Staff Psychologist Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after 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 PolicyLicensureHold 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 ColumbiaEnglish Language ProficiencyPsychologists 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: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral programand - (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 internshipOR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in natureInternships: 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 programMay 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: Staff Psychologist - GS-13 Specialized experience: You must also have at least 2 additional years of experience - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level - as a professional psychologist that was obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post-doctoral psychology training program that demonstrates 1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and/or 2) a full - current and unrestricted licenseDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA's): 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 psychology and behavioral healthKnowledge of clinical research literatureAssignment: This is the full performance level for staff psychologistsAt this level - psychologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services - consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriateThey may be assigned to any VHA program and setting - such as inpatient or outpatient medicine - primary care - surgery - mental health - neurology - rehabilitation medicine - geriatrics - Compensation and Pension - Vet Centers - and the VHA National Center for Organization DevelopmentReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Duties VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Duties include but are not limited to: The PCMHI provider provides PCMHI services to Veterans who are referred by PACT as potential candidates for mental health/behavioral health servicesThe PCMHI provider provides a full range of mental health services (assessment/treatment) as indicated for primary care environment and diagnoses mental disorders - particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients including those with medical conditions that have mental health components ( e.g. - diabetes - thyroid disorders - digestive system disorders - chronic pain - other chronic illnesses as well as substance use disorders)Support same-day access to mental health services - including crisis intervention - for Veterans as deemed necessary by the service - in person and by telephone and telehealthMakes the clinical decision to enroll Veterans in BHL telephone services for conditions warranting additional attention ( e.g. - depression monitoring - watchful waiting) and any of a number of dispositions within PC-MHI (e.g. - brief therapy - referral management)Provides education appropriate to patients with mental and behavioral health concerns - their family members - and significant othersProvides comprehensive - evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions (EBP) appropriate to patients - including individual - family - and group psychotherapy ( e.g. - Motivational Interviewing (Ml) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - etc.) as indicatedProvides consultation to PACT staff - other care providers within The VA Medical Center at Memphis - CBOCs - VISN 9 BHL and PCMHI - and to community providers - concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patientsDevelops - implements - and documents all patient care including treatment plans - crisis intervention and suicide risk assessment in CPRS to assure ongoing communication with PACT Teams and VISN 9 BHLThe PACT Psychologist communicates with PACT teams via face-to-face meetings and telephone communications as well as VISN 9 BHLThe relationship between the PCMHI provider and the associated BHL services - the medical P ACTs - and the Veteran are the foundation of successful PC-MHI treatmentMay provide clinical supervision and instruction to trainees on rotation in PCMHIAssists the PACT and other PCMHI providers in the design - development - and implementation of clinical programs for Primary Care ClinicsAdheres to operational policies and procedures for the PACT Teams established by the Chief of Primary Care and/or Ambulatory Care DirectorAssists the PCMHI and PACT in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical programFacilitates liaisons with other care programs ( e.g. - Homeless Program - Veterans Justice Outreach - specialty mental health - etc) in the VA Medical Center at Memphis in order to effectively coordinate services for PACT patientsAdditional duties as assignedWork Schedule: Monday - Friday8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 51210-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidate EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact VISN9HREDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): May be authorized for highly qualified candidate