Staff Psychologist - Gateway

About the role

The Psychologist will complete initial diagnostic assessment for intake into the Mental Health Clinic, including initial treatment plan, assessment of risk, and triage referrals to the appropriate outpatient services. Will also complete inpatient and ER evaluations when consulted by hospital services, including ER physicians, Internal Medicine, Surgery, or other specialty providers. This includes written reports as well as face-to-face or phone consultation with the referring service.

Responsibilities

• Perform follow-up evaluation for positive mental health screenings.
• Provide same day access to mental health treatment.
• Provide assessment via telehealth equipment when necessary.
• Include family in the assessment process when deemed appropriate.
• Participate in collaborative treatment planning, including placing appropriate referrals.
• Serve as a resource to other members of the Mental Health Multidisciplinary Team and other healthcare providers.
• Participate in program development activities.
• Coordinate with the substance abuse team as appropriate.

Requirements

• Hold a state license to practice psychology.
• Utilize advanced professional psychological diagnostic methods.
• Provide advice and consultation related to behavioral health disorders and substance use disorders in a medical setting.
• Participate in professional activities of the Behavioral Health Service and Medical Center.
• Serve on administrative committees.
• Engage in continuing education, training, research, and treatment/program evaluation.
• Provide direct psychological patient care.
• Offer consultation services on difficult or complex cases.
• Educate staff and supervise trainees.
• Hold full clinical privileges as a member of the Hershel "Woody" Williams VAMC Medical Staff.
• Comply with documentation and coding procedures.
• Meet national and local performance measures, including timely healthcare screening and completion of clinical reminders.
• Exhibit self-direction and effective time management skills.
• Demonstrate good communication and negotiation skills to balance workload demands.
• Exhibit computer proficiency.
• Write psychological reports, chart notes, and treatment summaries in a timely manner.
• Prioritize work appropriately and seek consultation as needed for difficult cases.
• Follow VA and Behavioral Health Service policies, procedures, and accrediting body standards.
• Exhibit excellent customer service skills toward patients and coworkers.
• Maintain professionalism even during times of high stress.
• Work collegially with all other professions and respect different opinions and attitudes.
• Apply a wide range of professional psychological theories, evidence-based therapies, and assessment methods.
• Possess specific knowledge and experience treating clients with substance use disorders.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements:
• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States.
• 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. 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: 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 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 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 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 program. If 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 program.
• 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 2 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.