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The incumbent serves as a staff Psychologist providing psychological services to the Eastern Colorado Health Care System. The primary assignments are to Dementia Care Team at ECHCS. The incumbent will report to the Geropsychology/Neuropsychology Program Manager in the Behavioral Medicine, Acute and Residential Section of Mental Health Services. A Recruitment Incentive may be authorized to a highly qualified candidate. Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) may be approved. 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. NOTE: This applies to the past, current, and upcoming VA Health Professional Trainees (HPT) only. HPT is an individual appointed to a temporary position in one or more VHA medical facilities performing clinical or research training experiences to satisfy program or degree requirements or receiving VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. HPTs can be either VA-paid or Without Compensation (WOC).) 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 Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Education Requirement - You must 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. OR, have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully completed a 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 you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are am applying for; OR, have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internship Requirement - You must 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 fulltime, 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). NOTE: 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: Candidates must 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. 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).Experience: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following: GS-11 Grade: No additional experience beyond the basic requirement. GS-12 Grade: Minimum of 1 full year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the GS-11 level, and are able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities 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. GS-13 Grade: at least 2 addition years of experience, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level, as a professional psychologist that was obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post-doctoral psychology training program that demonstrates 1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and/or 2) a full, current and unrestricted license. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current psychology practice: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to a 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.*Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work involves the physical activities typically associated with mobile based mental health practice. The incumbent needs to have a valid driver's license. No extreme physical demands are needed. The work does require a high degree of patience and emotional control, due to the intrinsic nature of mental health practice. ["The focus of this position is on the provision of psychological and recovery services to Veterans in the Eastern Colorado Health Care System and VISN 19 Rocky Mountain Network. These veterans are typically between 18 and 110 years of age. This position requires the incumbent to possess or develop an understanding of the particular needs of these types of patients. Sensitivity to the special needs of all patients with respect to age, developmental requirements, and culturally related factors must be consistently achieved. The incumbent serves as a staff Psychologist providing psychological services to the Eastern Colorado Health Care System. The primary assignments are to Dementia Care Team at ECHCS. The Psychologist utilizes a comprehensive range of clinical expertise and knowledge of psychotherapeutic modalities and psychological assessment to provide the optimum assessment and therapeutic intervention for each person served. They have a base knowledge of medical conditions that affect psychological functioning and the aging. Conducts biopsychosocial assessments related to consult with consideration of the 4Ms (Mentation, Mobility, What Matters, and Medication) referral questions from the external referral agents. Provides practical recommendations to the Veteran, Veteran's care partners and Veteran's care team related to the Veterans dementia symptoms and grounded in the Veterans values/goals. Consults and assists ECHCS providers in assessments related to determining complex medical / living decision making capacity. Performs dementia-focused cognitive evaluations to assist the Veteran and Caregivers in understanding the Veterans symptoms and directing appropriate dementia informed care. Provides brief cognitive rehabilitation services focused on the implications for a veteran's every day, real-world function. Provides caregiver coaching and psychoeducation related to neurogenerative diseases. Provides Behavioral consultation to fellow ECHCS staff interacting with Veterans with Dementia regarding how to optimize Veteran engagement and customer service to Veterans and their loved ones. Works closely with the Dementia Care interdisciplinary team to achieve patient outcome goals. The incumbent will report to the Geropsychology/Neuropsychology Program Manager in the Behavioral Medicine, Acute and Residential Section of Mental Health Services. Incumbent must meet the needs of customers while supporting VA Missions; consistently communicate and treat customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA Staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner; provide customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures; and handle conflict and problems in dealing with customers constructively and appropriately.Incumbent must protect printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provision of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, VA statutes and policy; protect the data from unauthorized release or from loss; alteration, or unauthorized deletion; follow applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in the computer access agreement signed by the incumbent. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00AM to 4:30PM Telework: Ad Hoc ONLY Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 554-58289-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact VHAVISN23EDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. 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"]

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