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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. 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: Must be proficient in both spoken and written English. Education: Must possess one of the following: 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. OR 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. OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internship: In addition to one of the above, you must also meet the internship requirements to be found qualified for this position: 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.) 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: You must possess a current, permanent, full and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a state, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a territory of the United States. Exception. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the 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. You MUST upload a copy of your Psychology license to be considered for this position unless you meet the exception. 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: GS-13 (Full Performance Level) Requirements: Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, do you possess 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: 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: In addition, must demonstrate the following professional KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs: - Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. - Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives, and ability to devise ways to adapt work operations to new and changing programs, staffing, and budget requirements, etc. - Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. - Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. - Knowledge of, and ability to appropriately utilize, evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines and ability to guide staff in using these tools. - Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. - Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. 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-13 Physical Requirements: No special physical qualifications are required to perform the work. The work requires the ability to move around the office and facility. The work is performed in offices and meeting rooms. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019). ["The Clinical Psychologist serving as the Health Behavior Coordinator provides psychological services including diagnostic assessments such as pre-bariatric surgery evaluations and pretransplant surgery evaluations, psychotherapy (individual and group), risk assessments and treatment planning. Best practices, practice guidelines, and evidence-based treatment protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions. The Psychologist works closely with interdisciplinary teams across the Primary Care, Mental Health, Pharmacy, Sensory and Physical Rehabilitative Service and Specialty Care service lines. The Psychologist for whom this functional statement applies is assigned to the VA Maine Healthcare System, Togus Division within the Mental Health Service. The primary responsibility is providing direct patient care in both outpatient and inpatient settings. The primary focus will be in health psychology, with the ability to provide cross coverage for psychologists located in Primary Care Mental Health Integration and Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. There may also be consultation to the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) when needed. To serve as a consultant regarding the role and interaction of cognitive, personality, and psychological factors on various medical disorders. Health-specific assessments to include, but not limited to, pre-bariatric surgery psychological assessments, psychological clearance exams for organ transplants, and psychological clearance exams for antiviral therapies and other assessments. The Health Psychologist will participate in the monthly or weekly committee/team meetings for the surgical/treatment candidates and follow up with those candidates or coordinate their care as needed or required. Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients. Group and individual interventions for health-related problems to include, but not limited to, pain management, sleep behavior/hygiene, smoking cessation, weight management, diabetes care, etc. Assist the Spinal Cord Injury staff by providing psychological services to patients with spinal cord injuries. Among other things, this will include yearly follow-up exams for patients with spinal cord injuries, MS, and ALS. Provide patient education and support services to medical and mental health service lines. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Supervision and mentoring of psychology interns and postdoctoral fellows wanting experience in health psychology. Provides consultation to professional staff within the VA Maine Healthcare System and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt completion of clinical reminders. Program development and management of Health Psychology Program. The Health Psychologist will develop new and existing VHA health behavior programs, coordinate evaluations, and determine the efficacy of health promotion and disease prevention programs at the medical center. Serve as an active member of the Whole Health Steering Committee, MOVE! Committee, Health Promotion Disease Prevention Team, and other committees focused upon the promotion of preventive medicine and population health objectives as deemed appropriate. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: Ad Hoc Telework agreements may be assigned, based on performance. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statements #: 402-F05388 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is in the Excepted Service. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. This position is covered by a special rate. This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Selectee may be required to work at any VA Maine Healthcare System campus, as needed. May be required to attend conference at other facilities or other VA sites on occasion. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's."]

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