Clinical Psychologist HBPC/Outpatient

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Iron Mountain (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a licensed psychologist at the GS-13 level within the Mental Health Service, with joint assignment to Outpatient Mental Health and Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) programs for veterans with complex and chronic conditions.

The role emphasizes interdisciplinary care, palliative and rehabilitative aspects, and comprehensive care coordination across home and clinic environments. Eligible for VA pathways and licensure support.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA/PCSAS/CPA-accredited program.
• Internship training that is APA- or CPA-accredited, or equivalent.
• Eligibility for VA licensure and Board certification where applicable.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional psychology services to veterans in outpatient MH and HBPC settings.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate care and optimize patient outcomes.
• Maintain licensure and adhere to VA Qualification Standards and knowledge of clinical research literature.

Skills

Treatments knowledge

Consultation skills

Clinical research knowledge

Education

APA/CPA/PCSAS-accredited doctoral degree

APA/CPA-accredited internship

Job description

This position is located in the Mental Health Service, with joint assignment to Outpatient Mental Health and Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program. The VA HBPC program provides comprehensive, interdisciplinary primary care services in the homes of veterans with complex and chronic, disabling disease. In addition to primary care interventions, HBPC provides palliative care, rehabilitation, disease management, and care coordination services.

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

• 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:
  
  
  
  • (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. AND


• 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

• (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 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

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.

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

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:

• 1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.


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


• 3. Knowledge of clinical research literature.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS13.

Physical Requirements

The work is sedentary, but may require walking, bending, standing, and /or carrying of light items such as files and manuals. The work does not require any special physical effort or ability.