Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

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
• Education Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association - the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System - or the Canadian Psychological Association 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: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA - or a CPA accredited doctoral program
• and The specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program - which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship
• [Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) AND - Internships 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
• 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
• NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard
• 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 Loss of Credential
• A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists (NOTE: A COPY OF YOUR LICENSE/CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE) Board Certification and Loss of Credential Board Certification
• Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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
• The board certificate must be current - and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education Loss of Credential
• Once board certified - psychologist must maintain a full - valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment
• A psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met:GS-11: (Entry Level)Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements Assignment
• Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders - conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments - treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities - provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders - and may conduct research
• They may be assigned to any program area
• Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist
• **GS-12 and13 GRADE DETERMINATIONS ARE CONTINUED IN THE EDUCATION SECTION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT** Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• The incumbent functions as a Psychologist within the Behavioral Health Service at VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System
• s/he may be located at the Medical Center or outpatient clinics
• Reports to the BHIP Program Manager/Coordinator
• S/he functions as a member of the VASNHS Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program team and provides outpatient mental health services to Veterans
• Duties may include but are not limited to: The Incumbent provides clinical services including direct care to Veterans enrolled in BHIP
• Reviews all data - subjective and objective - and makes a clinical assessment - identifying needs and strengths
• Effectively uses professional skill - objectivity and insight
• Uses clinical training - insight and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options
• Assesses high risk factors - acuity and need for services
• Establishes - implements - and maintains referrals and screening procedures
• Develops screening procedures that involve a multidisciplinary team approach
• Ensures screening criteria are met and procedures are maintained
• Assesses at risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan - involving the Veteran and the family/significant other
• Performs insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness - catastrophic medical conditions - dementia - and other high risk diagnoses
• Develops comprehensive treatment plans in coordination with interdisciplinary team members - including goals - objectives and interventions for psychosocial clinical treatment
• Makes adjustments to the treatment plan and interventions based on the changing needs - response to interventions and to improve outcomes
• Participates in the assignment of Veterans to treatment teams and programs
• Consults with other specialists in planning treatment for Veterans with co-morbidities
• Consults with urgent care - medical - and specialty clinics at VASNHS
• Provides individual - family and group therapy services in accordance with the needs identified in the Veteran's treatment assessment and treatment plan
• Ultimately responsible for all entries in the Veteran's medical record (CPRS) and timely completion thereof - including discharge summaries and patient encounters
• Responsible for completion of all assigned clinical reminders for patients under his/her care - and performance measures assigned to the Care Line
• Participates actively in Performance Improvement (PI) activities
• Participates in a variety of meetings as directed by the Chief of Psychology: Staff - committee - AD HOC/work-group committee - task-force - and/or other clinical or administrative activities
• Adheres to HIPPA - privacy regulations and VHA Directives related to release of information
• Fully accountable for practice - including Veteran visits - measuring outcomes to interventions - and meeting productivity standards
• Participates fully in peer review - assessing the quality of professional psychology standards provided in the organization .Responsible for identification of patient problems requiring consultation with other multi- disciplinary medical center staff and making appropriate referrals
• Serves as a consultant - liaison - and point of contact for programs within Behavioral Health services - throughout the hospital - and within the community
• Participates in a variety of meetings as directed by the Chief of Psychology
• Participates in education/CME lectures - research - specialty care programs - and/or clinics as assigned by the Chief of Psychology
• Participates in local - VISN - and national committees/community networking activities as requested by BHS or facility leadership
• Fully accountable for practice - including Veteran visits - measuring outcomes to interventions - and meeting productivity standards
• Participates fully in peer review - assessing the quality of professional psychology standards provided in the organization
• Responsible for identification of patient problems requiring consultation with other multi- disciplinary medical center staff and making appropriate referrals
• Serves as a consultant - liaison - and point of contact for programs within Behavioral Health services - throughout the hospital - and within the community
• Participates in a variety of meetings as directed by the Chief of Psychology
• Participates in education/CME lectures - research - specialty care programs - and/or clinics as assigned by the Chief of Psychology
• Participates in local - VISN - and national committees/community networking activities as requested by BHS or facility leadership
• Work Schedule: Full-time - M-F Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Available (Ad hoc)
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 02973-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact (susan.bringel@va.gov) - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized