Staff Psychologist - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team (PCT)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Indiana seeks a psychologist to provide outpatient PTSD care within the PCT. The role includes psychodiagnostic assessments, evidence-based therapies such as CPT and Prolonged Exposure, and telehealth delivery when needed.

Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in psychology (APA/PCSAS/CPA) and a current license; EDRP incentives and competitive pay apply. Supervisory responsibilities and participation in team meetings are expected.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship and licensure requirements apply for psychology practice.
• Must hold a doctoral degree in psychology from an APA/PCSAS/CPA-accredited program.
• License to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological care to Veterans in outpatient PTSD program (PCT).
• Deliver evidence-based psychotherapies and conduct psychodiagnostic assessments.
• Supervise trainees and interns; participate in regular team meetings and OPPE reviews.
• Deliver telehealth services as needed and coordinate follow-up care for patients.

Education

Doctoral degree in psychology (APA/PCSAS/CPA)

Job description

Summary

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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English Education: 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 are specialization program meeting both of the following conditions: a) specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program
• and b) 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.***See Education below 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
• 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
• 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: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above: GS-11 Level: no additional experience beyond the basic requirement
• GS-12 Level: at least 1 full year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the GS-11 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
• GS-13 Level: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• 1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and/or 2) a full - current and unrestricted license
• 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
• **Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties to be performed
• 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
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS11 to GS13
• Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met
• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the position involve standard office requirements such as using the telephone - retrieving files - writing reports - data entry and maintenance of computer databases - etc
• Work is typically performed sitting at a desk and using a computer
• This position may require occasional travel
• The position requires periods of walking - standing - sitting and bending.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team (PCT) staff psychologist provides psychological care to Veterans in the outpatient PCT at the West 10th Street location of Veterans Health Indiana and at other locations as required
• A full range of psychodiagnostic services including assessment - and using the most appropriate - evidence-based psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care for Veteran diagnosed with PTSD and related disorders May participate in telemental health or similar activities in order to provide service for Veterans located a prohibitive distance from VA facilities Provide evidence-based therapies - including but not limited to Cognitive Processing Therapy - Exposure Therapy - Written Exposure Therapy - and dual diagnosis treatment options
• For all clinical duties - the incumbent works in the PCT team - participates in interdisciplinary team dispositions of patients Provides ethical individual and group mental health services to eligible Veterans diagnosed with PTSD and trauma-related disorders General duties include - assessment and referral services - design and preparation of diagnostic assessments - formulating and providing individual and group treatments - preparing initial and updated treatment plans - and planning for follow-up care after completion of treatment Clinical Responsibilities Ability to diagnose mental disorders - conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments - with special emphasis on - and awareness of the mental health - social - and medical need of individuals diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Ability to treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders in veterans and their families
• Specialized knowledge and awareness of stress-related disorders and their effects on individuals and their families - is necessary The provision of mental health services via Telehealth technologies Provides a full range of psychotherapeutic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care to veterans and their families Performs evaluations for all routine psychological testing and neuropsychological screening - with special emphasis on the various means for diagnosing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder in their many forms - and the ability to differentiate these disorders from other diagnoses - including malingering Enriching Elements Provide clinical supervision to trainees (e.g
• graduate and postgraduate students - externs - and interns) and unlicensed FTE in accordance with VHA Handbook Policy 1400.04
• Participates in monthly psychologist and weekly PCT meetings
• Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their conceptualization of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding patients Required to participate regularly in OPPE clinical reviews and submitting these results in a timely manner to the Senior Psychologist Program Manager Work Schedule: Monday- Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm 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: Available In accordance with VA Policy and at supervisors discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 92804-A - 92805-A - 92806-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized