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

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
• 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 the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• 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
• 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level): Education
• No 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: 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
• Staff Psychologist - 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: Knowledge of - and ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to a 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience working with individuals diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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 Handbook 5019

Duties

• VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major Duties include but are not limited to: Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses of mental disorders for Veterans referred to or enrolled in the Behavioral Health Clinic and BH specialty clinics
• Performs screening evaluations - intake evaluations - comprehensive diagnostic assessment of addictive behaviors and initial treatment planning for Veterans referred to the Substance Use Disorder Program
• Provides education to patients - family members - and significant others on substance use and other mental health disorders
• Assesses level of care needs (i.e. - detox - residential - outpatient) using ASAM guidelines - which includes completion of evaluations at the Urgent Care Center - via telephone calls into the clinic - and consultation with other BH staff
• Provides comprehensive - evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions - including individual - family - and/or group psychotherapy for treatment of substance abuse health disorders within the Substance Use Disorder Program - which may include facilitation of the Intensive Outpatient Program
• Monitors and supports Veterans who are seeking medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders Provides consultation to professional staff within Erie VAMC and to community providers concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients assigned to the Behavioral Health Clinic
• Develops - implements - and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients within the SUD Program including prompt completion of clinical reminders
• The treatment planning process involves cooperation and input from the Veterans and is recovery-focused with an emphasis on wants - needs - and goals as defined by the Veteran
• Functions independently as a member of the Erie VAMC Medical Staff with full clinical privileges
• Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings - patient care decisions - and documentation
• Completes suicide screenings - assessments - and safety plans in accordance with Joint Commission and VA guidelines
• As needed - completes psychological testing for which they has been trained and considered competent as requested by Behavioral Health and Medical Center staff
• May be responsible for completing Compensation and Pension examinations as well as other VA-required examinations
• Offers Veterans the option of receiving their treatment through telehealth technology - when clinically appropriate
• Orders - completes - and documents Point of Care Urine Drug Screenings
• Work Schedule: Monday - Thursday - 10:00am - 6:30pm and Friday 9:00am - 5:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhavisn04hredrp@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Telework: Available - Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.