Staff Psychologist

Summary

The incumbent serves as the psychologist for this VISN-level interprofessional group of clinical reviewers-the CSP's Centralized Eligibility and Appeal Team (CEAT). The CEAT is responsible for reviewing complex PCAFC eligibility cases for admission - ongoing level of care adjustments - and discharge appropriateness. A recruitment/relocation incentive may authorized for highly qualified applicants.

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
• Education: 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 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: the re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program
• and 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
• AND Internship: 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
• English Language Proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• To qualify for this position - you must meet the Basic Requirements as well as any additional grade-level qualification requirements
• Grandfathering Provision: A Psychologist employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (2/7/2018) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-0180-13) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting the full qualification requirements
• Grade Determinations: GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level): Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level): Experience
• At least 1 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
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate 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 psychologists with specified research job duties)
• GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level): Experience
• At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENT
• We are accepting applications on an ongoing basis
• applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis - as long as the vacancy exists
• VA Careers - Psychologist: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include - but are not limited to: Administrative Responsibilities: Reviews dispositions of PCAFC initial eligibility decisions
• reassessments
• and appeal decisions for clinical eligibly determinations - within 45 days of receipt from facilities and other CSP VISN CEAT
• This is done from a psychological perspective
• Analyzes mental health data obtained from VHA electronic health record and collateral records for use in determining PCAFC clinical eligibility and documents findings in approved CSP PCAFC templated notes
• Works with interprofessional team members at Regional - VISN and facility levels to ensure PCAFC eligibility determinations are delivered objectively with strong - consistent inter-rater agreement and with documentation and communication of outcomes in a direct and coordinated manner
• Utilizes knowledge of PCAFC clinical eligibility to coordinate with other regional CEATs the transfer of appeals for inter-VISN evaluation
• Brings a knowledge of and ability to administer - score and interpret the widest array of psychometric psychological assessments (e.g. - attention/concentration - memory - executive functioning - intelligence - reasoning and judgement) to assist CEAT with case disposition and team's recommendations
• Conducts Peer Reviews from a psychological standpoint - which may occur at the regional level - to aide in achieving consistency nationally
• Collaborates with and contributes knowledge to a community of practice across VISN's and Regions with CSP CSC's and CEAT members
• Facility Responsibilities: Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including use of psychological testing for non-CSP PCAFC applicants
• Performs psychological evaluations for individuals with mental health and medical disorders for purposes of diagnostic clarification and treatment planning recommendations
• Provide comprehensive - evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions - including individual - family - and group psychotherapy
• Provides education to patients - family members - significant others - and community members
• Functions as a member of the assigned mental health or specialty mental health care team
• The incumbent assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical findings - patient care decisions - and documentation
• Provides clinical supervision and instruction for psychology interns and post-doctoral residents
• Evaluates program progress and outcomes and utilizes data to continuously modify and improve the program and processes
• May serve as Principal Investigator - Co-Investigator - or Consultant on projects approved by appropriate IRB's
• Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System - VISN - and/or National VA committees or task forces
• Represents Psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday
• 07:30 to 16:00 Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified applicants
• 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 only
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.