Psychologist (Geriatric and General Mental Health)

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 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 The basic requirements for employment as a VHA psychologist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C.7402To qualify for appointment as a psychologist in VHA - all applicants must meet the following: CitizenshipBe a citizen of the United StatesEducation(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 completedThe specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employedFor 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 skillsCurrently - APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology - counseling psychology - school psychology - or combinations of two or more of those areasPCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical scienceCPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology - counseling psychology - clinical neuropsychology - and school psychologyThere are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologisttherefore - an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointmentStrictly 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 (2) 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 - the applicant is to be employed(b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employedNOTE: 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[Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards.] [OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND (4) 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 employedOR (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 internOR (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 requirementOR (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 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 programcLicensureHold 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 ExceptionNon-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 licensedFailure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointmentBoard Certification and Loss of Credential (1) Board CertificationPersons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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 employedThe board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education(2) Loss of CredentialOnce board certified - psychologist must maintain a full - valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employmentA psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification 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 existsEnglish Language ProficiencyCandidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.7403(f)GRADE REQUIREMENTSIn addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates(1) Current Professional Psychology PracticeTo be creditable - psychological work experience can be obtained through paid or non-paid employment providing psychological work or through participating in a supervised postdoctoral psychology training program (i.e. - fellowship or residency)Psychological work experience must have occurred after the doctoral degree was obtained and must have required the use of knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics associated with current professional psychology practice""Professional psychology practice"" includes but is not limited to the following psychology-oriented job duties: providing professional clinical services - conducting research - carrying out education and training activities - carrying out program evaluation activities - clinical consultation - supervision and administration. Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This staff psychologist position is located in the Geriatric Mental Health Clinic and General Mental Health Clinic at the Jamaica Plain campus of the VA Boston Healthcare SystemThe primary focus for this position is to provide evidence-based psychodiagnostic and psychotherapy services to Veterans in both clinics who present with a complex array of mental health and physical health concerns across the lifespanThe psychologist is an integral member of interdisciplinary treatment teams (e.gpsychiatric providers - nurses - social workers - providers in training) who coordinate and collaborate to provide high-quality mental health careDuties may include - but are not limited to: VA Boston Healthcare System is a vibrant academic medical center - known for its behavioral health research portfolio and large training programsThe psychologist may contribute to clinical research - as well as data-driven program development/evaluation and quality improvement projectsThe psychologist will also have ample opportunity to participate in didactic training and clinical supervision of trainees from multiple disciplines (e.g. - Psychology - Psychiatry)The psychologist may be eligible for a faculty appointment at Boston University or Harvard Medical SchoolClinical ResponsibilitiesProvides a full range of clinical services including assessment - empirically based individual and group interventions - education - and treatment planning for Veterans with a variety of mental health disorders across the lifespanCollaborates with staff from other mental health and medical clinics on the development of treatment plans and assists with coordination of care Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed: May be available Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): May be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more - Pay: Competitive salary and 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 experienceParental 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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 Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: F08700 -F08701 - F08702 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit positionThis position is covered by a special rateThe incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC'sCurrent and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously heldNarrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.