Staff Psychologist (Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program)

Job TitleAccess Provider for Mental Health ServicesJob DescriptionAccess Care is a primary entry point to mental health services, providing walk-in and phone triage, intake, outreach, orientation, post-hospitalization discharge follow-up, and high risk case management services to Veterans who are self- or provider-referred to the Mental Health Service. Critical triage functions include crisis evaluation and intervention, disposition of patients to the appropriate level of care, and acting as liaison for the inpatient, outpatient, primary care and community agencies involved in the provision of care for the Veteran population. The Access provider carries out assessment of the full range of mental health issues and also provides time-limited treatment services. Incumbent employs a full range of treatment modalities with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Services will generally be provided in the clinic, and under certain circumstances, via telehealth. The incumbent is capable of providing advanced evaluation and treatment strategies, including evidenced based therapies, making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnosis within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The primary job functions of psychologists at the GS-13 level include the provision of direct psychological patient care, consultation services on difficult or complex cases, education of staff. The incumbent may participate in Psychology Training Program(s), including training committee activities, providing didactics, and supervision of practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows, with protected time consistent with guidelines established by OAA and the VANCHCS Supervision Manual.DutiesAt the GS-13 level, duties for the position may include but are not limited to:Works with Veterans, their families and interdisciplinary team members in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of treatment needs related to Veterans that present in crisis with psychiatric disorders, with particular regard to addressing situations related to risk of harm to self, others or grave disability.Develops individual safety plans. Incumbent will perform voluntary/involuntary admissions as needed.Responsible for reviewing all consults/referrals for Veterans requesting mental health services.Determines the urgency of the request and Veteran state, arranging for evaluation appointment, ensuring that the consults are responded to in a timely manner.Independently provides specialized services for complex patients with service delivery to include intake evaluation, DSM-V diagnostic assessments, psychotherapy and patient education. Best practices, practice guidelines and evidence-based treatment protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions.Participates in development of a treatment plan for each patient with whom major contact is expected, with measurable goals outlined, based on relevant psychological, medical and psychiatric information and principles of treatment matching.Attends regularly scheduled treatment team meetings to ensure efficiency and continuity of service delivery.Ensures timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system as appropriate.Uses diagnostic knowledge of the patient's need(s) to make referrals to a variety of VA and non-VA resources in support of the treatment objective of the patient.Collaboration with community, health, welfare, and service agencies.Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients.Completes assigned Performance Improvement activities at the program, service line and medical center level.Records information, in the patient's medical record, related to the patient's data base, psychosocial diagnosis, treatment plan, and progress in therapy.May provide clinical supervision to unlicensed staff and psychology trainees, including practicum students, interns, and residents.Work ScheduleFull Time; Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Subject to change to meet the needs of the AgencyCompressed/FlexibleNot availableTeleworkAvailable ad hoc as per agency policyVirtualThis is not a virtual position.Functional Statement #00000Relocation/Recruitment IncentivesNot AuthorizedEDRP AuthorizedFormer EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact View email address on click.appcast.io, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn morePermanent Change of Station (PCS)Not AuthorizedPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO)Not Authorized