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
• Education: (1) 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
• 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
• OR (2) 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: (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 (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND Internships: (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 (d) 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 (e) 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
• 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 the Grandfathering Provision (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria): All persons employed in VHA as a psychologist on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education (i.e. - degree and internship requirements) and licensure/certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Staff Psychologist - GS-13 (Full Performance - Level) Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: 1
• Knowledge of - and ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations
• 2
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health
• 3
• Knowledge of clinical research literature 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 the GS-13
• Physical Requirements: In Accordance With VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck 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 As part of the mental health outpatient clinic - the staff psychologist will specifically address the psychological needs of veterans with a wide variety of psychological difficulties - including depression - anxiety - emotional dysregulation - and other psychopathologies
• in addition - the incumbent will also provide prevention services to Behavioral Health clients to diminish the risk that clients will develop additional psychological problems
• It is expected that the incumbent will successfully coordinate service delivery with the PTSD Clinical Team - the Military Sexual Trauma specialist - the Transitions Program - Substance Abuse Services - and other Behavioral Health Care Line services
• Duties will include - but are not limited to: Independently provides specialized psychological services at all levels of complexity for patients with psychological difficulties - with service delivery to include intake evaluation - treatment planning - diagnostic assessments - psychotherapy and patient education
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual therapy - group therapy - and psycho- education classes
• Best practices - practice guidelines and evidence-based treatment protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions
• Performs clinically-indicated evaluations for outpatient populations for treatment planning or differential diagnosis purposes
• Provides prevention services to Behavioral Health clients at risk of developing substance abuse problems or additional psychological difficulties
• Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues to include patient's decision-making capacity regarding health care
• Develops person-centered - culturally sensitive treatment plans to address mental health needs of patients
• Complies with national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients
• Attends regularly scheduled treatment team meetings to ensure efficiency and continuity of service delivery to specialized client population
• Timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system - as appropriate
• Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 7:30-4:00pm Telework: Ad Hoc Basis Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 23967-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact andrea.kehn@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized