Staff Psychologist - Primary Care Mental Health Integration

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 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: 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 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: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral programand - 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 natureAND 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 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: 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 ColumbiaMay 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: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level): Experience: None beyond the basic requirementsStaff Psychologist - GS-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 levelDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populationsAbility to design and implement effective treatment strategiesAbility to incorporate new clinical proceduresAbility to conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties)Ability 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 collaborationStaff 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 levelDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of - and ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populationsAbility to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional 7 psychology and behavioral healthKnowledge of clinical research literature Preferred Experience Experience working within a multidisciplinary team Experience working with Veterans Competence in handling Veterans experiencing suicidal thoughts and triaging care needs Experience in working with active military and/or Veterans Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is 13Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentarySome work may require movement between offices - hospital - warehouses - and similar areas for meetings and to conduct workWork may also require walking/standing - in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work siteIncumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 poundsThe incumbent must possess a current Driver's License and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary. Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Clinical Responsibilities: The PCMHI psychologist provides functional assessment - triage - intervention - education and consultative services regarding a wide range of mental health and behavioral medicine concerns - on referral from primary care providers and allied PACT membersThe PCMHI psychologist uses population-based practice management strategies and maintains competences in the following core domains: Conduct functional assessments - based on 30-minute appointments and will triage/refer to specialty care services as appropriateApplies principles of population-based care (defines roles and identifies problems rapidly) 75% of all appointments are 30 minutes (will vary by setting) Uses brief assessments routinely (clinical reminders - PHQ9 - GAD7 - PCL5 - AUDITC - etc.) Conducts suicide assessment and safety planning for high-risk Veterans Assist in assessing and coordinating care for Veterans who are in need of acute psychiatric stabilization Initial consultation appointment is based on functional assessments and treatment focuses on functional outcomesMaintains daily open access slotsProvides brief mental health and behavioral interventions (e.g1-6 session for broad range of concerns)Uses time-limited - evidence based - interventions that are simple and concreteTriages appropriately and efficiently to specialty mental health servicesProvides brief assessment and/or intervention to address (including but not limited to): o Depression - anxiety - stress - PTSD - MST - trauma - sleep issues - chronic pain - substance abuse/dependence (including tobacco use) - anger management - relationship distress - management of chronic medical conditions - attentional concerns - memory concernso Other interventions will be provided as clinically appropriate - based on Veteran needDevelops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran (may include Veteran's family) and with PACTEstablishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans (may include Veteran's family) experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical and social problemsPCMHI Group Clinical Practice Management: Conducts group therapy with up to 12 Veterans (Of note - group size may be dependent on topic - group facilitator discretion - etc.) for 30-90 minutes sessions addressing relevant behavioral health topicsGroup formatting (open versus closed) is determined by group facilitator(s) Patient Care Management Overview: Provide case management services - as needed and/or indicated Demonstrates knowledge of local - state and other VA programs and resourcesHas general knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services relating to special programs - service-connected compensation - and non-service-connected pensionFacilitates referrals based upon Veterans' needs and eligibilityAssesses for and identifies high-risk Veteran and implements appropriate safety protocolsProvides crisis intervention services and has working knowledge of referral process for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and residential PTSD - SUD - and other specialty programsHas working knowledge in diagnosis and treatment of a broad spectrum of mental health diagnosesThis includes acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries and medical terminologyProvides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of Veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment planHas expertise in providing EBTs as applicable to the primary care settingAble to develop specialized interventions tailored to unique needs of Veteran populations and provide innovations in delivery of mental health programsDemonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff and trainees in specialized areas of practiceConsultation Skills: - Routinely consults with PCPs and other PACT members about plan of care for Veterans - Conducts effective brief consultations with PACTs and non-PACT staff Academic/Teaching/Training: -Opportunities for scaffolding supervision of social work predoctoral interns and practicum students in accord with training program policies and accrediting agency requirements Program Evaluation: Participates in program evaluation and/or research activities Expectation to review program analysis - provide appropriate assessments of outcomes - and make recommendations as neededAssists in the development and implementation of follow-up systems to track completed tasks or other issues and concerns relating to the PCMHI (intake and assessment - treatment planning - service delivery - discharge planning - case management - resource allocation - outreach - etc.) Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more Telework: Ad-Hoc Functional Statement #: 436-52700-O - 436-52701-O - 436-52702-O