CAREER CENTER

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). NOTE: 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Preferred Experience: Two (2) or more years experience treating patients with Substance Use Disorders Two (2) or more years experience treating patients with complex mental health disorders/SMI Experience working in multidisciplinary teams Training in at least one evidence-based therapy for SUD (e.g. MI, MET, CBT-SUD) Training in at least one evidence-based therapy for PTSD (e.g. PE, CPT) Experience supervising health care trainees Grade Determinations: GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level): Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level): Experience. At least 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 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 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate 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. *Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed. Post-Doctoral Degree Fellowships. Postdoctoral fellowships or residencies are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice. Training as a fellow or resident is considered to be creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. References: VA Regulations, specifically 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. Physical Requirements: Light Lifting/Carrying under 15 pounds; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking/standing (up to 6 hours); repeated bending (15 minutes); climbing, legs only (1 hour); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic and shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability; Cognitive Stability. ["NOTE: This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is 12/5/2022. Additional applications will be referred as needed. This Staff Psychologist will be assigned to the Substance Use Disorder section in Behavioral Health Service. At the full performance level, the psychologist will evaluate, diagnose and treat the full range of psychiatric disorders using a variety of treatment modalities, including but not limited to individual, family, group psychotherapies, use of Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT), conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES 1.Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. 2.Performs psychological evaluations for Veterans with a range of psychiatric diagnoses and varying levels of cognitive functioning. 3.Conducts psychological, cognitive, and neuropsychological assessments as needed. 4.Provides psychoeducation to Veterans, family members, and/or caregivers. 5.Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions including individual, family, and group psychotherapy. 6.Provides consultation to professional staff within the El Paso VAHCS and to community providers concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for Veterans seen in the Behavioral Health Clinic. 7.Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of Veterans, including prompt completion of clinical reminders, case notes and psychological reports. 8.Functions independently as a member of the El Paso VAHCS Medical Staff with full clinical privileges. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and clinical documentation. 9.Provides crisis-intervention support as needed for urgent mental health walk-ins. ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES 1.Assists the program director or coordinator in the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers. 2.Assists the program director or coordinator in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program. 3.Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs to effectively coordinate services. 4.Compiles with national and local performance measures, including timely healthcare screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. 5.Compiles with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes). 6.Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Chief, Behavioral Health Service (or designee) and facility Director. 7.Attends regular staff meetings, Medical Staff meetings, and compiles with Psychology Service peer review procedures. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified individual. EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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