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.
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 Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.) English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English. Education. 1) 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 2) 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 applying for. OR 3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internship Requirement. 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).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 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. 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 GS-14 REQUIREMENT Experience. At least three (3) years of experience, with at least one (1) year equivalent to the GS-13 level. In addition to the experience Above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14. Physical Requirements: Physical demands of the work are generally minor, as the position requires sitting, standing, and walking. Some travel is required as the incumbent is required to conducted monthly active outreach in the community which may require traveling long distances. The emotional demands can be stressful in working with high-risk for suicide veteran population and their families. A high level of self-awareness is essential. Work, divided between office and clinical settings, is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer.
VA offers a Comprehensive Total Rewards package: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional. This position is located at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care | Veterans Affairs. This Psychologist is the Program Manager of a 20-bed Domiciliary PTSD (DOM PTSD) for Veterans with PTSD related to military service. The DOM PTSD provides a specialized, complex array of psychosocial rehabilitation services. The duties include but are not limited to the following: Responsible for the planning, development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and control of all PTSD RRTP operations. Manages all clinical and administrative operations of the PTSD RRTP to ensure the safe, efficient, and effective provision of rehabilitation and treatment services. Develops and implements policies relating to the PTSD RRTP in coordination with various clinical, allied health and administrative program; including detection of contraband on the unit and safe medication management. Establishes procedures for the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of all program activities. Periodically evaluates accomplishment of program goals and objectives, and when necessary, modifies such goals and objectives. Completes all mandated reporting, monitoring, evaluation, and accreditation requirements relevant to the PTSD RRTP. Serves as accountable officer for the PTSD RRTP fund control point and develops and prepares budget estimates covering requirements for procurement of supplies, equipment, and personal services. Manages in cost-conscious fashion and finds means to substantially reduce operating costs without impairing overall operation by using innovative work methods, continuous improvements, sampling techniques and automation. Writes grant proposals to fund staff positions and enhance residential services. Assures compliance with CARF, Joint Commission, and VACO standards, as well as compliance with all other applicable standards. Directs and oversees staff in compliance activities. Establishes, comprehends and effectively communicates program emphasis, operating policy and overall treatment philosophy to other operational entities both within VA and in the community. Delegates tasks appropriately to subordinate treatment team members and ensures compliance with local and system-wide program policy manuals and directives. Responsible for development of staff position descriptions and functional statements. Conducts hiring, including recruitment, selection and orientation, working with professional discipline leaders as appropriate. Coordinates provisions for vocational rehabilitation and employment services. Develops partnerships with Department of Defense and community providers to facilitate outreach, referrals, and care coordination; Designs and oversees processes which facilitate seamless care transitions between Active-Duty service members and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Develops and Oversees admissions procedures which maximize rapid access to services for veterans with PTSD; and ensures a bed occupancy rate of at least 85%. Provides administrative and clinical supervision with development and application of performance standards, consulting appropriately with professional discipline leaders, and is responsible for leave approval, and completes performance appraisals and promotion recommendations for a multidisciplinary staff. Work Schedule: Full-time | Monday to Friday | 8:00am to 4:30pm. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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 determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 554-58265-O. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.