Staff Psychologist

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. Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English. Education: 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. 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. 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 – 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment – the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Staff Psychologist – GS‑11 (Entry) Preferred Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. Staff Psychologist – GS‑12 (Developmental) 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) 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. Preferred Experience: Mental Health experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – see 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. Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf. The incumbent of this position serves as a Psychologist within the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System (OKC VA HCS) (635). This position diagnoses mental disorders – conducts psychological assessments – treats mental disorders through a variety of modalities – and provides adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Among the modalities provided are individual – family – and group psychotherapies – triage/crisis management – and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions. Psychologists consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Major Duties and Responsibilities Clinical Responsibilities: The following clinical activities are performed under the close supervision of a licensed Psychologist unless the person holds 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. Diagnoses mental disorders. Treats mental disorders with a wide range of patients using a variety of modalities – including: individual – family and group psychotherapy – triage/crisis management – and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions. Conducts psychological assessments. Conducts initial intakes / biopsychosocial assessments and treatment planning in accordance with Joint Commission/VA requirements and service/clinic-level SOP. Practices measurement-based care using the Collect – Share – Act model – in accordance with Joint Commission/VA requirements and service/clinic-level SOP. Consults with OKC VA Health Care System staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Ensures the physical and information security of testing materials and PII/PHI. Consults with referring provider/team and other OKC VA HCS psychologists – as necessary – on a wide variety of patient care issues. Participates in regularly scheduled Program/Clinic team meeting(s). Evaluates and makes disposition of patients to treatment programs in the OKC VA Health Care System – as well as referral to community programs and vocational placement. Serves as a consultant to other staff in evaluating and assisting Veterans with complex vocational problems. Places consults for Veterans when clinically indicated. Ensures documentation is completed timely and within the facility guidelines/regulations. Ensures coding is in accordance with the OMHSP MH Coding Guidelines. Other Duties as Assigned. Work Schedule: 8:00am – 4:30pm Monday – Friday. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact David Billingsley at View email address on click.appcast.io – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and 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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual – based on prior work experience or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment – up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the 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% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Telework: Situational (Ad‑hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 635‑54066‑A – 635‑54067‑A – 635‑54068‑A. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Physical Requirements: The work for the position is sedentary. Physical requirements include some lifting/carrying ( #J-18808-Ljbffr