Staff Psychologist - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

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

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP Eligible

Federal benefits

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Staff Psychologist to diagnose and treat mental disorders, perform assessments, and provide evidence-based psychotherapy within General Mental Health.

You will work with a BHIP team, collaborating with psychiatrists, nurses, social workers and trainees to develop comprehensive treatment plans. Responsibilities include risk assessment, treatment planning, and ensuring adherence to clinical guidelines and performance measures.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• English language proficiency in speaking and writing as required by VA policy.
• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA/CPA-accredited program, or equivalent re-specialization with matching specialty.
• Licensure as a psychologist in the United States or qualify for temporary graduate psychologist appointment with supervision.

Responsibilities

• Provide a full range of psycho-diagnostic services and evidence-based psychotherapy.
• Conduct psychiatric assessments and oversee treatment planning within a BHIP team.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary clinicians to ensure seamless patient care.
• Adhere to clinical guidelines and performance measures; participate in training and supervision.

Skills

English proficiency

Communication

Education

Doctoral degree in psychology (APA/CPA)

Job description

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.

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

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 Requirement: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Education: You 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 applicant is to be employed
• OR Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and - in addition - successfully completed a 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 you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are am applying for
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Note: You must provide a copy of your transcript - program information and completion date in your resume - copy of current board certification - or 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 - as applicable - to receive credit
• Internship: You 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
• (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: Candidates 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
• Grandfathering Provision
• 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)
• Employees grandfathered under this provision for this revision may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions or beyond the assignment currently held for those being grandfathered to assignments above FPL
• Psychologists who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Psychologists initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level)Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Staff Psychologist - GS-12 (Developmental Level)Experience
• At least 1 full year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the GS-11 level AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience - the candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs in their resume: 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
• QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED BELOW IN EDUCATION SECTION

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties of the Staff Psychologist Diagnoses mental disorders - conducts psychological assessments - treats mental disorders through a variety of modalities Provides a wide range of care including risk assessment and referral - intake/diagnostic and psychosocial assessments - comprehensive treatment planning - and evidence-based psychotherapy services in a manner consistent with clinical practice guidelines and evidence- based practices Works closely with the Suicide Prevention Coordinators - Behavioral Health Program - inpatient - ER - and specialty mental health programs such as PCT - SDTP - PRRC - MHICM to ensure a seamless transition to appropriate services for Veterans Reviews the medical record and previous biopsychosocial assessments when the Veteran is referred - consults with the referring provider as needed - uses measurement-based care to assess current symptoms/functioning/treatment response - and provides a thorough treatment plan when a Veteran engages in mental health services Complies with national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all Veterans Participates as a member of a BHIP treatment team and engages in active collaboration with Veterans and family as well as other interdisciplinary treatment team members - including but not limited to Psychiatrists - Nurse Practitioners - Psychologists - Social Workers - Marriage and Family Therapists - RNs - Peer Support Specialists and Administrative Support staff - in the development and implementation of a treatment plan and consultation on a wide variety of patient care issues Clinical Responsibilities Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care
• Performs evaluations for veterans with a variety of psychological disorders Provides psychological assessments and individual and group psychotherapy for patients in the General Mental Health Clinic
• Academic/Teaching/Training May provide clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training - including trainees seeking licensure in psychology while also receiving supervision
• Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients while also receiving supervision
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm with possible evening/Sat hours
• Subject to change based on the needs of the facility
• Compressed/Flexible: May be available 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 #: 00036F - 00037F - 00038F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized