Psychologist (PCMHI)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP eligible

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a highly qualified psychologist to join the PCMHI team at the Phoenix VAMC.

The role integrates with outpatient primary care clinics and collaborates with primary care teams to ensure coordinated mental health care for Veterans. The ideal candidate will provide a wide range of clinical services, including evidence-based psychotherapies, and will participate in education and coordination with colleagues.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in psychology from APA/PCSAS/CPA accredited program
• Licensure: full, current, unrestricted license to practice psychology in the U.S.
• Evidence-based psychotherapies knowledge and delivery

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based psychotherapies (CBT, ACT, PST, IPT) for diverse patient populations
• Consult with PACT teams, Phoenix VAMC staff, and community providers
• Develop, implement, and document treatment plans for assigned caseload
• Coordinate services with other health care programs and attend relevant meetings

Skills

Professional psychology

Clinical treatments

Consultation

Education

Doctoral degree in psychology

Job description

Summary

The Phoenix Mental Health Service is seeking a highly qualified psychologist to join the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) team at the 32nd CBOC. The incumbent will provide a wide range of clinical services and consultations as a member of the Mental Health Medical Staff. This position is integrated within outpatient primary care clinics - working collaboratively with primary care teams to ensure coordinated and comprehensive patient care.

Qualifications

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
• Language: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• 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
• 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
• 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: 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: 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 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-13
• Physical Requirements: The work requires the Staff Psychologist to be independently mobile throughout the medical center as needed
• Significant time is spent reading (charts - reports - etc.) - documenting in the computerized patient record - and verbally communicating with patients - colleagues - supervisors and/or community partners
• Some standing - walking - bending - pushing - and lifting (moderately heavy) may be involved
• S/he should be capable of prolonged movement and be physically capable of reading patient records/reports - documenting all clinical encounters in the patient computerized record.

Duties

• Position(s) listed under this Open Continuous Announcement (OCA) MAY be eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• Applicants selected for an EDRP-eligible position will be notified in their conditional job offer
• The selectee must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit an 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 review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply
• NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position
• For more information - refer to Required Documents below
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional 30 Day Hiring Model: The Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a streamlined 30-Day Hiring Model designed to accelerate hiring while maintaining the highest standards of merit-based selection
• This improved process reduces traditional hiring timelines by integrating early coordination - faster assessments - and efficient pre-employment actions
• Applicants can expect a more transparent - predictable - and efficient hiring journey from announcement to entry on duty
• What Applicants Can Expect: Expedited Candidate Review Once the announcement closes - Human Resources will quickly review applications - issue certificates of eligible candidates the day after the announcement closes and refer applicants for hiring manager consideration
• Quick Interviews & References HR may arrange interviews and will request references within 3-5 days after being referred to the hiring manager
• Streamlined Pre-Employment Requirements: Following a tentative offer - applicants should be prepared to complete required steps - such as fingerprinting and background check - credentialing - and medical examination within 3 days of the offer
• Clear and Timely Communication: Applicants will receive clear communication at key milestones - including referral - tentative offer - and onboarding instructions After meeting pre-employment requirements - candidates will receive a final job offer and start date
• Onboarding tasks may continue after starting - with HR ensuring timely completion for a smooth transition into VA service
• If selected - applicants should be prepared to come onboard within 30 days of the announcement closing
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Provide evidence based psychotherapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression (CBT-D) and/or insomnia (CBT-1) - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - or Problem-Solving Therapy (PST) - Motivational Interviewing (MI) - and Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression (IPT)
• Consults with PACT teams - Phoenix VAMC staff - and community providers on Veterans' behavioral health needs
• Develops - implements - and documents treatment plans for an assigned caseload
• Follows Medical Center and Section health care policies and procedures
• Coordinates services with other health care programs
• Attends Section - Service - and MH&BSS meetings
• Work Schedule: Schedule will be discussed during interview Compressed/Flexible: Available at supervisors discretion
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - 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
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.