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. 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 respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization 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 (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. 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. (1) 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. 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. PSYCHOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0180 Veterans Health Administration The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 11 to 13. Physical Demands: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. ["The Staff Psychologist is responsible for the provision of the full range of psychological services provided by the psychologist independently and at the developmental level. The psychological services provided may be at the Northport VAMC or a CBOC. Duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical Responsibilities: 1. The provision of psychological and behavioral treatment interventions including group and individual psychotherapy sessions with inpatients and outpatients which may include any psychiatric, including chemical dependency/substance abuse disorders, and medical category using interventions selected from diverse areas of psychological theory and practice. For example, Psychologists demonstrate the ability to select, tailor and apply psychological interventions that may include but are not limited to the following: Evidence-based practice, directive, non-directive, supportive, and systemic approaches, behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, family/marital and psychoanalytic techniques. Psychologists evaluate the therapeutic situation and employ independent clinical judgment and skill in determining the specific techniques to be used. 2. Diagnose mental/psychiatric disorders. Psychologists conduct as appropriate psycho-diagnostic and personality evaluations of patients which may involve the most complex psychiatric, neuropsychological and/or emotional problems. Evaluations may include the administration and interpretation of psychological assessment tools and formal psychological/neuropsychological tests. 3. The presentation to other medical center staff of diagnostic impressions, personality descriptions and dynamic formulations to assist in final diagnosis, specific plans for treatment, changes in hospital disposition and suitable patient activities. 4. The independent development and maintenance of psychological treatment programs for both inpatients and outpatients. 5. The administration and coordination of treatment programs and multidisciplinary treatment teams as assigned. 6. The Psychologist is responsible for the soundness and validity of all professional recommendations, conclusions, written reports and services provided. 7. The Psychologist provides psychological consultation to professional and administrative staff on individual case problems and system/organizational issues related to the area of psychological functioning, behavioral problems and disruptive behavior, and behavioral health. Psychologists are expected to demonstrate high levels of interpersonal skill and utilize this skill in providing consultation to other medical center staff. 8. Psychologists provide the above clinical services under the supervision of a licensed psychologist and under the professional supervision of Chief, Psychology Service. He/she informs the supervising psychologist and the Chief of the status of programs and projects and seeks advice when appropriate from the Chief on matters of agency policy, practices and requirements. Academic/Teaching/Training: 1. At the GS-13 level, the Psychologist provides supervisory feedback, training and education to psychology fellows, interns and externs and participates in the functioning of the Psychology Service training program. The GS-12 level Psychologist does not act as the primary supervisor to any trainees. The Psychologist may participate in intra-facility training programs. Psychologists utilize both informal and formal methods to share psychological knowledge and clinical information to contribute to the ongoing professional education of various disciplines and clinical teams/treatment settings. 2. Provides consultation and training to non-Psychology staff in the service of enhancing treatment for veterans. This work is carried out through training programs and through case discussion. 3. Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff on issues related to Mental Health and Behavioral Health. Administrative/Program Evaluation/ Outcome Measurement/ Research: 1. Participates in program-wide outcome evaluation studies. 2. Psychologists, as appropriate to their position, participate in departmental research projects, planning and execution of original research projects subject to the approval of the Chief, Psychology Service and the Medial Center Research and Development Committee and related procedures. This includes formulation of hypotheses, planning of methodology and research design, accumulation of data, analysis and evaluation of data and the writing of research papers and reports. 3. May remains involved in research activities, especially as related to program evaluation responsibilities. 4. Provides administrative duties including: Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Position is telework eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21J46-F EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN2EDRPCoordinators@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more"]

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