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. 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. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English 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. 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 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. NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship. [Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards. OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature AND Internships: 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. 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). Grade Determinations: Psychologist GS 13: Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level to include experience diagnosing mental disorders, conducting psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treating mental disorders through a variety of modalities, providing adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may also include research. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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. Preferred Experience: Knowledge of psychological tests, interview strategies, behavioral observation and other assessments tools as appropriate to derive sound assessment and case conceptualization as well as diagnostic impressions. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 PART II APPENDIX G18 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 13 . The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["The VA Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) program provides comprehensive, interdisciplinary primary care services in the homes of veterans with complex and chronic, disabling disease. In addition to primary care interventions, HBPC provides palliative care, rehabilitation, disease management, and care coordination services. HBPC targets veterans in advanced stages of chronic disease, particularly those at high risk of recurrent hospitalization or nursing home placement. The psychologist will be assigned to Behavioral Health & Rehabilitative Services at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, WV and will be responsible for Home Based Primary Care (HBPC). Clinical work with patients for this position involves driving to the patients' homes for face-to-face home visits. This position is eligible for a compressed work week and can be up to 95% tele-work (working off-site from the VAMC); however, there is office space available for use. The psychologist will be expected to attend a weekly, on-site, interdisciplinary team meeting. The psychologist has the opportunity to work from home when completing documentation, phone calls, and case management. Knowledge of personal and other's safety, violence in the home, infection control, HIPPA, and use of technology such as laptop computers and cell phone is required. The psychologist will be provided with a government owned vehicle (GOV) to be used strictly for HBPC duties. In this environment, the psychologist will be a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team with responsibility for assessment, therapeutic intervention, case management training, education, and administration. The psychologist must be willing to travel throughout the catchment area to provide patient care. The position requires knowledge of psychological tests, interview strategies, behavioral observation, and other assessment tools as appropriate to derive sound assessment and case conceptualization as well as diagnostic impressions. The psychologist will provide screening for cognitive deficits to address specific functional questions or to determine if a referral for a complete neuropsychological evaluation or dementia assessment is needed. The position requires the psychologist to perform capacity/competency assessments when there are questions about a patient's ability to make medical decisions, perform other specific functions, or live independently. Some duties include, but are not limited to: Ability to diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments Ability to treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Practice is under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center, as appropriate. May present outcome data and research at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings, as appropriate. Assists in preparation of RFPs and grant proposals, as assigned. Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces. Represents Psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System. Actively participates in leadership roles on local, state, and national professional organizations. Represents the Medical Center at professional/program community group/events and committees. Work Schedule: Full Time. Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Available / Flexible schedule is offered as well. Four (10s) or 9 hours shifts. Travel coverage - Braxton, Upshur, Barbour, Randolph, Harrison County Functional Statement #: 0000 EDRP Authorized: Contact Corey Hickman, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.