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
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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

• Staff Psychologists diagnose mental disorders - conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments - treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders
• Among the modalities provided are individual - family - and group psychotherapies - and other interventions such as biofeedback - psychological hypnosis - and environmental interventions
• They consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues
• Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities
• The psychologist applies advanced professional psychological diagnostic methods and evidence-based intervention strategies to a full range of patient problems in his/her work setting
• S/he has advanced knowledge of psychological diagnosis - intervention - and behavioral health that qualifies him/her to provide advice and consultation to professionals representing a variety of disciplines
• The primary job functions of psychologists at this level include the provision of direct psychological patient care - consultation services on difficult or complex cases - and education of staff and trainee supervision
• However - some psychologists functioning at this level also have research obligations - associated with a university faculty appointment - collateral supervisory responsibilities - and limited administrative/managerial duties
• Additional Duties include but not limited to: Provides full range of psychological services including neuropsychological assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care
• Performs comprehensive risk assessments and safety planning as needed - incorporating risk and protective factors - supports - and coping skills
• Performs psychological/neuropsychological assessments as needed
• Assessments can include a variety of neuropsychological - psychological - and neurological disorders including dementia - stroke - ADHD - mood disorders - and personality disorders
• Ability to appropriately consult with and refer to other disciplines for treatment outside purview and expertise of professional psychologist/neuropsychologist
• Complies with CPRS documentation procedures - including timeliness standards for documentation - encounters - and clinical reminders in a timely manner and according to MH&BSS and WPB VA HCS policies
• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Suicide Prevention Program Manager - Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service Chief - Chief of Psychology Section - and the Chief of Staff
• All other duties as assigned by Chief or Designee Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm - Monday - Friday Telework: Ad-Hoc/Situational Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 41855F - 41870F - & 40004F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN8 Compensation Center of Excellence at VISN8CCOE@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• 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) VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9XckTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional