A staff psychologist in the Mental Health Service which is part of the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. This work is in providing Veteran patients psychological services involving assessment, treatment, consultation, and education. The VA Ann Arbor is a level 1B high complexity facility with a strong academic affiliate partner in the University of Michigan. BASIC REQUIREMENTS a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. b. 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. 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; 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. (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. c. 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. (1) 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 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. d. Board Certification (1) 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. e. English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005. GRADE REQUIREMENTS 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-11 (Entry Level) (a) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Staff Psychologist GS-12 (Developmental Level) (a) 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. (b) 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 (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. (b) 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/103, Psychologist Qualification Standard, Part II, Appendix G18 dated February 7, 2018. ["Psychologists in the VAAAHS enjoy a stimulating academic environment with a strong tradition of evidence-based practice, education, and research. All psychologists are invited to participate in our large education program. Psychologists are eligible for appointment at the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry. Psychologists work in the following areas:Available BHIP Psychologists work in an interprofessional team environment providing evaluation, therapy and assessment services to Veterans with a variety of mental health concerns including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, serious mental illness, relationship problems, anger, and stress management. Health Psychologists provide a variety of assessment and intervention services. Some have dedicated effort to a particular team (e.g., Pain, Oncology, Bariatrics, Sleep) while others offer individual and group therapy for adjustment to illness and health behavior changes (e.g., tobacco cessation, weight management, dietary changes, chronic pain, insomnia, cpap-desensitization). Home-based Primary Care Psychologists provide a variety of mental and behavioral health interventions, caregiver support, and assessment services to Veterans with significant health concerns requiring care in their homes. Neuropsychologists provide neuropsychological assessment in a primarily outpatient setting. Additionally, some providers provide care in the community living center and the geriatric clinic. PCMHI Psychologists provide brief interventions in the primary care setting for a wide variety of presenting issues. A key component of this model of care is being available to receive warm handoffs from the primary care team of Veterans who may be new to mental health services. PRRC Psychologists work in our Veteran's Empowerment and Recovery program (VEAR). Psychologists in this clinic serve a population of veterans with serious mental illness who identify functional goals supported by a Psychosocial Rehab and Recovery Team. The clinic provides a variety of promising and evidence-based interventions (e.g., social skills training, ending self-stigma) as well as skills related to daily living. PTSD Psychologists provide specialty assessment and therapy services to Veterans with PTSD. Interventions provided are evidence-based including Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy. SUD Psychologists provide assessment and a myriad of evidence-based interventions for substance use disorders including CBT for SUD, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and contingency management. Additionally, care is provided for comorbid condition using integrated treatments (e.g., behavioral couples therapy for SUD, Bright depression treatment for people with SUD). Recruitment Incentives: Authorized to qualified applicants Work Schedule: Monday-Friday TBD Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
