Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (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 appointment. Program 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.

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 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 - 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 - Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND 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 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
• 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)
• In addition to meeting the basic requirements - you must meet the following grade requirements: GRADE REQUIREMENTS GS-11 - Entry Level: None beyond the basic requirements
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS GS-12 - Developmental Level: At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)
• Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties to be performed
• Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding professional psychology experience at the next lower level
• Postdoctoral fellowships or residencies are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice
• Training as a fellow or resident is considered to be creditable experience on a year-for-year basis
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations
• Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies
• Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures
• 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
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS GS-13 - Full Performance Level: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties to be performed
• Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding professional psychology experience at the next lower level
• Postdoctoral fellowships or residencies are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice
• Training as a fellow or resident is considered to be creditable experience on a year-for-year basis
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: Knowledge of - and ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health
• Knowledge of clinical research literature
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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
• Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary in nature within clinical and administrative settings
• Use of fingers may be required to operate computers
• Light lifting (15lbs or less) requirements to relocate boxed materials from one area to another - and ambulation related to physical inspections of the facilities.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) - Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC) - under the Community Based Clinics (CBOCs) and is in our Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)
• The Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Psychologist works primarily in an outpatient general mental health setting
• The psychologist provides psychodiagnostics assessments - individual therapy - group therapy - crisis intervention - and other psychological services
• The individual will function as part of a multi-disciplinary team to include psychiatrists - psychologists - nurse practitioners - social workers - licensed mental health professionals - nurses - psychology technicians and other disciplines
• Clinical Responsibilities (85%): Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic and psychotherapy services and uses the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care
• Performs psychological evaluations for patients on units to which the psychologist is assigned to provide coverage
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions to units/programs in the Medical Center to which the psychologist is assigned and has clinical privileges to practice including individual psychotherapy and/or counseling - vocational counseling - group therapy - family therapy and/or counseling - crisis intervention - administration and interpretation of psychometric tests (objective) - administration and interpretation of psychometric tests (projective) - program evaluation - psychological research - and consultation
• Academic/Teaching/Training (5%): Involved in Psychology Training Programs - Service Line Committees - Department Committees and/or medical center Committees
• Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staffs of units to which assigned
• Is involved in the training of graduate trainees - as appropriate
• Serves 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
• Program Evaluation/Research (5%): Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance process
• Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system - as appropriate
• Presents outcome data and research results at medical center - VA - regional or national scientific or professional meetings
• Other Significant Responsibilities (5%): 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 - as assigned/appropriate
• Actively participates in leadership roles on local - state - and national professional organizations
• May Perform other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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) 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 may be available as needed
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: GS-0180-11/12/13