Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - 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:

• United States Citizenship Education 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
• 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
• Internship 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
• 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 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
• 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 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above - the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• Staff Psychologist GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Staff Psychologist GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience: At least one (1) 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
• Staff Psychologist GS-13 (Full Performance Level) Experience: At least two (2) years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one (1) year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• Selective Placement Factor (SPF): This position includes a skill - knowledge - ability or other worker characteristic basic to -and essential for- satisfactory performance of the job
• Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position
• Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration
• Evidence of the Selective Placement Factor must be reflected in your resume
• The SPF for this position is: In addition to the English Language Proficiency - you must also be proficient in basic written and spoken Spanish in order to perform the duties of this position
• References: VA Regulations - specifically VA Handbook 5005/103 Part II Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Physical demands are generally minor - and the work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings
• There may be occasional light lifting/carrying (15 pounds or less) requirements to relocate boxed materials from one area to another - equipment and room set-up - and ambulation related to physical inspections of facilities
• The incumbent will be expected to successfully negotiate various functional requirements (i.e. - lifting - ambulating - reaching above their shoulder(s) - the use of hands or fingers - sitting - standing - repeated bending - using stairs or elevators - functional vision - clear speech - hearing - and emotional stability) and environmental factors (i.e. - working independently and at times closely with others - moving about the campus for appointments and/or meetings) for the position - with or without adaptive devices - technology - or reasonable accommodations that are more thoroughly evaluated in the current version of Certificate of Medical Examination - U.S. Office of Personnel Management Optional Form 178 (OF178)
• Use of fingers may be required to operate computers.

Duties

• The incumbent provides specialized recovery-oriented and evidenced-based psychotherapy within the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) to which is assigned to work with Veterans diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI) and severe emotional disturbances (SEO) who require extended mental health services to meet their recovery goals - to integrate into their communities of choice - and attain their full functional capability so they can live productive and satisfying lives
• Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Performs his/her clinical responsibilities independently but may seek consultation and/or peer supervision as needed
• Participates in screening appointments of veterans referred to the PRRC to determine if veterans are eligible per national standards
• Provides a full range of psycho diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care
• Provides direct patient contact including psychological assessment and treatment planning - individual psychotherapy/assessment sessions - family/caregiver stress therapy sessions
• Performs evaluations for patients with a variety of psychological disorders
• Provides psychological assessments and individual and group psychotherapy for patients in the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual and family psychotherapy - caregiver stress support and evidence-based treatments for chronic severe mental illness
• Responsible for a caseload of veterans which includes regular supportive individual/case management sessions and development of collaborative - individualized recovery plans
• The course of treatment is reflected in progress notes completed upon each significant contact with the client
• Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues
• May be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities
• Timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system - as appropriate
• Conduct weekly patient record reviews for compliance with CARF accreditation requirements
• Other duties as assign
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 7:30am to 4:00pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized 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 EDRP Authorized: If you have any questions or concerns - please contact the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at VISN8CCOE@va.gov.