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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. 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: 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. [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. NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard.] 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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: 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: -Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. -Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. -Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. -Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). -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 (Full Performance, Level)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: -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. 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 in the range of GS-11 to GS-13. Physical Requirements: The position is generally of a sedentary nature and involves activities normally associated with the counseling process and office work, including sitting for long periods of time. No unusual physical demands are placed on the incumbent. The work requires extreme patience and control of emotions in a multi-disciplinary work setting. Must have an active, unrestricted Driver's License and ability to use a VA vehicle as services may be provided at Community Based Outpatient Clinics. ["Clinical Responsibilities (100% of time): 1. Provides a full range of psychological or diagnostic assessment services for those with potential substance use disorders and concurrent mental health disorders. 2. Provides SUD related education to patients, family members, and significant others. 3. Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions (e.g., CPT, PE, MET, CBT-SUD, BCT). 4. Provides consultation to professional staff within the ECHCS and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients diagnosed with SUD and concurrent mental health disorders. 5. Develops, implements and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients diagnosed with co-occurring SUD and mental health disorders, including prompt completion of clinical reminders. 6. Consistently utilizes systematic treatment response monitoring (e.g., BAM, PCL) for purposes of continuously evaluating treatment effectiveness for patients. 7. Functions independently as a member of the ECHCS Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. Administrative Responsibilities/Performance Improvement or Satisfaction (Part of clinical time): 1. Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. 2. Complies with all national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. 3. Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings (e.g. EBP Steering Committee, Recovery Workgroup). 4. Attends regular Psychology staff meetings, Medical Staff meetings and complies with the MHS peer review procedures. 5. As a staff member, contributes to performance improvement activities within the Substance Use Disorders Clinic. Teaching and Training (Part of clinical time): 1. Develops and/or coordinates training rotations within the psychology intern, psychology postdoc training programs. 2. Provides clinical supervision and instruction for psychology interns, psychology practicum students, and postdoctoral residents. 3. Provides training to staff thru didactic presentations including psychology, social work, psychiatry, and other disciplines. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: May be available with approval from supervisor and Service. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified applicant EDRP Authorized: Contact Jeffrey Young, jeffrey.young9@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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