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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency 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)
• 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 the 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
• OR a past - current - or upcoming graduate of VHA Health Trainee Program
• 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)
• 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: 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
• Grade Determinations: Minimum Qualifications for GS-11 (Entry Level): Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment: Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders - conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments - treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities - provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders - and may conduct research
• They may be assigned to any program area
• Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist
• Minimum Qualifications for GS-12 (Developmental Level): 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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
• Minimum Qualifications for GS-13 (Full Performance Level): In additional to meeting the basic requirements - you must also have: 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 KSAs: 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
• 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 in the range of GS-11 to GS-13 Physical Requirements: Light lifting - under 15 lbs.
• Light carrying - under 15 lbs.
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking - Standing
• Both legs required
• Hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• This position is located in Mental Health Service - at the Charles George VAMC - in Asheville NC - under the direct clinical supervision of the Section Chief for the Psychologist's assigned unit
• The Psychologist will provide mental health care for Veterans including psychological assessments - individual and group therapy
• The Clinical Psychologist is responsible for the provision and delivery of a full range of psychological services provided to veteran patients at the Medical Center
• He/she performs the duties of a licensed clinical psychologist who is a full member of the medical staff with clinical privileges recommended by the Chief - Mental Health Service - the Professional Standards Board - Chief of Staff - and approved by the Medical Center Director
• Duties include but not limited to: The provider performs professional work describing human behavior - determining the reasons for that behavior and predicting and/or modifying the behavior
• He/she performs psychological assessment - evaluation and treatment of patients with problems of personality - emotional adjustment or mental illness
• The Clinical Psychologist performs psychotherapy with patients - either through individual sessions or through group therapy sessions and uses therapeutic techniques
• Through testing and clinical interviews and observation - the clinical psychologist assesses intelligence - behavior and personality variables
• He/she assists Medical Staff in differential diagnosis of functional and organic disorders
• The Clinical Psychologist provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served
• Assesses data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age-specific needs and to provide care needed as described in the services' policies and procedures
• The provider promotes - supervises or provides individual and group psychotherapy
• and may conduct psychotherapy in difficult - multifaceted cases
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Effectively uses the following clinical modalities as delineated in their privileges: Eclectic Supportive Behavior Modification - i.e. - Behavioral Rehearsal - relaxation training - assertiveness training - systematic sensitization - day treatment - etc
• Biofeedback Hypnosis Couples Family Sexual Dysfunction Evaluation and Disposition In addition - the Clinical Psychologist is accountable and responsible for possessing the knowledge and skills to: Communicate and interact appropriately and courteously with all internal and external customers
• Maintain confidentiality of electronic - written - and/or verbal patient/employee information
• Demonstrate working practice that include adherence to practice standards and the safe use and operation of equipment
• Have knowledge of Windows XP - CPRS - VISTA - and MS Office (Word - Excel - Outlook - and PowerPoint)
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8AM-4:30PM Telework: May be available on an Ad-hoc basis - once fully trained and performing at the level of at least Fully Successful
• at discretion of Supervisor
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Onnie \"David\" Green at onnie.green@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more