CAREER CENTER

The incumbent of this position serves full-time (1.0 FTEE) as a psychologist in the Substance Treatment and Recovery Clinic (STAR)/Primary Care Mental integration (PCMHI). The primary duty location is the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System (OKCVAHCS) (635), Oklahoma City facility which may also include the CBOCs; some travel may be required as needed. 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. (1) 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. 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, APA 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). OR (2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the 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. 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. [Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards.] OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND (4) Internships (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 (pre1979) 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 (e) 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 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. 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. 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: 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. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. ["Conducts functional assessments, based on 30-minute appointments and will triage/refer to specialty care services as appropriate. Applies principals of population-based care (defines role and identifies problems rapidly).Uses brief assessments and measurement-based care routinely (e.g., BAM-R, PHQ-9, PCL, AUDIT C, etc.). Bases initial consultation appointment is on functional assessments and treatment focuses on functional outcomes. Maintains daily open access slots.Provides brief mental health and behavioral interventions (e.g., 1-5 sessions for broad range of concerns). Uses time-limited, evidence based, interventions that are simple and concrete. Uses self-management/home-based practice interventions. Uses intermittent visit strategy and flexible patient contact strategies. Triages appropriately and efficiently to specialty mental health services. Provides behavioral medicine interventions (including but not limited to stepped care level 2 tobacco cessation, alcohol misuse, weight management, and coping with chronic illness):Leads relevant group therapies or co-leads with other team members. Uses behavioral health principles and behavioral health intervention strategies to support patients in weight loss and other health concerns. Collaborates with other members of the multi-disciplinary STAR and Primary Care Teams and defers to their expertise on medical matters. Routinely consults with PCPs and other PACT team members about plan of care for patients. Conducts effective curbside consultations. Integrates within primary care team and works closely in collaboration with PACT team. Attends PACT meetings and daily huddles. Routinely provides feedback (verbal and/or written) to PCP and other PACT members same day as referral. Uses warm hand off strategy; provides education to PACT on BH issues as well as consultation on tips for successful care management and patient facilitation, even when no direct patient contact. Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and appropriate psychotherapeutic interventions to provide quality care for populations with possible or known substance use disorder-related impairment. Performs evaluations for psychiatric and substance use disorder patients. Provides a full range of therapeutic and evidence-based interventions for SUD and co[1]occurring mental health disorders. Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Reports to the appropriate Program Manager/Coordinator, who in turn reports to the Chief of Psychology, Chief of Psychiatry, or other Supervisory level Social Worker designated by the ACOS. If the Program Manager/Coordinator is of a different discipline other than Psychology, the incumbent reports to a senior psychologist designated by the Chief of Psychology or their designated representative for professional practice tracking purposes and clinical supervision. Work Schedule: Standard tour is between 8:00 a.m - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 54569O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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