Psychologist

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and 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 PolicyEnglish language proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3jEducation: To be qualified for a GS-0180 Psychologist you must possess 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 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 programand -(b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employedOR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in natureInternship Requirement - You must 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 employedOR - 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 internOR - 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 requirementOR - 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 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 programIf 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 programLicensure: Candidates must 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 ColumbiaException: 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 (a)(1)(D) 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 licensedFailure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointmentLoss of CredentialA psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employmentAt the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity existsMay 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)Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirementsGS-12 (Developmental Level) 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 levelGS-13 (Full Performance - Level) Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade levelMay 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)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-13The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019. Duties Duties include - but are not limited to: Works as a part of a multi-disciplinary team within BHIP - providing various assessment - therapy - and rehabilitative services for Veterans with a wide range of mental and behavioral health diagnoses and symptomsProvides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including - but not limited to - comprehensive psychological assessments - psychological testing and interpretation - and use of the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques to provide quality care to a wide range of patient populations - including specific patient populationsProvides assessment and treatment services in a full continuum of clinical settings and modalities to include individual - group - couples/family therapy - video telehealth - telephonic - and face-to-face care formatsMakes use of evidence-based treatments for a full range of patient populations and psychiatric conditions covered in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - 5th Edition (DSM-V)Develops - implements - and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients with the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS)Participates in treatment team meetings with patients and interdisciplinary staff to recommend and review treatment plansProvides education to patients - family members - and significant others as neededProvides consultation and advice to professional staff within their BHIP team - the BHIP program - the Mental Health Service - and to community providers - concerning clinical assessment findings - appropriate treatment plans for patients - and patient care issuesResponsible for timely completion of clinical reminders - consults - return to clinic orders - open encounters - documentation - secure messages - patient correspondence - and other clinical-administrative requirements as required by the MHS - Medical Center or healthcare system - and/or VAReturns patient phone calls and provides guidance to patients on treatment options in a timely mannerAccomplishes suicide risk screenings - risk assessments - safety plans - behavior reports - and other processes relevant to suicide prevention standardsProvides case management for identified populations as indicatedFunctions independently as a member of the Dayton VAMC Staff - with full clinical privileges as requested and approved during the credentialing processAssumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings - patient care decisions - and documentationProvides psychotherapy and/or psychological assessments to include psychological testing for other programs in the Mental Health Service when necessaryAll other duties as assignedWork Schedule: 0800-1630 - Monday-Friday Telework: Not availableVirtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 93048A - 93049A - and 93050A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for a Highly Qualified ApplicantEDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact brandi.gibbs@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more