Staff Psychologist (PCMHI)

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Candidates must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval—including award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years)—is determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after a complete review of the application. Qualifications United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program 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, “specialty area” refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body, 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 VHA job assignments 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 – 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) that meets 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. AND – 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; (b) New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable if such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time the individual was an intern; (c) VHA facilities that offered full‑time one‑year pre‑doctoral internships prior to PL 96‑151 (pre‑1979) are considered acceptable; (d) Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area consistent with the assignment; (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. 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 provides care only under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. 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 in this occupation). Grade requirements: GS‑11 – Entry Level: None beyond the basic requirements. GS‑12 – Developmental Level: At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS‑11). Experience is creditable only if it is post‑doctoral experience directly related to the duties performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding professional psychology experience at the next lower level. Post‑doctoral fellowships or residencies are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice and are creditable on a year‑for‑year basis. Demonstrated Knowledge‑Skills‑Abilities: 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; ability to perform basic research tasks within an established research team; and knowledge of clinical research literature. GS‑13 – Full Performance Level: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS‑12 grade level. Experience creditable only if it is post‑doctoral experience directly related to the duties performed. Post‑doctoral fellowships or residencies are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice and are creditable on a year‑for‑year basis. Physical requirements: The work is primarily sedentary in clinical and administrative settings; use of fingers may be required to operate computers; light lifting (15 lbs or less) to relocate boxed materials; ambulation related to physical inspections of the facilities. Duties Position located within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, VA Mid‑Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) and Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC). Assigned under the Primary Care Mental Health Integration Program (PCMHI) and Behavioral Health Laboratory (BHL) Hub, administratively aligned under the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service Line. Incumbent functions as part of multidisciplinary patient‑aligned care teams (PACTs), delivering brief, consultation‑based services to Veterans within the primary care service context. Functions as a full member of the PACT and associated specialty medical team(s), providing ongoing team consultation services to other PACT and medical team members to support their care of PACT patients. Clinical Responsibilities (80 %): Provide immediate access to clinical assessment and appropriate collaborative care and treatment for those experiencing mental health symptoms or behavioral health issues; practice collaborative stepped and measurement‑based care, including longitudinal follow‑up, to address common mental health and behavioral health conditions for the primary care population. Provide individual and group interventions to support patients coping with health psychology presentations such as sleep, pain, adherence to medical regimen, adjustment to illness, psychosocial stressors, grief, transition to civilian life, and mild‑moderate mental health presentations. Provide cognitive screenings to address specific functional and/or cognitive ability questions as indicated. Provide education to patients, family members, professional staff, and trainees. Engage families of Veterans in empirically supported treatment for caregiver burden when necessary. Academic/Teaching/Training (10 %): Provide consultation and training to Primary Care Service Line staff in identification and management of common mental and behavioral health disorders present in a primary care setting; develop programs with other staff to improve PCP's core behavioral health skills; participate in psychology training program and training committees as appropriate; prepare and teach seminars/workshops for Hampton VA trainees or staff on topics within area of competency. Program Evaluation/Research (5 %): Oversee establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within assigned programs, using a data‑driven quality assurance process; complete all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system; present outcome data and research results at medical center, VA, regional or national scientific or professional meetings. Other Significant Responsibilities (5 %): Serve on Medical Center or Healthcare System – VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces; represent psychology on decision‑making committees; actively participate in leadership roles on local, state, and national professional organizations; perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday 8:00 am–4:30 pm. Recruitment Incentive (Sign‑on Bonus): Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact: View email address on click.appcast.io – EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more: VA Qualification Standards. Pay: Competitive salary with regular salary increases. Paid Time Off: 37–50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays per year). Parental leave: after 12 months of employment – up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment – full‑time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25 % of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children, up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5 % contributions by VA Insurance. Federal Health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care: Many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement. Telework: Ad‑hoc as needed. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs