Summary

The incumbent serves as Psychology Executive with broad program management responsibility for the professional practice of psychologists in the healthcare system - with responsibilities related to hiring - credentialing - professional practice - unlicensed supervision - and training programs. In addition - the incumbent supervises programs to include the PTSD Clinical Team - Health Psychology - Neuropsychology - Geropsychology - and other programs.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• 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
• Licensure
• Applicants 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
• 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 applicants are 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
• 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
• AND Internships
• Applicants 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 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 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
• Preferred Experience: Experienced in Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program preferred
• GS-14 Grade Determination: At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following knowledge - skills - and abilities: Ability to organize work - set priorities - delegate tasks - and meet deadlines
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately 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
• Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives
• 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
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program
• Assignment
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - and variety - and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Psychologist program managers have broad program management responsibilities for a specific program or programs that are designed 10 to deliver specialized - complex - highly professional services that are important program components of the facility and that significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans
• Programs include but are not limited to addiction - posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - mental health intensive case management (MHICM) - mental health compensation and pension examination (C&P) programs - Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers - inpatient mental health - residential rehabilitation - domiciliary - palliative care - neuropsychology - and internship and postdoctoral fellowship training programs
• management of an off- campus site
• psychology program oversight and coordination throughout the facility and its affiliated clinics as a psychology executive - typically at lower complexity facilities
• Decisions made by the Program Manager affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment
• The type of program managed and scope of responsibility are critical aspects of the assignment at this level
• Responsibilities include operation and management of key clinical - training - research - or administrative programs to include full responsibility for managing the day to day activities of those programs
• Responsibility may include supervision of staff but is not required
• Psychologist Program Managers are responsible for strategic planning to ensure the provision of high quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans being served and planning - and developing and implementing short- and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the program's strategic plan
• They have oversight of administrative and programmatic resources and deploy those resources in support of the program needs
• They develop and implement programs - policies - and procedures to meet program goals - VHA policy and external accreditation requirements - and monitor outcomes using data-driven quality assurance processes - and implement strategies for improvement based on data analysis
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work requires standing - walking - bending - pushing - and lifting (moderately heavy)
• Capable of prolonged standing/walking and be physically capable of pushing equipment - wheelchairs - and patient stretcher.

Duties

• VA Careers - Clinical Psychologist: www.youtube.com/watch?v=77qHlLw9Xck Duties include but are not limited to: Administrative (Program Management) Responsibilities (30-40% of time) Serves as subject matter expert on a wide range of matters pertaining to the discipline of psychology within the healthcare system
• Coordinates credentialing for the discipline of psychology - to include OPPE - FPPE - and related actions
• Collaborates with hiring managers throughout the system on recruitment and hiring of psychologists and psychology technicians
• Roles fulfilled may include - but are not limited to - ensuring fidelity of functional statements with national qualification standards - coordinating recruitment/retention incentives - advertising open positions - reviewing applications - organizing interview committees - leading interviews - and selecting candidates
• Works closely with Directors of Training for Psychology to ensure successful execution of the facility psychology training programs - accreditations - and academic affiliations
• Coordinates with Education Department to oversee professional development and continuing education offerings for psychologists
• Offerings may include - but are not limited to - organizing trainings on specific clinical techniques
• clinical supervision
• and research activities such as grant and manuscript development
• Administrative (Supervisory) Responsibilities (40-50% of time) Coordinates interdisciplinary staffing - work assignments - budget - and treatment services
• Assigns - directs - and reviews the work of assigned staff to include - but not limited to - the following: PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) - Health Psychology - Neuropsychology - Geropsychology - and other programs as assigned
• Initiates action for selections - promotions - status changes - awards - disciplinary actions - and separations
• Plans - schedules - and coordinates work and solves problems related to the work
• Responsible for program needs such as material - equipment - and facilities needed to complete work
• Explains and gains the support of employees for developing - implementing and managing policies and establishing goals - in addition to working to achieve the objectives of government-wide personnel programs and policies
• Deals effectively with employees and union representatives on employee suggestions - complaints - grievances - and other matters involved in the day-to-day administration of the labor management agreement
• Advises leadership on the establishment of program goals - priorities - and major work schedules - develops short/long-rang staffing and equipment requirements
• Responsible for analyzing and evaluating professional and technical competency of staff assigned to the program
• Incumbent is accountable for planning and providing staff development and training to address identified deficiencies and to maintain and enhance skills - as well as recommending staff training needs to the Education Committee
• Clinical Responsibilities (5-10% of time) Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care
• Provides brief psychosocial interventions within an integrated primary care setting
• Psychological/Diagnostic Assessment - conducting diagnostic clinical interviews resulting in DSM-V Diagnosis
• Consults with clinical staff on a wide variety of patient care issues
• Conducts treatment planning and referrals to various programs within Mental Health Service and provision of return appointments for follow-up
• Conducts psychotherapy to include time-limited and limited - longer-term supportive psychotherapy
• Academic/Teaching/Training: (0%-5% of time) Participate in training committee and related training functions
• Provides training and guidance to pre-doctoral interns - post-doctoral fellows - psychology doctoral practicum students - and other allied health trainees
• Serves as a consultant to staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients
• Research/Program Evaluation (0%-2.5% of time) Psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research
• Continue program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance process
• Serves on process improvement workgroups within the healthcare system as assigned
• Assists in preparing RFPs and grant proposals as assigned
• Performs other program management duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4pm - Monday - Friday (Subject to change based upon the needs of the agency.) Telework: Available as determined by the agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN22HREducationReimbursementTeam@va.gov for questions/assistance
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized