The Full Time Permanent Psychologist is located in the Mental Health Service Line providing outpatient behavioral medicine and health psychology services to Veterans with a wide range of medical problems and conditions. Duties include providing diagnostic interviews, psychological assessments, psychotherapy, family support services, and treatment coordination. 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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: 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 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. 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. OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND 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. 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, 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 (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). 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. References: VA handbook 5005 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 is a psychology position in which the incumbent provides mental health interventions in an office setting. The position requires verbal conversation, sitting for up to 2 hours at a time (therapy). Typing at a keyboard (computer work). Lifting materials such as manuals and books. ["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. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical Responsibilities: Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including psychological assessments, mental health evaluations and cognitive screening for a wide range of psychological and behavioral medicine issues for Veterans with acute and chronic medical conditions. Provides mental health evaluations for medical procedures including transplant, bariatric and cochlear implants, and other specific health related assessments. The incumbent will follow the VA nationally mandated Mental Health Assessment for transplantation, and interventions designed to enhance transplant candidacy. The incumbent will follow national and local performance measures for timely screening and documentation . Provides education and ensures Veterans and caregivers fully understand all aspects of the transplantation process including pre and posttransplant process, behavioral expectations, importance of adherence with all aspects of care, living a healthy lifestyle, communication effectively with their treatment team etc. Ensures that Veterans have the capacity to make decision to pursue transplantation or other medical interventions to follow medical regimen and making well informed decisions. Identifies risk factors that contribute to poor outcomes (e.g. active substance abuse, mental health and social instability, treatment nonadherence ) and provides the necessary treatment to address these issues. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions in medical clinics, medical inpatient units, primary care clinics and mental health clinics for referrals that include evidenced-based treatments for anxiety and depression, behavioral pain management strategies (including various relaxation strategies, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy), motivational enhancement interventions, couples/family interventions, tobacco cessation, weight management, psychoeducational interventions and crisis interventions, etc. Assists patient and family members with identifying and addressing life stressors that may impact the current course of treatment. Consults with medical center staff including the health and mental health issues specifically as well as wide variety of patient care issues. May be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Academic/Teaching/Training: May hold faculty appointment at affiliated university (i.e. University of Minnesota). May be involved in Psychology Training Program and Training Committee. May be involved in the training of psychology practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral residents. Provides leadership, guidance and consultation to staffs of units to which assigned. Research/Program Evaluation: Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. If applicable, plans and oversees the completion of personal research programs, designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches. May present outcome data and research results at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings. Other Significant Responsibilities: Serves on Medical Center and committees or task forces as assigned. Work Schedule: M-F: 8a - 4:30p Telework: Telework, if approved, will be on an Ad-Hoc basis only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact vhavisn23edrp@va.gov, 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.
