Staff Psychologist (Suicide Prevention)

Summary Position eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit their EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program award amounts up to \$200,000 and eligibility periods of one to five years are 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 recruitment of qualified citizens is impossible, per VA Policy. Education (1): Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 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 match the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. Specialty area references are those recognized by the accrediting body, not specific job duties that might require special skills. APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialties 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. No VHA job assignments require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore applicants with a degree in school psychology are ineligible for appointment. For the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (except school psychology). OR (2): Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, additionally, successfully complete a re‑specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the program) meeting both of the following conditions:

• a) The re‑specialization program must be completed in an APA or 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.

OR (3): Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution – with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internships:

• a) Have completed a professional psychology internship training program accredited by APA or CPA at the time of completion and consistent with the assignment.
• b) New VHA psychology internship programs in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable if 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) Internships not accredited by APA or CPA become eligible if the individual is currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty consistent with the assignment.
• e) Applicants with a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 may fulfill this requirement by providing evidence of an equivalent one‑year supervised internship experience at a site acceptable to their doctoral program.

If the internship experience is not listed on the official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying the completion of the equivalent supervised internship experience. Licensure: Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Exception: Non‑licensed applicants who otherwise meet the requirements may receive a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at GS‑11 or GS‑12 under 38 U.S.C. §7405(c)(2)(B) for up to two years, provided care is under supervision of a licensed psychologist. Failure to obtain licensure during that period justifies termination. Loss of Credential: A psychologist who fails to maintain required licensure may be removed from the occupation, potentially resulting in termination. The appointee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if an opportunity exists. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English per VA Handbook 5005 – Part II – Chapter 3 – Section A – Paragraph 3j. May qualify based on the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who meet the criteria). Grade determinations: Staff Psychologist – GS‑11: No experience beyond the basic requirements. Staff Psychologist – GS‑12: At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to GS‑11. Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under supervision, less intense than at GS‑11. Staff Psychologist – GS‑13: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to GS‑12. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: For GS‑11: Apply a broad range of psychological treatments or assessment methods to diverse patient populations; design and implement effective treatment strategies; incorporate new clinical procedures; conduct research activities, including design and implementation of clinical research projects and basic research tasks such as participant relations, documentation, data acquisition, maintenance, and collaboration. For GS‑13: Apply professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations; provide professional advice and consultation in related areas; knowledge of clinical research literature. Duties EM is the Behavioral Health Care Line (BHCL) at the New Mexico Veterans Health Care System, one of the largest clinical care lines in the Southwest Region VIVN. Provides medical and mental health services to Veterans statewide and the VA catchment area of Southwest Colorado. BHCL organized into an acute inpatient psychiatry unit, residential care programs, and eight outpatient treatment programs. The BHCL is an affiliated training site for the University of New Mexico Campus and Medical School. The Suicide Prevention Psychologist facilitates the implementation of suicide prevention strategies statewide and at community–based outpatient clinics, ensuring all appropriate measures are taken to prevent suicide among Veterans. Psychologist is capable of advanced‑level independent practice and possesses specialized knowledge related to a particular diagnosis or population. Must be able to work with community partners; complete psychosocial assessments; develop treatment plans; provide evidence‑based individual and group therapies; manage psychosocial case coordination; coordinate discharge planning and health care; perform suicide risk assessments and follow‑ups; provide individual, family, and group counseling; educate patients and families; deliver intensive residential treatment and recovery planning. Experience in a multidisciplinary team providing consultative services to primary care providers within the medical group and to providers within BHCL is preferred. Primary role: Provide direct clinical and consultative services—psychosocial assessment, treatment planning, brief evidence‑based individual and group therapies, crisis intervention, case management, and telephonic assessment and triaging—expected of all assigned clinicians. Interface with other BHCL programs to facilitate patient care across the Behavioral Health Care Line. Work schedule (Allied Health Professional): Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with potential adjustments to meet service needs. Benefits and incentives: Recruitment incentive: May be authorized (sign‑on bonus). Permanent change of station (relocation assistance): Not authorized. Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): Authorized. Must meet eligibility requirements and submit application within four months of start date; award amount (up to \$200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) determined by VHA Education Loan Repayment Services after review. Former EDRP participants are ineligible. Parental leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for birth, adoption, or foster care placement. Child‑care subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full‑time employees with a total family income below \$144,000 may receive a subsidy up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, capped monthly at \$416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% contribution by VA. Health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care insurance available; many federal insurance programs can be continued after retirement. Telework: Not authorized; virtual role not available. Permanent change of station (PCS): Not authorized. Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs