Staff Psychologist

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200-000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. 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. 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 Psychologist must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j Education: You must 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 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 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 Internship Requirement - You must 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) NOTE: 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: You must 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 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:Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level 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 Part II - Chapter 3 - Appendix G-18 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13 Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary Typically - the employee will sit to do the work However - there may be some walking - standing - bending - carrying of light items (such as books - papers) - accessing transportation - and/or driving a government vehicle. Duties This position serves as a Staff Psychologist within the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) which is under the VA NCHCS Mental Health Product Line at the VA Northern California Health Care System (VANCHCS) - at the Martinez CA - CBOC Independently provides specialized psychological services at all levels of complexity for patients with SMI - with service delivery to include intake evaluation - diagnostic assessments - psychotherapy and patient education Performs clinically indicated evaluations for outpatient populations Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual therapy - group therapy - and psycho-education 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 issues including patients' decision-making capacity regarding Provides education and training to staff regarding psychosocial rehabilitation and evidence-based interventions health care Develops person-centered - culturally sensitive treatment plans to address mental health needs of patients Adheres to national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Available ad hoc as per agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #:00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified candidate EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive #J-18808-Ljbffr Direct Jobs