ASHHRA Career Center

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting two Psychologist to serve in the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP/PRRTP). One in the Substance Abuse Residential Treatment Program and one in s the Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation Program. These Psychologist will function under the Psychology service. 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 Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. 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 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 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. 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 fulltime, 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. 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). Experience: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following: 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, and are able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities 1. Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. 2. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. 3. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. 4. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). 5. 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 2 addition years of experience, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level, as a professional psychologist that was obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post-doctoral psychology training program that demonstrates 1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and/or 2) a full, current and unrestricted license. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current psychology practice: 1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to a full range of patient populations. 2. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. 3. Knowledge of clinical research literature.*Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light Lifting (under 15 lbs); Light carrying (under 15 lbs); Straight pulling (1hr); Walking (2hr); Standing (2hr); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Hearing aid permitted. ["The incumbent serves as Staff Psychologist with full Clinical Privileges at the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), and has full, current, unrestricted licensure to practice as a Psychologist at a doctoral level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. The incumbent has primary clinical duties with assignment to the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP), with the possibility of assignment to other areas of the medical center. As a Staff Psychologist, the incumbent diagnoses mental disorders, conducts psychological assessments, treats mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provides adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. A focus of the work of the incumbent is on coordination of and provision of substance use disorder treatment. Among the modalities that may be provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies. The incumbent consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues and may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. The incumbent provides Veterans and their family members mental health and/or substance abuse assessments; provides a broad range of intervention therapies, including educational, individual, group, and family or couple's therapies. The incumbent provides therapeutic services to include suicide prevention, crisis intervention, short and long term treatment with Veterans exhibiting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),depression, anxiety disorders, other psychiatric disorders including Substance Use Disorder, and/or readjustment disorders. Experience in advanced and specialized techniques in the treatment of Substance Use Disorder is strongly encouraged. If the incumbent does not have these at the time of appointment, the expectation is that the will be obtained. The incumbent utilizes Measurement Based Care in providing treatment to Veterans served. The incumbent is required to exercise independent judgment and decision making in the formulation of the treatment plan with the treatment team. The incumbent is expected to write treatment plans using the designated treatment planning software package. Additional responsibilities include an ongoing assessment of the patient's progress and treatment, as well as developing discharge plans. The incumbent performs administrative functions such as actively participating in team meetings; maintains accurate records of his/her clinical interactions; and collaborates with other team members and with professionals, paraprofessionals, volunteers, and others in VA facilities and community agencies to help Veterans recognize and resolve their problems and needs. The incumbent may provide training experiences for Psychology trainees; may make community visits needed to effectively perform his/her responsibilities, may participate in research and pilot studies, and will maintain an active participation in the Psychology Service and the other Mental Health Services. The incumbent functions as a champion and advocate for the provision of recovery focused services to Veterans. As such, the incumbent is expected to model recovery and its defined values in all aspects of her or his professional activities and partnerships. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0800-1630- the nature of the role may require being available for emergent situations on evenings and weekends. Telework: not approved Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized 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. 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."]

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