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: 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: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Education Requirement: 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 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. Internship Requirement: 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.). NOTE: 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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met: Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance, Level) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade 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, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional 7 psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. Preferred Experience: Outpatient Mental Health experience preferred. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The psychologist diagnoses mental disorders, conduct psychological assessments and consultations, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies, and various other interventions such as biofeedback, and environmental interventions. The psychologist consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues and may be involved in education and training, program evaluation and/or research activities. Collaboration may be required between the following entities in and out of the VA to include but not limited to Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND), Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Mental Health Clinic, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Psychosocial Rehabilitation, Psychiatric Compensation and Pension, other VA Northern Indiana Health Care System (VANIHCS) and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and their programs. Recovery based principles and practices will be learned and used whenever possible. Appropriate evidenced based treatment will be learned and used as appropriate. Clinical Responsibilities (90% of time): Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic and services including assessment, treatment, evaluation and consultation services on complex patients with problems of personality, emotional adjustment or mental illness and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. Performs evaluations for psychodiagnosis, treatment planning and functional evaluations. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual and group psychotherapy, family therapy or marital counseling, consultation, rehabilitation and psychoeducation Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Provide psychological consultation to Primary Care Providers and interventions for primary care patients identified with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses (e.g. depression, anxiety disorders, and substance misuse), as well as psychological factors affecting their physical condition (e.g. sleep disturbances, treatment compliance, and pain management. Provide a full range of brief, solution focused therapeutic interventions such as cognitive and behavioral techniques, behavioral interventions, supportive therapy, and, when appropriate, insight-oriented therapy. Trained in psychosocial rehabilitation techniques to be applied in day to day patient treatment. Recovery and appropriate evidenced based treatments will be utilized as indicated. Other Significant Responsibilities (2% of time): May serve on Medical Center, VISN, and/or National VA committees or taskforces at the Chief of Mental Health's request. Performs all other duties assigned by the Chief of Mental Health Service or supervisory psychologist or designee, even though they may not be outlined above. Work Schedule: Typically administrative in nature, Monday - Friday. Schedule will be discussed during the interview process. 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, 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: Ad Hoc - as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91389-0 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized