Psychologist (Assistant Chief)

Full Job Description

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.

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 Policy.

Education: (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 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.

Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas.

PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology.

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).

OR, (2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization 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.

NOTE: 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 internship.

[Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards.] OR, (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND, (4) 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 employed.

OR, (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 intern; OR, (c) VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement; OR, (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 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.

NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard.] 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.

Board Certification: Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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.

The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education Grade Determinations: Psychology (Assistant Chief), GS-14 Experience: At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools.

Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.

Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meets multiple deadlines. Ability to supervise and manage subordinate employees effectively.

Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. Major Duties:

VA Careers - Psychologist: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The psychologist assigned as the Assistant Chief of Psychology within the Psychology Service of the VA St.

Louis Health Care System. The Assistant Chief of Psychology is responsible for the day-to-day management and supervision of the Medical Psychology Section of Psychology Service.

This section includes direct supervisory authority over the psychology staff assigned to the following clinical areas: Palliative Care Community Living Center Home Based Primary Care Pain Rehabilitation Center ComPACT GeriPACT Administrative/Program Management (65%) The Assistant Chief of Psychology is the first line supervisor for the day-to-day management and supervision of the Medical Psychology Section of Psychology Service.

The VA St. Louis Healthcare System is a two division 1-B Medical Center. The Psychology Service of the VA St.

Louis Healthcare System consists of 50 psychologists, a psychometrist, peer specialist lead, and 9 Addiction Therapists.

In addition to the supervisory oversight of the Medical Psychology Section, the Assistant Chief of Psychology shares professional oversight responsibilities for all psychologists and addiction therapists across Mental Health and other service lines (e.g., Extended Care, Primary Care, Spinal Cord Injury) within both divisions.

Responsibilities include assisting with hiring, training, orientation, credentialing, and privileging of staff.

The Assistant Chief also has assigned administrative responsibilities for the broader Psychology Service, including responding to patient complaints, managing the continuing education Grand Rounds program, consulting with the Psychology Councils, monitoring relevant performance metrics, mentoring staff, and ensuring quality psychological services are provided to Veterans.

Provides other related tasks as assigned. Clinical Responsibilities: (35% time) Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders for a wide range of patients.

Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic inten1entions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy.

Provides consultation to professional staff within VA St. Louis Healthcare System and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatn1cnt plans for patients.

Develops, implements, and docun1ents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for patients. Functions independently as a member of the VA St.

Louis Healthcare System Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.

Completes Compensation and Pension exams. Provides other related tasks as assigned.

Teaching and Training (5% time) Provides clinical supervision and instruction for psychology residents, interns, and practicum students. Teaches didactic & enrichment seminars for training program.

Provides training and instruction to external sites, agencies, etc. Provides other related tasks as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

This position is eligible for 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 your start date.

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.

Contact visn15edrp@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinators for questions/assistance.

Telework: Ad-Hoc - This position is authorized for telework but has not been authorized as virtual or remote (i.e., the must be able to work at the location the position is being announced for).

VA supports the use of telework to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies.

Telework eligibility may be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized