Staff Psychologist, Community Living Center (CLC)

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.

Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States.

(Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.g, this part.) Education: You must 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.

OR, Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully completed a 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 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.

OR, Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.

Internship Requirement: You must 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, 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, 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: Candidates must 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.

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.

May 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-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: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to a full range of patient populations.

Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature.

Preferred experience: working with an interdisciplinary team, geropsychology, neuropsychology, working with a medically fragile population including palliative and/or hospice care Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019 Major Duties:

VA Careers - Psychologist: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties include but are not limited to: Clinical Responsibilities: Minimum of 60% of the time providing Veteran direct care, staff consultation and development of behavioral interventions at VA Butler's Community Living Center (CLC).

Crisis intervention as needed. Psychotherapy and behavioral management plans relevant to an aging population with complex medical, psychological and cognitive disorders.

Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients, across outpatient, Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and the Behavioral Health Service Line or other area(s) as assigned.

Performs screening evaluations, intake evaluations, and initial treatment planning for Veterans referred to or presenting to the Behavioral Health Clinic and/or other areas as assigned.

Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Completes suicide screenings, assessments, and safety plans in accordance with Joint Commission and VA guidelines.

Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy.

Provides consultation to professional staff within the facility and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients.

Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt completion of clinical reminders.

Functions independently as a member of the Butler VA medical staff, with full clinical privileges.

Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.

Performs other professional duties and committees as assigned, to support Behavioral Health Strategic Plan and medical center mission.

Administrative Responsibilities: Assists the program director or coordinator in the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers.

Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, established by the affiliated Program Manager and/or Service Line Director.

Assist the program director or coordinator in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program.

Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services.

Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients.

Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes).

Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Service Line Director (or designee) and facility Director.

Attends regular Psychology Service staff meetings, Medical Staff meetings, and complies with Psychology Service peer review procedures. Other work assignments and/or collateral duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm; evening(s) as assigned Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact vhavisn04hredrp@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

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.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position