Psychologist

Psychologist

Summary

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.

Qualifications

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:

Citizenship
Be a citizen of the United States
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
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 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: 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
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 Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
AND 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
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
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
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
English Language Proficiency
Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3
GRADE REQUIREMENTS GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience
None beyond the basic requirements
GS-12 (Developmental Level) 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
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: A
Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations
B
Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies
C
Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures
D
Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties)
E
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 (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
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: A
Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations
B
Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health
C
Knowledge of clinical research literature
References: VA Handbook 5005/15 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-11 to GS-13
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

'Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to: Outpatient mental health services and crisis response to veterans with the full spectrum of mental health disorders including Serious Mental Illness, PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, other mental health diagnoses and substance use disorders.
The incumbent has working knowledge in the use of mental health diagnoses and basic medical terminology.
The incumbent works under the supervision of a clinical supervisor in the Mental Health Service Line.
Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a basic emotional, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills.
Work with more complex problems are done under close supervision.
With guidance from the social work supervisor, ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed.
Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and under supervision, ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals.
This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.
The incumbent is responsible to the Administrative Supervisor of the program area assigned but practices independently, exercising initiative and independent judgment in day-to-day activities.
Supervision/ consultation is of an administrative and professional nature; with the Administrative Supervisor providing guidelines as to the general policies and program direction.
In unusual and/or complex administrative and clinical problems, the incumbent initiates consultation with the Program Supervisor as well as with other authoritative resources at the Medical Center, such as the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health.
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 dealing with customers constructively and appropriately.
The primary age of patients treated and cared for are normally at the age level of 18 - 60 years of age or older.
The position requires the incumbent possess an understanding of the developmental needs of veterans based on age.
Sensitivity to the special needs of all veterans with respect to age, developmental requirements and culturally related factors must be consistently achieved.
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.
Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:53527-O, 53528-O, 53529-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required'