The incumbent serves as a fully qualified psychologist in the Mental Health and Behavioral Science Service. The incumbent has primary assignment in the support of behavioral health services in the outpatient Mental Health Clinic and serves as a key member of the Behavioral Health Integrated Program (BHIP) team. The outpatient Mental Health Clinic is one of the functional units providing psychological services to the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center/Eastern Colorado Health Care System. 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. Education: Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (AP A), 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. 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, AP A 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). Internships: Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by AP A or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. 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. 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). All persons employed in VHA as a psychologist on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education (i.e., degree and internship requirements) and licensure/certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Employees grandfathered under this provision for this revision may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions or beyond the assignment currently held for those being grandfathered to assignments above FPL. Psychologists who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Psychologists initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. [NOTE: If psychologists who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.] 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, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). 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, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 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: The work involves the physical activities typically associated with office-based mental health practice. No extreme physical demands are needed. The work does require a high degree of patience and emotional control, due to the intrinsic nature of mental health practice. ["Staff Psychologists diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological and/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. Staff psychologist offer Evidence Based Treatments and serve as an integral member of the Behavioral Health Integrated Program (BHIP) team. They consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. This position is assigned to either the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic in the P.F.C. Floyd K. Lindstrom Community Based Outpatient Clinic or the Aurora Community Based Outpatient Clinic of the affiliated Eastern Colorado Health Care System. Performs evaluations for patient conditions that include depression, anxiety, substance abuse and general emotional and cognitive functioning. - The assessment and care provided accommodate to the cognitive, emotional, chronological maturation, and diversity needs of the person served. - Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions with a strong emphasis on evidence-based models of care in the outpatient mental health setting. - Conducts assessment appropriate to individual patient with attention to on the implications of test results for a veteran's every-day, real-world function and successful treatment/management of health problems with an emphasis on behavioral health factors associated with improved quality of life. - Provides group, individual, and family psychotherapy and counseling to veterans and family members as indicated through assessment process. - Provides psychoeducation to patients and family members to support healthcare adherence and relapse prevention. - Works with assigned Mental Health Clinic team and Behavioral Health Integrated Program (BHIP) team to support optimum clinical care. - Consults and coordinates with community providers following HIPPA practices to support psychosocial recovery of the person served. - Provides clinical supervision to pre-doctoral practicum students in clinical/counseling psychology, pre-doctoral interns in clinical psychology, and post-doctoral fellows in clinical psychology.- Supports activities of Psychology Training Program and participates in relevant educational seminars. - Participates in improvement of clinical supervision skills with emphasis on Evidence Based Practice models. - Provides training and guidance to other behavioral health staff. - Takes on program development tasks as assigned. Participates in planning of measurement, gathering and analysis of outcome data to guide program evaluation and development. - Implements program design and assists in clinical management of program staff as assigned.- Assumes responsibility for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation. - Maintains ongoing scholarly and self-education activities. - Participates in research with relevant populations as opportunities arise. - Participates in psychology peer review.- May serve as faculty at local or other system-wide education and training conferences. - May serve as primary investigator on research projects. - Works with local APA-accredited psychology programs to facilitate dissertation research in the areas of psychosocial recovery and improved quality of life for individuals who have mental health challenges. - Serves on committees as assigned. The Staff Psychologist meets 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 in dealing with customers constructively and appropriately. The Staff Psychologist protects 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. Work Schedule: 8:00 am to 04:30pm. Telework: Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54106-O, 54107-O, 54108-O. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required."]

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