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

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT & will remain open until December 29 - 2025 - or until the position is filled. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be October 28 - 2025. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. *** Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred & tentatively selected - but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• (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
• OR (2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology & - 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
• & 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 & 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• 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 & 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 & 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 (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 & 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
• Licensure
• Hold a full - current - & 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
• Grandfathering Provision
• All persons employed in VHA as a psychologist prior to the effective date of the qualification standard (2/7/2018) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series - & grade held - including positive education & licensure/certification that are part of the basic requirements of the position
• Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements Staff Psychologist - GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience
• At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - & Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of & 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 & research execution within the context of an established research team - including research participant relations - research documentation - data acquisition - maintenance - & collaboration
• Assignment
• Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders - conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments - treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities - provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders - & may conduct research
• Staff Psychologist - GS-13 (Full Performance - Level) Experience
• At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least 1 year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - & Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of - & ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations
• Ability to provide professional advice & consultation in areas related to professional psychology & behavioral health
• Knowledge of clinical research literature
• Preferred Experience: Extensive experience in working with PTSD - including familiarity with cognitive behavior therapy (CPT) for PTSD - prolonged exposure (PE) - written exposure therapy (WET) for PTSD - and other evidence-based protocols (EBPs)
• Proficient in suicide prevention & capable in mental health crisis care
• Completion of evidence-based protocols (EBPs) training with certification
• 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: Must be physically & mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others
• Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain - corrective lenses are permitted) - keen hearing (aid permitted) - clear distinctive speech - & manual dexterity
• Requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs)
• Occasionally - be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• Must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Provides specialized treatment of PTSD and associated mental health needs in the Mental Health Programs
• Incorporates complex multiple causation in the differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans patients - including making psychosocial & psychiatric diagnoses
• Evaluates the client's situation - including the Veteran's reaction & ability to deal with it - & arrives at a reasoned conclusion
• Provides individual - group - & family psychotherapy interventions used in the treatment of Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder & comorbid mental health needs
• Implements the use of Measurement-Based Care for the measuring effectiveness of clinical practice & services in specialty areas - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services
• Develops treatment plans in coordination with appropriate PCT & BHIP Team Members - including goals for treatment
• Provides independent consultation & makes recommendations to the interdisciplinary team on the course of treatment
• Demonstrates the ability to make treatment plan changes based on empirical findings as well as to provide a flexible work schedule to accommodate emergency or urgent care matters
• Interviews Veterans & their family members/significant others to establish facts about the Veteran's situation - presenting problems & their causes - & the impact of such problems on the Veteran's functioning and health
• Uses subjective & objective data in making clinical assessment of the Veteran's needs
• Effectively uses professional skill - objectivity - & insight
• Uses advanced clinical training - & experience to identify viable treatment options & makes appropriate referrals for care
• Works with Veterans who are not able to engage in the detailed depth of PCT care by aiding in their return to Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) where they will gain coping skills in an effort to improve the success rate in future Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (EBP)
• Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the Veterans and family or significant others
• Assesses serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness - catastrophic medical conditions - dementia - and other high-risk diagnoses
• Makes independent professional decisions and recommendations for treatment
• Finds a suitable means of treatment to help Veterans and/or significant others cope with stressful situations
• Provides quality therapy by utilizing Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (EBP) in the treatment of Veterans served & utilizes nationally provided EBP templates to properly capture care provided
• Concludes the appropriate action - even in instances where actions can have a serious impact on the life of the Veterans
• Evaluates his/her practice as a clinician on an ongoing basis through participation in professional peer review - case conferences - or other organized means
• Acts as a community and family liaison by initiating and maintaining necessary contact with the patient - his/her family - VA Healthcare System service programs and personnel - mental health agencies - and other related resource agencies
• Provides support and consultation to these varying individuals - programs - and agencies as necessary or in the best interest of the patient
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• 7:30am - 4:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May Be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for the incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary & 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) & 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
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 59254A
• 59255A
• 59256A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized