Staff Psychologist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP Eligible

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Graduate Psychologist to support the PTSD program within the VA healthcare system.

The role involves advanced psychological assessments, evidence-based PTSD treatments, and collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team to improve veteran mental health outcomes. The incumbent may provide telemental health services, must meet licensure requirements, and operate under supervision where required as part of VA guidelines.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in psychology from APA/PCSAS/CPA accredited program.
• Internship in psychology accredited by APA/CPA or approved by VHA.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice psychology in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based psychological treatment to veterans.
• Deliver Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) or other empirically supported PTSD treatments.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and provide clinical supervision as required.
• Possibly provide telemental health services and ensure adherence to APA ethics and state laws.

Skills

PTSD treatments

Clinical assessment

Education

Doctoral degree in psychology

Job description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & 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 ineligible to apply. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & 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 ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

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: 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 complete a respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: the respecialization 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
• NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the respecialization program - which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship: 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 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
• Please indicate clearly on your cv/resume or cover letter what your current licensure status is - and if unlicensed where you are in the process of obtaining your license.(e.g. - "Passed EPPP 6/2020 - CA state exam scheduled 10/15/21") 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: GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level) Experience: At least 1 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
• In addition - the candidate must 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 (Full Performance Level) Experience: 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 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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: VA Handbook 5005/103 - Part II - Appendix G18 - Psychologist Qualification Standard - GS-0180 - Veteran Health Administration - dated February 7 - 2018
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13
• Physical Requirements: This position requires hearing (aid permitted).

Duties

• The purpose of this position is to function as a Graduate Psychologist within the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Program - which is under the VA NCHCS Mental Health Product Line
• The incumbent will specifically address the complex needs of veterans with PTSD
• The incumbent has successfully completed or will complete competency-based training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) - Prolonged Exposure (PE) and/or other empirically supported PTSD treatment modalities and assessments
• The psychologist applies advanced strategies to a full range of patient problems in the work setting
• They have advanced knowledge of culturally sensitive psychological assessment techniques - diagnosis - intervention - and behavioral health that qualifies them to provide advice and consultation to professionals representing a variety of disciplines
• The incumbent is also required to exercise judgment in the selection of or adaptation of standard and accepted psychological theories - techniques - and practices in treating patients or developing new techniques and programs for the treatment of clinical populations
• The incumbent may also provide telemental health services as needed/appropriate
• Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist
• The incumbent functions in accordance with the policies - principals - professional ethics and techniques of accepted Psychology practice to include the American Psychological Association - professional licensing code - and state law
• Additional guides are available in the form of Veterans Affairs directives
• program guides - bulletins and circulars
• Center Memoranda
• Medical Staff By-Laws
• applicable Labor-Management Bargaining Agreements
• and external accreditation agencies utilized by the VA Medical Center (Joint Commission - CARF - et.al.)
• Incumbent is expected to independently make use of guides in a creative flexible manner and must use sound judgment in selecting techniques or introducing new practices and methods - adapting these as necessary to fit the needs of the patient population served
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Available - ad hoc as per agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized