Staff Psychologist (PCMHI)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Spokane, WA, United States
Summary
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.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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
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
Education 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 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: 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: 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 GS12 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
Loss of Credential: A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists
Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
Staff Psychologist - GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience: At 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 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 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
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 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
Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The PCMHI psychologist provides brief functional assessments using assigned templates - routine use of Measurement Based Care (e.g. - PHQ-9 - PCL - AUDIT C - etc.) - and population-based practice management strategies to inform collaborative treatment plans
Duties will vary by grade - but at the GS-13 level: Clinical Responsibilities Provides a full range of integrated psychological care to Veterans within a primary care setting - including integrated screening - psycho-diagnostic assessment - brief individual and group psychotherapies - collaborative care management - evidence-based integrated psychotherapies - behavioral medicine - motivational interviewing - and other services
Produces timely - appropriate documentation of care in accordance with agency policies
Provides evidence-based psychotherapies tailored for use in PCMHI setting and supports others in training and implementation of these therapies
Provides clinical support to medical services - such as through behavioral medicine interventions - psychoeducational offerings - and screenings for medical conditions (e.g. - dementia)
Consults with health care providers of all disciplines regarding care for patients with mild-to-moderate mental & behavioral health disorders Collaborates daily with primary care staff - mental health staff - substance abuse therapists - social workers - and health care providers of other disciplines in support of patient care
Completes administrative and clinical activities in support of patient care - such as treatment planning and documentation of care - including Columbia Suicide Severity Rating-Scale (CSSRS) - Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluations (CSRE) - MH Safety Plans - Suicide Overdose and Behavior Reports (SBOR)
Academic/Teaching/Training As faculty member and member of the training committee for the facility's APA-accredited clinical psychology internship - provides didactic education to interns in the program
Contributes to meetings and faculty training associated with the internship
Provides training and consultation to trainees in other mental health disciplines - medical students - nursing students - and trainees of other disciplines - as assigned
Other Significant Responsibilities Develops and helps provide training to staff throughout the VAMC on VHA best practices and clinical practice guidelines for the treatment and management of Veterans with mild-to-moderate mental health problems
Assists PCMHI Program Manager in developing - monitoring - and reporting on outcome and performance measures
Assists PCMHI Program Manager with other administrative duties - as assigned
As assigned - serves on Service - Medical Center - VISN - and/or National committees or task forces related to assigned program
Fulfills other duties 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
Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov 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: Ad-hoc (Inclement Weather Only) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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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.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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
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
Education 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 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: 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: 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 GS12 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
Loss of Credential: A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists
Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
Staff Psychologist - GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience: At 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 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 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
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 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
Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The PCMHI psychologist provides brief functional assessments using assigned templates - routine use of Measurement Based Care (e.g. - PHQ-9 - PCL - AUDIT C - etc.) - and population-based practice management strategies to inform collaborative treatment plans
Duties will vary by grade - but at the GS-13 level: Clinical Responsibilities Provides a full range of integrated psychological care to Veterans within a primary care setting - including integrated screening - psycho-diagnostic assessment - brief individual and group psychotherapies - collaborative care management - evidence-based integrated psychotherapies - behavioral medicine - motivational interviewing - and other services
Produces timely - appropriate documentation of care in accordance with agency policies
Provides evidence-based psychotherapies tailored for use in PCMHI setting and supports others in training and implementation of these therapies
Provides clinical support to medical services - such as through behavioral medicine interventions - psychoeducational offerings - and screenings for medical conditions (e.g. - dementia)
Consults with health care providers of all disciplines regarding care for patients with mild-to-moderate mental & behavioral health disorders Collaborates daily with primary care staff - mental health staff - substance abuse therapists - social workers - and health care providers of other disciplines in support of patient care
Completes administrative and clinical activities in support of patient care - such as treatment planning and documentation of care - including Columbia Suicide Severity Rating-Scale (CSSRS) - Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluations (CSRE) - MH Safety Plans - Suicide Overdose and Behavior Reports (SBOR)
Academic/Teaching/Training As faculty member and member of the training committee for the facility's APA-accredited clinical psychology internship - provides didactic education to interns in the program
Contributes to meetings and faculty training associated with the internship
Provides training and consultation to trainees in other mental health disciplines - medical students - nursing students - and trainees of other disciplines - as assigned
Other Significant Responsibilities Develops and helps provide training to staff throughout the VAMC on VHA best practices and clinical practice guidelines for the treatment and management of Veterans with mild-to-moderate mental health problems
Assists PCMHI Program Manager in developing - monitoring - and reporting on outcome and performance measures
Assists PCMHI Program Manager with other administrative duties - as assigned
As assigned - serves on Service - Medical Center - VISN - and/or National committees or task forces related to assigned program
Fulfills other duties 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
Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov 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: Ad-hoc (Inclement Weather Only) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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