Staff Psychologist-Neuropsychologist

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.

Qualifications

• 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: 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. For 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 skills. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist, therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly 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).
  • 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 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.
  • Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
  • English Language Proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

• Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist - GS-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 level.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

Duties

VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck

• Conducts comprehensive psychological assessments and formulates diagnostic impressions using standardized and clinically appropriate methods.
• Delivers evidence-based and evidence-informed psychotherapy for mental health, substance use, behavioral, and psychosocial concerns within granted clinical privileges.
• Completes all required clinical documentation and charting in accordance with healthcare system timelines, quality standards, and accreditation requirements.
• Provides clinical supervision to unlicensed staff and trainees, guidance and education to assigned staff in psychological service delivery.
• Serves as a resource to other professional personnel by offering consultation regarding psychological services and treatment planning.
• Offers education to patients, patients' family members, professional staff, and trainees on mental health conditions and treatment approaches.
• Performs risk assessments for self-harm or harm to others and implements suicide prevention and crisis management procedures.
• Functions as a contributing member of multidisciplinary medical and mental health teams in inpatient, outpatient, or specialty care settings.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participates in performance improvement and quality assurance activities relevant to psychological services and assigned clinical programs.
• Abides by the ethical principles addressed by psychology licensing boards.
• Supports and/or participates in scientific activity.
• May serve on internal and external committees.
• May have administrative responsibilities of limited scope and complexity.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Total Rewards

• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 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.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.