Staff Psychologist

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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.

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy

Education: 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 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: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program

(b) 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

OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature

AND Internship: (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 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

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

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: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level)Experience

None beyond the basic requirements

Staff Psychologist - 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: 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 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: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

All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package

We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications

Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification

It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package

References: VA Handbook 5005/103 Part II Appendix G18The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11 to GS-13

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position

Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

Psychologists engage in professional and scientific work relevant to behavior - capacities - personality - interests - emotions - and mental disorders

This work may include any of the following: providing professional clinical services - conducting research - carrying out education and training activities - carrying out program evaluation activities - clinical consultation - supervision - and administration

They may be assigned to any program area

Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist

The Staff Psychologist diagnoses mental disorders and provides psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments or patients

They treat patients with mental or behavioral health disorders through a variety of modalities

Staff Psychologists are responsible for care coordination - case management - evidence-based psychotherapies and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies as needed by the Veteran and determined by a treatment plan

They provide a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to patients

Designs and implements effective treatment strategies and incorporate new clinical knowledge and clinical procedures when needed

At the full performance level for staff psychologists - psychologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services - consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate

They may be assigned to any VHA program and setting - such as inpatient or outpatient medicine - primary care - surgery - mental health - neurology - rehabilitation medicine - geriatrics

Psychologists diagnose mental disorders - conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments - treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities - and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders

Among the modalities provided are individual - family - and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions

Psychologists consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues

Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation - teaching - training - and research activities

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm or as determined by supervisor EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive

Contact v21ccoedrp@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Learn more

#J-18808-Ljbffr