Staff Psychologist (PCMHI)

Full Job Description

A Primary Care-Mental Health Integration Program (PCMHI) Psychologist functions as a part of the Primary Care treatment team providing behavioral health screening and brief, time-limited behavioral health services related to depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and other behavioral health issues for Veterans.

They report to the Mental Health Healthcare Group. Psychologist will be assigned either to Gardena CBOC or Long Beach main campus (recruiting one psychologist for each location).

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: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Licensure.

Applicants 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.

Exception: Non-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 licensed.

Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. Education.

Applicant 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 applicants are 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; 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 program; and 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. AND Internships.

Applicants 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 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.

Preferred Experience: Behavioral Health GRADE DETERMINATIONS: GS-11 Graduate Psychologist Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Graduate Psychologist Experience.

In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess at least one year of creditable experience as a professional (postdoctoral) psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) AND can demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations.

Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures.

Ability 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 collaboration.

GS-13 Staff Psychologist GS-13 Experience: Applicants must have at least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Assignment. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists.

At this level, psychologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate.

They 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 Development.

Psychologists diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders.

Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions.

Psychologists consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities.

Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18- Psychologist Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this position is 13.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 11 to 13.

Physical Requirements: Travel throughout the medical center and community is required, along with activities such as sitting, walking, standing, bending, and carrying items like books, papers, and files.

The Psychologist may need to visit the main campus or CBOCs to conduct interviews with veterans, families, and representatives from community agencies and law enforcement.

A valid driver's license is required, and driving a government vehicle may be necessary to fulfill professional duties. Major Duties:

VA Careers - Mental Health Professionals: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOMintJXa3Y 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.

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.

VA Careers - Clinical Psychologist: www.youtube.com/watch?v=77qHlLw9Xck Duties include and are not limited to: Functions as an onsite and/or home tele-health practitioner, providing face-to-face and/or VA Video Connect (VVC) mental health psychotherapy services for the Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) program for the site to which they are assigned at the time of selection (Gardena or Long Beach), as well as virtual care to other sites within the healthcare group as needed.

Provides a full range of psychological assessment services for diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders.

Administers, scores, interprets, and writes reports for psychological tests and neuropsychological screenings.

Provides brief, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual and group psychotherapy. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others, as needed.

Provides consultation and collaboration working within the assigned PACT Teams and with community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans.

Provides mental health clinic curbside consultation and education to the PCMHI Behavioral Health Consultants.

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

Functions independently as a member of the Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges.

Assumes complete professional responsibility for their clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.

Responsible for supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veteran's Integrated Service Network (VISN).

Supports the training programs as appropriate in the delivery of didactics, clinical supervision, and other training experiences for unlicensed trainees and/or staff.

May assist supervisory staff, in the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers.

May assist supervisory staff in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program.

Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, established by the Office of Mental Health. Liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. OR 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. work schedule, but work schedule may be adjusted to meet the needs of the service.

Compressed tour may be considered Telework: May be considered. Virtual: This is NOT a virtual position.

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: 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.

Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance.

VISN22HREducationReimbursementTeam@va.gov Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Requirements: Performing activities involving sitting, walking, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files.