Staff Psychologist - Substance Use Disorder Provider

Summary The Psychologist position located at Alexandria VA Health Care System provides direct patient care - training - and program evaluation. Communicates effectively with mental health and medical staff - using evidence-based assessment and interventions for diverse medical - mental health - and complex patient needs. 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 PolicyEducation (1) 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 (2) 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 employedOR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in natureAND Internships(a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 (d) 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 (e) 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 programLicensureHold 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(1) ExceptionNon-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 two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensedFailure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment(2) Loss of CredentialA psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employmentAt the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity existsEnglish Language ProficiencyPsychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3jMay 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-11 (Entry Level) ExperienceNone beyond the basic requirementsStaff Psychologist - GS-12 (Developmental Level) ExperienceAt 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 AbilitiesIn addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations2Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies3Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures4Ability to conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties)5Ability 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) ExperienceAt least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade levelDemonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and AbilitiesIn addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1Knowledge of - and ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations2Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health3Knowledge of clinical research literatureReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS11 to GS13. Duties Duties Include but are not Limited to: Ability to diagnose mental disorders and provide a full range of psychodiagnostic services - conduct psychological assessments for clinical or administrative purposes as directed by the Chief of Psychology or designated Supervisory PsychologistAbility to treat mental disorders through a variety of evidence-based modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disordersProvides a full range of therapeutic interventions including: individual - group and family/couples psychotherapyComplies with all CPRS documentation procedures - including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g. - entering diagnostic and procedure codes)Effectively communicates with and utilizes other disciplines (e.g. - nursing - medicine) to facilitate treatment planning and implementationParticipates effectively in team meetings - treatment planning conferences - etcwhen appropriateConsults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issuesRemains involved in program evaluation and/or research activitiesProvides administrative duties - including attending organizational meetingsAdditional duties may include providing clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training - including trainees seeking licensure in psychologyMay be involved in Psychology Training Program and Training CommitteeProvides leadership guidance and consultation to staff of units to which assignedServes as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patientsIs responsible for timely completion of all clinical record keeping and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system - as appropriateServes on Psychology or Health Care System committees May represents the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committeesAttends regular Psychology Service - Medical Staff - and other required meetingsWillingly accepts additional and special assignments that are necessary to meet program goals or customer needsWork Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm - subject to change based on the needs of the facilityTelework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 00410F - 00411F - 99253D Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized