Psychology Interns

The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for a full-time Staff Psychologist for Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) and Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) under the Mental and Behavioral Health Patient Service Line. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP).

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy

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

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: (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

AND Internship: (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

(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

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.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

Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level) (a) Experience

Staff Psychologist - GS-12 (Developmental Level) (a) Experience

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

(Ability to conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties)

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

GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience

Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health

Knowledge of clinical research literature

All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package

We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications

It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13

Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

This position is responsible for delivering direct psychological services to Veterans enrolled in Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) and addressing outpatient mental health needs through Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)

The integrated nature of this role facilitates expanded access to evidence-based behavioral health services within both home-based and primary care environments

This approach supports population-based care and aims to improve health outcomes for Veterans in rural areas

The HBPC program offers comprehensive - interdisciplinary primary care services to Veterans with complex - chronic - and disabling diseases in their own homes

Beyond primary care interventions - the HBPC program provides palliative care - rehabilitation - disease management - and care coordination services

The primary focus is on Veterans in advanced stages of chronic disease - especially those at high risk of recurrent hospitalization or nursing home placement

The psychologist serving in this role will deliver a wide range of psychological services

Additionally - the psychologist will offer evidence-based interventions to help HBPC patients manage and prevent behavioral aspects associated with behavioral medicine issues and promote medical compliance

These activities will require travel and driving as part of the position's duties - ensuring that Veterans in various locations are reached efficiently

This co-located - collaborative care psychologist position is part of the PCMHI program - situated within the primary care setting

The psychologist will operate as a member of multidisciplinary primary care teams - providing brief - consultation-based services to Veterans - primary care providers - and allied Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) members

The role emphasizes general service delivery for a broad spectrum of concerns - aiming to resolve issues within the context of primary care

Behavioral health visits are designed to be brief (typically 30 minutes) - limited in number (1-6 visits) - and conducted within the primary care practice area

This structure ensures that Veterans perceive engagements with the behavioral health provider as a routine aspect of primary care services

The psychologist will work within the fast-paced environment of primary care teams - consulting with multiple Veterans daily

The primary goals are to assist PACT members with the identification - treatment - and management of mental health and behavioral medicine conditions within the enrolled population

As well as ensure that appropriate referrals to specialty programs and community resources are made

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: This position is eligible for 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 your start date

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

gov for questions/assistance

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00 a.m.-Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized

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)

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

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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