Staff Psychologist-Neuropsychology

Summary The Miami VA Healthcare System (Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center) System's Mental Health Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Staff Psychologist- NeuroPsychologist. Our ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. Summary The Miami VA Healthcare System (Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center) System's Mental Health Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Staff Psychologist- NeuroPsychologist. Our ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards - as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program. Qualifications United States Citizenship Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy Education (1) 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 (2) 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 (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND (4) Internships a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 (d) 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 (e) 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 NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard 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 Board Certification and Loss of Credential (1) Board Certification Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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 The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education (2) Loss of Credential Once board certified - psychologist must maintain a full - valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment A psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists 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) Preferred Experience: Advanced training in neuropsychology Completed two years of postdoctoral training appropriate to the specialty area Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level) (a) Experience None beyond the basic requirements Staff Psychologist - GS-12 (Developmental Level) (a) 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 (b) 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 - Level)(a) Experience At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level (b) 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 7 psychology and behavioral health 3 Knowledge of clinical research literature 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package VHA Physician Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - annual performance bonus - regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) 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) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1 -000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Psychologists are Licensed Independent Providers who engage in professional and scientific work which relates to behavior - capacities - personality - interests - emotions and mental disorders This work may include any of the following: providing professional clinical services - conducting research - carrying out education and training activities - carrying out program evaluation activities - clinical consultation - supervision and administration Duties include but are not limited to: Diagnoses mental disorders - and conducts psychological and/or cognitive function assessments and neuropsychological screenings Applies a wide range of professional psychological treatments and assessment methods to a variety of patient populations Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions for Veterans and other eligible patients through a variety of modalities including evidence-based practices and adjunctive interventions including but not necessarily limited to individual and group psychotherapy - family therapy - consultation - rehabilitation - and psycho-education Diagnoses mental disorders - and conducts psychological and/or cognitive function assessments and neuropsychological screenings Designs and implements effective treatment strategies Incorporates new clinical procedures when appropriate May serve as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients May conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties) May 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 May serves as the subject matter expert in evidence-based practices May participate in continuous performance-improvement efforts - PDCA and system redesign committees Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs). #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs