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. 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: 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 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); 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. 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). Grade Determinations: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level): Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist. GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level): Experience. At least one (1) 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. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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. GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level): Experience. At least two (2) years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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, 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. 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. ["**This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred upon the hiring manager's requests. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as this announcement can close before 9/29/2023, if a selection is made.** Major duties and responsibilities include: Clinical Responsibilities: Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual, family, and group grief, end-of-life, and adjustment counseling and psychotherapy, and behavioral interventions within the Geriatric/Extended Care, Hospice/Palliative Care Program setting. Performs evaluations for veterans served by the Hospice/Palliative Care Program, which may include: psychological, behavioral, decisional capacity, cognitive, neuropsychological, and guardianship evaluations, as well as Statements of Expert Evaluation for the Probate Court. Consults with Geriatric/Extended Care Unit staff on a wide variety of patient care issues related to Hospice/Palliative Care, Community Living Center (i.e. Nursing Home), Rehabilitation, and Geriatric patients. Administration: Planning/Organization - Completes special tasks, reports, and service committee assignments within specified due dates. Policy Compliance - Exhibits compliance with Medical Center and Mental Health Service policies (e.g., respecting duty hours, safeguarding supplies and equipment, attending staff meetings punctually, etc.). Maintenance of Communication - Informs treatment teams with whom the psychologist works (i.e. BHIP, PC-MHI, CBOC, MH Specialty Programs, CLC, etc.) regarding the availability, coverage, limits of competence, and professional issues affecting the delivery of psychologist services to these teams. Research/Quality Management - participates in quality management activates of the Medical Center and/or research projects approved by the Institutional Review Board. Academic/Teaching/Training: Interdisciplinary Training - Solicits or, when requested, assists other hospital services in training within areas appropriate to psychological knowledge and skills. Actively participates in the Psychology Training Committee meetings. Psychology training: Actively participates supervision of pre-doctoral, post-doctoral, and practicum Psychology trainees, and may participate in the supervision of trainees in other disciplines, including medical and psychiatric residents assigned to the MHS for rotations. May provide in-service and/or invited grand round presentations to the medical center staff. Administrative/Program Evaluation/Outcome Measurement/Research: Actively works to support program planning, outcome evaluation, and staff development activities; Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Service Chief (or designee) and facility Director. Attends regular Mental Health Service staff meetings, Medical Staff meetings, and complies with Mental Health Service peer review procedures. Supports the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements if/when these become required for the clinical performance measures or best practice guidelines, using a data-driven quality assurance process; Monitors and establishes procedures to contribute to the improvement of population outcomes for Medical Center patients. Participates in program-wide outcome evaluation studies. Other Significant Responsibilities: Represents Psychology/MHS on decision-making committees at this Medical Center or within VISN 10. Actively participates in leadership roles on local, state and/or national professional organizations specific to Psychology or MHS. Represents the Medical Center or VISN10 at professional programs and/or events, or on VA or community committees or work groups addressing Mental Health Service, or other areas of psychological practice, including where relevant to addressing issues of culturally competent services. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, or as determined by agency need Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91573-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact visn10hredrpslrp@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more"]
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.
