U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · 22 hours ago
Staff Psychologist (BHIP/Outpatient Programs)
Chesapeake, VA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
3+ years expThe U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Staff Psychologist for their Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program. The role involves providing psychodiagnostic assessments, individual and group therapy, and crisis intervention in an outpatient mental health setting, working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
GovernmentMedicalNational SecurityPublic Safety
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic and psychotherapy services and uses the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care
Performs psychological evaluations for patients on units to which the psychologist is assigned to provide coverage
Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions to units/programs in the Medical Center to which the psychologist is assigned and has clinical privileges to practice including individual psychotherapy and/or counseling, vocational counseling, group therapy, family therapy and/or counseling, crisis intervention, administration and interpretation of psychometric tests (objective), administration and interpretation of psychometric tests (projective), program evaluation, psychological research, and consultation
Involved in Psychology Training Programs, Service Line Committees, Department Committees and/or medical center Committees
Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staffs of units to which assigned
Is involved in the training of graduate trainees, as appropriate
Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients
Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance process
Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate
Presents outcome data and research results at medical center, VA, regional or national scientific or professional meetings
Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces
Represents psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System, as assigned/appropriate
Actively participates in leadership roles on local, state, and national professional organizations
May perform other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
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 (b) 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 (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
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
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)
In addition to meeting the basic requirements - you must meet the following grade requirements
GRADE REQUIREMENTS GS-11 - Entry Level: None beyond the basic requirements
GRADE REQUIREMENTS GS-12 - Developmental Level: At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11)
Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties to be performed
Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding professional psychology experience at the next lower level
Postdoctoral fellowships or residencies are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice
Training as a fellow or resident is considered to be creditable experience on a year-for-year basis
Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: 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
GRADE REQUIREMENTS GS-13 - Full Performance Level: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties to be performed
Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding professional psychology experience at the next lower level
Postdoctoral fellowships or residencies are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice
Training as a fellow or resident is considered to be creditable experience on a year-for-year basis
Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: 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
Benefits
Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)
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)
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: Ad-hoc as needed
Company
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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