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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. 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: (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. 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, (2) 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, (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND (4) 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 (pre 1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement; (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. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) 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. (COPY of LICENSE IS REQIRED) Board Certification. Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates 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, this would include: 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. 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. Assignment. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. At this level, psychologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Preferred Experience: Preferred experience in treating co-occurring substance use disorders and PTSD and training in evidence based therapies for both PTSD and substance use disorders. References: VA Handbook 5005/103 PART II Appendix G18 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary, with Light lifting, under 15 pounds, light carrying, under 15 pounds, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking, standing, hearing (aid permitted) and Emotional/Mental Stability. ["This full time position consists of a psychologist that participates in a full range of psychotherapeutic diagnostic and training activities under the supervision of the Chief of Psychology. The SUD-PTSD specialist is to coordinate treatment planning and delivery of services that best meet the needs of patients diagnosed with co-occurring Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The coordination and provision of services for the two conditions should be based on patient needs as well as scientific research on optimal treatment. They are responsible for the provision of SUD services as part of the General Mental Health Clinic at the Louis A Johnson VAMC as well as delivery of evidence based psychotherapy for PTSD as part of the PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) and treatment of co-occurring PTSD/SUD in various clinical areas. This individual will perform assessment and evidence based individual and group psychotherapy for Veterans experiencing difficulty with substance use disorders, PTSD, and co-occurring SUD/PTSD. These services may include provision of therapy or assessment via telehealth equipment. The inclusion of family in the treatment process may occur when deemed appropriate. This individual will act as a specialist in the treatment of substance use disorders and PTSD as well as those dually diagnosed and will consult with peers in this area as needed. They may also function as part of or consultant to the suboxone team and PCT. They will participate in collaborative treatment planning and program development. The incumbent has knowledge of, and ability to apply, a wide range of professional psychological theories, evidence based therapies and assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. They provide a full range of evidence based therapeutic interventions in group and individual formats with an emphasis in services for Veterans experiencing substance abuse disorders, trauma related disorders, and co-occurring conditions. They develop comprehensive treatment plans. The psychologist has knowledge of the recovery model, and integrates it in the treatment of Veterans experiencing mental illness. They develop and document clear treatment goals that are thorough, include measurement based care, based in recovery, and utilize symptoms severity and intensity to inform treatment frequency. The incumbent develops and implements clinical procedures that balance clinical demand and therapeutic resources, resulting in successful meeting of performance measures and strives to continually improve clinical systems. They are responsible for timely completion of all clinical record keeping and documentation required by the Behavioral Health Service and Medical Center, as appropriate. The incumbent performs evaluations of Veterans with a variety of psychological, mood, substance abuse and personality disorders. The assessment is integrated it into an overall plan of care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members and significant others, whenever possible. The goal of the assessment is to determine the Veteran's treatment needs to address presenting symptoms and to highlight the Veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the effectiveness of these treatments. The assessment requires a structured diagnostic evaluation and integration of patient self-reported symptoms on relevant clinical measures. It is the responsibility of the incumbent, working within the interdisciplinary treatment team, to develop a treatment plan with the Veteran based on this assessment. Incumbent possesses the advanced practice skills to independently make a clinical mental health diagnosis and offer psychosocial interventions, and then measures outcomes to interventions. Evaluations are completed in a comprehensive and timely manner. Other Duties As Assigned. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact visn5edrpcoordinators@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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