various treatment settings within the facility
• Ability to use computers frequently/continuously throughout the day for data input and communication
• Ability to use phone
• Position is primarily sedentary, and incumbent must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time
• May require light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds) and climbing stairs as needed
• Ability to walk up and down steps
• Ability to navigate unfamiliar surroundings
• Valid driver's license is a requirement as incumbent is required to provide consultation services to one of the Vet Centers located in Detroit, Dearborn, Pontiac, or Macomb County and outreach is a required part of this position.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf - Provides rapid triage, problem-focused assessments, and time-limited interventions including but not limited to psychoeducation as well as brief individual and group psychotherapy - Provides scheduled and impromptu consultative services and psychoeducation regarding a wide range of mental health and behavioral medicine concerns to patients and non-mental health staff regarding patients - Performs routine brief assessments, including but not limited to the PHQ-9, PCL, AUDITC, GAD-7, etc - Provides brief mental health and behavioral interventions that are evidence based, including but not limited to behavioral medicine interventions for tobacco cessation, weight management, coping with chronic illness, sleep hygiene, etc
• - Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center, including entering data into the databases as may required- Performs routine and in-depth mental health evaluations, including intake assessments - Provides evidence-based psychotherapy and other therapeutic interventions utilizing VA based guidance and guidelines- Uses the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care - Liaisons/advocates on behalf of PCMHI and/or Veteran/caregiver between settings of care, both internal and external to the VA - Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members, as needed - Independently identifies high-risk patients and connects with needed resources and services, as needed- Consults, collaborates, and coordinates with other staff who provide care to Veteran, routinely consulting with Primary Care Providers and other PACT members about plan of care for patients - Reviews relevant data, assesses the data, develops, and implement ideas for improvement- Serves as psychologist champion for treatment planning, discharge planning, and psychosocial and psychotherapeutic needs - Provides clinical supervision to psychology trainees - Serves as a consultant to one or more Vet Center(s), including but not limited to the Vet Centers located in Detroit, Pontiac, Dearborn, and Macomb- Perform VA police psychological examinations as needed- Communicates with National, VISN, Facility-level leadership, and other stakeholders - Communicates regularly with the VISN-level PCMHI POCs and other PCMHI Coordinators in the VISN, as well as local mental health and national PCMHI leadership to remain knowledgeable about policies and trends related to PMCHI - Serves on Medical Center/Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces, as assigned by the Supervisor or the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health - Represents psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System, as assigned by the Supervisor or the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health - Represents the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees - Involvement in training program didactics for trainees of various disciplines and levels, as assigned Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: May Be Available 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
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 #: 93041/93042/93043 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized