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. 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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. 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. . OR (2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization 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-2 (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 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 (pre1979) 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. 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 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 Grandfathering Provision All persons employed in VHA as a psychologist on the effective date of this qualification standard (February 7, 2018) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education (i.e., degree and internship requirements) and licensure/certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist, GS-11 Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Staff Psychologist, GS-12 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: 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. Staff Psychologist, GS-13 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: 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. Preferred Experience: Familiarity with residential programing is preferred. Experience in working with PTSD, Substance Use Disorders, Co-occurring mental health disorders, and Serious Mental Illness. Able to work within an interdisciplinary team (medical providers, psychiatrists, nursing staff, case managers). References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 FEBRUARY 7, 2018 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 in the range of GS-11 to GS-13. Physical Requirements: This position provides direct services to patients and their families through psychological intervention. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing (aid permitted), clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. ["The MHRRTP Graduate Psychologist position is located within the Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, in the Sheridan VA Health Care System, at the Sheridan VA Medical Center in the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (MHRRTP). Graduate Psychologist has direct responsibility for the health & safety of Veterans in the Sheridan VA MHRRTP. The position includes the delivery of evidenced based psychosocial & environmental interventions for reducing behavioral & psychological symptoms. This programs delivers specialized, complex, highly professional services that are important program components of the Sheridan VA HCS & VISN 19's compendium of mental health services. As the tertiary mental health facility, this specialized program significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans both within & beyond VISN 19. Promote the delivery of evidenced based psychosocial & environmental interventions for reducing behavioral & psychological symptoms. Provide screening, assessment, diagnosis & treatment of depressive disorders, anxiety related disorders, & serious mental illness. Assess & provide treatments for subclinical symptoms of dysphoria & anxiety adjustment difficulties, & excessive use or misuse of alcohol or other drugs. Plan & conduct individual & group psychotherapy utilizing one or more Evidenced Based Psychotherapies. Develop a comprehensive treatment plan for a wide range of abnormal behaviors. Provide ongoing case management services & disposition planning. Provides screening of cognitive deficits to address specific functional questions or to determine if a completed neuropsychological evaluation or dementia assessment. Perform capacity/competency assessments when there are questions about a resident's ability to make medical decision, perform other specific functions, or live independently. Assess resident's understanding of advanced directives & other forms of consent & assisting staff in determining how to present treatment options & other such material to resident's in a format they can understand. Provide individual & group interventions to support residents mental health related needs, or adjustment to disability limitations, changes in medical status, adjustment to assistive living/nursing home environments, & other life transitions. Provide behavioral medicine interventions to manage & enhance medical compliance. Provide behavioral modification techniques for Veterans with disruptive behavior issues to promote wellbeing. Provide mental disorder examinations based on competent, critical, objective & unbiased information. Determine when clinical administered psychometric testing is necessary & integrate the results of such testing into the examination report. Contribute to the Mental Health Assessment & Referral Clinic. Provide educational leadership guidance & consultation to staff. Provide additional clinical supervision to various disciplines & levels of training, including trainees seeking licensure. Serve as a consultant to other medical center staff & trainees, particularly related to the geriatric treatment setting. Develop & provide in service education to bring an awareness to the Medical Center staff of the veterans' perceptions of their Medical Center experience. Consult colleagues & students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in specialty areas, rendering professional opinions based on experience & expertise & role modeling effective practice skills. Demonstrate the ability to teach & mentor staff & students in the special area of practice & to provide supervision for licensure or specialty certifications. Promote the transformation of the psychiatric unit of care to reflect home like & person centered principles by engaging in direct staff training in person centered interactions with residents, incorporating environmental modifications, & implementing processes & programs that promote resident autonomy, growth, & individuality. Promote communication & interactions between interdisciplinary team members, residents & their families to facilitate the treatment process. Identify the elements of clinical or administrative practices that contribute or create an atmosphere for customer dissatisfaction, & recommends changes that will reduce or eliminate justified complaints. Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting & documentation. Present outcome data & research at VA & regional or national scientific or professional meetings. Work Schedule: Mon Fri 7:30am 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51233A, 51234A, 51235A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact kim.romanchak@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized 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.
