Job Seekers

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. 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. Learn more 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 Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. 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 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 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. 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). NOTE: 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Preferred Experience: Professional Modalities in Geriatric Testing. Evidence Base Treatment in Mental Health thorough all ages. Development, administer, and monitor appropriate treatment and strategies. Assessing clients behavior and needs via observation, interviews, and psychometric tests. Ability to drive and valid, active drivers license is required. Grade Determinations: GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level): Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level): Experience. At least 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. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. 2. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. 3. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. 4. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). 5. 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. GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level): Experience. At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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. *Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed. Post-Doctoral Degree Fellowships. Postdoctoral fellowships or residencies are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice. Training as a fellow or resident is considered to be creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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: Moderate Lifting/Carrying (15-44 pounds); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking/standing (up to 5 hours); kneeling (up to 2 hours); repeated bending (up to 5 hours); climbing, legs only (up to 2 hours); Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle; hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability; Cognitive Stability. ["The psychologist provides approximately 70 % (28 hours/week) direct patient care as a psychologist. The psychologist provides direct services to HBPC patients and/or selected treatment programs. The psychologist will establish and maintain therapeutic relationships and exercise professional judgment to provide treatment for HBPC Veterans. As a clinical care provider, the psychologist is a credentialed and privileged Licensed Independent Practitioner who functions as an essential member of the interdisciplinary HBPC treatment team and the GEC clinical team; provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care; performs evaluations for Veterans with medical and psychiatric disorders; provides a full range of specialized individual and group-based empirically supported psychological interventions drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization-Reprocessing (EMD-R), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and/or other evidence-based treatment approaches to HBPC patients and other GEC outpatients whose conditions indicate a need for the advanced skill and training of a licensed psychologist; reviews and translates psychological research into practical interventions for improved patient treatment outcomes; consults with Medical Center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues; assesses the need for referral for additional psychological services for HBPC patients and other GEC outpatients; coordinates with providers within HBPC and Primary Care Mental Health when other interventions such as psychiatric, medical or palliative care are required; is responsible for accurate, timely and appropriate completion of clinical patient care documentation such as Diagnostic Summaries, Treatment Plans, Progress Notes, Treatment Plan Reviews and Discharge Summaries. The psychologist engages in approximately 30 % (12 hours/week) non-direct activities, including research, intern supervision/training, and administrative services including participating in staff meetings, data management, and program development. The psychologist seeks to maintain relationships with staff that are conducive to a multidisciplinary approach to service delivery. As a scientist practitioner, the psychologist routinely searches literature relevant to psychology, psycho-geriatrics, psychiatric, medical and chronic disease conditions and their treatment. The psychologist may engage in activities both within and outside the facility that promote the conduct of independent, peer-reviewed, and/or funded research projects. He/she may function as a principal, co-principal, or collaborative investigator. The activities may include proposing investigations, coordinating their conduct, recruiting subjects, reviewing data, and submitting findings in publishable form. The psychologist will also be involved in HBPC Program development and evaluation activities as needed. The psychologist may also engage in the following extra-clinical enriching elements: provide clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training, including psychology interns, psychiatry residents, and other students/trainees; be involved in the Psychology Training Program and the Training Committee; serve as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees on a wide variety of patient care issues as needed; serve on the AVAHCS in leadership roles with local, state and national level professional organizations; represent the Medical Center at professional or HBPC program-related community events and committees. The work requires administrative knowledge of mental health, of inpatient, and outpatient settings and clinical knowledge as a psychologist. This includes a contemporary knowledge of behavioral science theories and practice including evidence based practices and techniques. The psychologist must possess the analytical ability to research, assemble, and compile information and data, evaluate the results against appropriate standards, and recommend corrective action where indicated. The psychologist must be proficient in behavioral research design and analysis, and knowledgeable regarding ethical practices in the conduct of human research. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 08:00am - 04:30pm or 07:30am - 04:00pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #:000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]