Psychologist (PTSD/SUD)

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
• 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
• Education: 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 complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the 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
• (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.....OR..
• Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND Internship: 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: 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
• 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: GS-13 Staff Psychologist (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 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13
• Physical Requirements: Needs to be moblie in that the job requires: sitting - walking standing - and bending.

Duties

• Staff Psychologist - PTSD/SUD The incumbent will specifically address the complex needs of veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and co-morbid Substance Use Disorders
• It is expected that the incumbent will successfully coordinate service delivery with the PTSD Program Director - Substance Use Treatment Program Coordinator - the Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Coordinator - and the Returning OEF/OIF Combat Veterans Clinical Coordinator
• The psychologist applies advanced strategies to a full range of patient problems in his/her work setting
• He/she has advanced knowledge of culturally sensitive psychological assessment techniques - diagnosis - intervention - and behavioral health that qualifies him/her to provide advice and consultation to professionals representing a variety of disciplines
• The incumbent is also required to exercise judgment in the selection of or adaptation of standard and accepted psychological theories - techniques - and practices in treating patients or developing new techniques and programs for the treatment of clinical populations
• A
• Clinical Responsibilities (70% of time) Independently provides specialized psychological services at all levels of complexity for patients with substance use disorders and 2 PTSD - with service delivery to include intake evaluation - diagnostic assessments - psychotherapy - and patient education
• Performs clinically indicated evaluations for outpatient and inpatient populations
• Forensic evaluations are generally not required with the exception of Compensation & Pension (C&P) examinations requested as part of the determination of service-connected disability ratings and related VA functions
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual therapy - couples therapy - group therapy - and psychoeducation classes
• Best practices - practice guidelines - and evidence-based treatment protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions
• Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care -making capacity regarding health care
• Develops person-centered - culturally sensitive treatment plans to address mental health needs of patients
• Conducts evaluations to aid in the differential diagnosis of complex cases
• Complies with national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients
• Administrative Responsibilities (10% of time) Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Chief of Service - Chief of Staff - and Director (or duly appointed designees)
• Attends monthly Psychology Service staff meetings and complies with Psychology Service peer review procedures
• Completes assigned Performance Improvement activities at the program - service line - and medical center level Case Management Responsibilities (10% of time) Timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system as appropriate Respond to patients' requests for release of records
• return telephone calls
• link patients to services' and make appropriate referrals as needed in a timely fashion
• VA Careers - Psychologist: Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 8:00am--4:30pm - Monday - Friday Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Authorized
• Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Monique Head ([email protected]) - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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