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 Service 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: Must be a U.S. Citizen
• 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
• 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 - (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~ (4) 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 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
• (1) 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
• (2) Loss of Credential
• A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists
• 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)
• 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
• GS-12 Experience 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the above experience - the candidate must demonstrate 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 13
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: Total Reward$ | VA Careers This position is located at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center - 820 S Damen Ave. - Chicago - IL
• The VISN 12 Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) Couples Psychotherapy and General Mental Health Psychology position is a VISN-based position located in VISN 12
• A Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) is a repository of clinical and administrative staff that serve Veterans Affairs facilities within a Veterans Integrated System Network (VISN) and throughout VHA
• Staff within the CRH are expected to provide interprofessional services to VISN 12 facilities and other requesting VHA facilities that are underserved or experiencing gaps in clinicians due to the inability to match provider supply with demand or gap in access to a specialty service at that facility
• Services provided by CRH Mental Health staff are conducted via multiple modalities: Veteran Video Connect (VVC) - Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT) - and phone
• As part of a BHIP or other general or specialty outpatient - residential - or inpatient Mental Health team - the incumbent attends spoke site and hub interdisciplinary team meetings - consults with the Veteran clinical care team and stakeholders - conducts mental health assessments and treatment plans - and provides psychotherapy to individuals - families - couples - and groups to treat a variety of mental health diagnoses and disorders
• Incumbent works closely with the BHIP - Substance Abuse Treatment Program - PTSD program - OEF/OIF - and other Behavioral Health services to ensure a seamless transition to appropriate services for Veterans
• Incumbent provides crisis intervention as needed
• Specialty services may also be offered across spoke sites served by V12 CRH
• This position will specifically provide at least 50% of their clinical care provision in couples psychotherapy services
• The emphasis of V12 CRH psychotherapy treatment is the utilization of evidence-based psychotherapy (EBP) and measurement-based care (MBC) practices
• Services provided by CRH Mental Health staff are conducted via multiple modalities - Veteran Video Connect (VVC) - Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT) - and phone
• Major Duties: Maintains a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and/or their families
• Independently works with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems
• Completes thorough psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families
• Utilize this assessment in facilitating the Veteran's maximum use of treatment to attain the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable
• Participates as a member of a BHIP treatment team and actively participates through collaboration with Veterans and families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members - including but not limited to Psychiatrists - Nurse Practitioners - Psychologists - Social Workers - RNs - Peer Support Specialists and Administrative Support staff - in the development and implementation of a treatment plan
• Possesses a working knowledge and experience in the use of mental health and substance abuse diagnoses and treatment procedures - including acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses
• Facilitates discharge planning through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate discharge plans are executed on time
• Possesses knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities and provide counseling and/or supportive groups for Veterans and families
• Consults and educates Veterans and their families regarding community resources - VA benefits - specialty programs - and advance directives
• This includes the incumbent's knowledge of the process for accessing and/or coordinating community-based services - including information and referrals for additional services from other VA programs - other government programs - and community programs
• Must provide emergency/crisis intervention services to outpatients experiencing acute psychological crises - helping to stabilize these individuals - assisting in the referral arrangements for transfer to a psychiatric facility for inpatient care if necessary - and providing follow-up care
• Must possess and demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively - both orally and in writing - with people from diverse backgrounds
• Perform duties assigned
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Monday through Friday
• 8:00am to 4:30pm
• Day Tour Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required