Staff Psychologist

About the role

This position functions as a psychologist for the Trauma Recovery Division of the Mental Health Care Line (MHCL) at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. The division is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, evidence-based program consisting of both outpatient and residential services directed towards assisting Veterans with trauma and stress-related conditions.

Responsibilities

• Provides a full range of psychological assessments, therapeutic, and psychoeducational interventions and consultative services.
• Provides a full range of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate.
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including Cognitive Behavioral group and individual evidenced-based therapies for PTSD and other trauma/stressor related disorders.
• Provides adjunctive interventions for treatment of associated medical disorders.
• Provides advice to other staff in an attempt to promote and preserve a therapeutic environment for individual patients.
• Provides advice regarding appropriate staff responses toward a patient or specific environmental factors that will stimulate more self-reliance, reduce distress/symptoms, or achieve more socially adaptable behavior patterns.
• Is involved with the Psychology Training Program and Training Committee including clinical supervision of Psychology.
• Participates in program monitors and outcome measurements within programs using data-driven quality assurance processes.
• Responsible for the timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate.
• Actively participates in leadership roles on local, state, and national professional organizations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must 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.
• Specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.
• 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 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.
• Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.
• Have the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site acceptable to the doctoral program.
• Have 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.
• Be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations.
  • Able to design and implement effective treatment strategies.
  • Able to incorporate new clinical procedures.
  • Able to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties).
  • Able 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.

Qualifications

• At least one year of professional experience is required that is equivalent to the GS-11 level.
• Licensure is not required at the GS-11 level, though psychologists hired at the GS-11 level have two years from the date of employment to obtain licensure. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.
• At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level.
• Licensure is not required at the GS-12 level, though psychologists hired at the GS-11 or GS-12 levels have two years from the date of employment to obtain licensure. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.
• Must be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to a full range of patient populations.
  • Able to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
  • Knowledge of clinical research literature.

Skills

• Experience using evidence-based treatments for PTSD, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, Written Exposure Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, or EMDR is preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA.
• 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.
• 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 telework available as determined by agency policy.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional.

Pay

• 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.

Schedule

• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

Benefits

• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized.
• Relocation Incentive: May be authorized.
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
• Contact VISN10HREDRPSLRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
• Learn more about the benefits of a Allied Health Professional.

Additional Information

• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional.