Career Center

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. Program 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

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT & will remain open until December 31 - 2024. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be October 10th - 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. *** 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:

• U.S Citizen: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• 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
• 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
• & 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 &/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program - which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 & 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internships: Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed & 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 & 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 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 &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
• NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard
• Licensure: Hold a full - current - & 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
• Grade Determinations: GS-11 Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12 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 - & Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of & ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations
• Ability to design & implement effective treatment strategies
• Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures
• Ability to conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects
• 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 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 - & Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of - & ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations
• Ability to provide professional advice & consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health
• Knowledge of clinical research literature
• Preferred Experience: Experience in Geriatrics and Palliative Care or Primary Care.
• Requires experience and autonomy caring for complex Veteran Populations
• Experience working with an interdisciplinary team
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 FEBRUARY 7 - 2018 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: This position requires potentially extended periods of continued walking - standing - & sitting.

Duties

• Clinical Responsibilities in HBPC: Provides screening - assessment - diagnosis - and treatment of depressive and anxiety- related disorders - as well as other Axis I conditions - with an emphasis on the application of time-limited - evidence-based approaches
• Assesses and provides treatments for subclinical symptoms of dysphoria and anxiety - adjustment difficulties - and excessive use or misuse of alcohol or other drugs
• Provides psychological prevention services to patients at significant risk for psychological problems
• Provides services to the families of veterans with dementia being served by HBPC - when such care is directly related to the overall treatment plan for the veteran and will allow better care for the veteran and allow the family to sustain the veteran in the home environment
• Provides clinical services in the homes of HBPC veterans - and when appropriate - through the use of telehealth and/or WC
• Provides screening for cognitive deficits to address specific functional questions or to determine if a referral for a complete neuropsychological evaluation or dementia assessment is needed
• Performs capacity/competency assessments when there are questions about a patient's ability to make medical decisions - perform other specific functions - or live independently
• Assesses patients' understanding of advanced directives and other forms of consent and assisting staff in determining how to present treatment options and other such material to patients in a format they can understand
• Provides individual and group interventions to support patients that are coping with feelings of grief and loss associated with disability and other life transitions
• Provides psycho-educational and supportive interventions - in conjunction with the veteran - for spouses - family members/caregivers - and others that are crucial to keeping the veteran at home
• Provides effective interventions with couples or families - when appropriate - to relieve relationship difficulties - provide support to caregivers of veterans with dementia or other significant frailty - and/or promote collaboration with the HBPC team - for the benefit of the veteran
• Facilitates transition and adjustment to new living situations (e.g. - nursing home - assisted living facility) - and providing seamless intervention services - as appropriate
• Provides behavioral medicine interventions to manage pain - disability - address sleep problems - facilitate weight loss - promote smoking cessation - and enhance medical compliance
• Promotes communication/interactions between medical team members - patients - and their families to facilitate the medical treatment process
• Participates as a provider in the On Call system - responding to consultation in the Emergency Department and all other hospital wards - facilities admission to inpatient mental health unit - conducts treatment rounds on inpatient unit on weekends - evenings - and holidays
• Administrative Responsibilities: Completes all mandatory training requirements expected of Grand Junction VHC employees
• Assists the HBPC Program Manager or coordinator in the design - development - and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers
• Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team - established by the affiliated Associate Director of Patient Care Services and/or Chief of Mental Health Service
• Assists the HBPC Program Manager or coordinator in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs to effectively coordinate services
• Complies with national and local performance measures and clinical reminders - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients
• Complies with all electronic medical record (EMR) documentation procedures - including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g. - entering diagnostic and procedure codes)
• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the HBPC Manager - Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care Service - Section Chief of the Psychotherapy and Psychosocial Services - Chief of Mental Health Service - Chief of Staff and Facility Director
• Attends weekly HBPC and Psychotherapy and Psychosocial Service staff meetings and complies with Mental Health Service peer review procedures - and ongoing professional practice evaluations
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am- 430pm Compressed/Flexible: May be Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54187-O - 54188-O - 54189-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Jillana.Martinez@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized