Staff Psychologist - Pain Clinic

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 (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 Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. - chapter 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient‑care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English Education Requirement – 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 OR – have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and – in addition – successfully completed a respecialization program meeting both of the following conditions: “a) the respecialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program” and “b) the specialty in which you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are applying for” 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 PL96‑151 (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 – Candidates 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 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 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 who are in this occupation and meet the criteria) Grade Determinations – Staff Psychologist – 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 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 Preferred Experience – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT‑CP) Reference – For more information on this qualification standard – please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑13 Physical Requirements – Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre‑placement examination. Duties This position will be filled with either a Psychologist or Social Worker Psychologist applicants – please apply to: CBSS‑12959875‑26‑SO Social Worker applicants – please apply to: CBSS‑12959876‑26‑SO – VA Careers – Psychologist: – Total Rewards of an Allied Health Professional – This one position may report to either the Topeka – KS medical facility or Leavenworth – KS medical facility Duties to include – Clinical Responsibilities: Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders – particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients Provides education to patients – family members – and significant others Provides comprehensive – evidence‑based psychotherapeutic interventions – including individual – family – and group psychotherapy Provides consultation to professional staff within VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System and to community providers – concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients Develops – implements – and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for patients who require such treatment Functions independently as a member of the Eastern Kansas Health Care System Medical Staff – with full clinical privileges Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings – patient care decisions – and documentation Administrative Responsibilities: Assists the Chief of Psychology and BH SLM in the design – development – and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers Adheres to operational policies and procedures established by the Chief of Psychology and Behavioral Health Service Line Manager (BHSLM) Assists the Chief of Psychology and BHSLM in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data‑driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services Complies with national and local performance measures – including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures – including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check‑out procedures (e.g. – entering diagnostic and procedure codes) Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Chief of Psychology – BHSLM (or designee) and facility Director Complies with and participates in peer review – Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE) – Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE) – and/or recommendations from the Professional Standards Board (PSB) Attends regular Psychology Service staff meetings – Medical staff meetings – and Behavioral Health Service Line staff meetings Possible activities which may include – but not limited to: Provides discipline‑specific clinical consultation and clinical supervision for psychology students – interns – residents Supports discipline‑specific training program and training committee Supports the training of medical students – medical and psychiatric residents – nursing students and fellows – as appropriate Provides leadership – guidance – and consultation on staff education and development Work Schedule – Monday – Friday – 8:00am – 4:30pm 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 – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Learn more Pay – Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay – a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade) 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 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) Telework – Ad hoc virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 – Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr