ASHHRA Career Center

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. Basic Requirements: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA policy.) Education: To be qualified for a GS-0180 Psychologist you must possess 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, 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 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). 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. 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 (a)(1)(D) 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). 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience: At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 (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. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the 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. Preferred Experience: Experience providing mental health care to a Veteran population. Holds a full, unrestricted license to practice psychology in a US State or Territory. Training and clinical experience in evidence-based psychotherapy. Experience providing mental health care in a virtual/telemental health modality. Experience providing crisis intervention and case management services. Experience using psychological assessment instruments to assist with diagnostic assessment. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II APPENDIX G18. PSYCHOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0180 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting and carrying, 15-44 pounds; Pushing (1-2 hours); Reaching above shoulder, Walking (3 hours); Repeated bending (1 hour), Specific visual requirement - Near vision correctable at 24" to 36"; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Moderate Keyboarding 4-6 hrs.; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously ["This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until September 6, 2023. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be April 4, 2023. A Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual. The Mental Health Service of the VA North Texas Health Care System values cultural diversity across our staff and training programs. Mental Health Service leaders are deeply committed to fostering an environment that is highly sensitive to and appreciative of all aspects of diversity. Our staff represent a variety of cultural backgrounds, competencies, interests, and theoretical orientations. We believe that increased self-awareness and appreciation for other viewpoints and cultures makes our service stronger and strengthens our ability to provide the highest quality of mental health care. Staff Psychologist work on an interdisciplinary outpatient mental health team in which the employee conducts a variety of outpatient services, including the provision of individual and group psychotherapy , psychological evaluations and brief cognitive/psychological assessments aimed at serving the needs of Veterans. Their responsibilities also involve providing consultation with other disciplines, and may include supervising psychology trainees within the VA North Texas Health Care System. Clinical Functions: -Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions for a MH outpatient team that may include time-limited individual therapy, couples therapy, process and time-limited group therapy, and psychoeducation in individual and group formats. Cognitive and behavioral therapy approaches are used most frequently, with an emphasis on time-limited evidence-based treatments. -Administers and interprets a variety of psychological assessment tools. Psychological interviews, testing, and assessment skills are used for a variety of patient conditions. They are aware of complicating factors such as substance abuse/dependence, medical/neurological conditions, personality, and other psychological functioning factors, including the co-morbidity of substance abuse and psychiatric conditions. The employee uses a variety of modalities to treat mental disorders and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, including crisis management. -Assumes responsibility for independent professional functioning and regularly works with a variety of complex cases within the assigned areas. The Psychologist is accountable for keeping the supervisor informed of administrative matters, professional activities, significant occurrences, and identifying problem areas that should be brought to the attention of the supervisor and management. Work will be reviewed by the supervisor through occasional individual conferences at the request of either party and through random record audits. -Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff, assisting in their formulation of psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients. As such it is necessary that the incumbent communicate and interact well with other disciplines and treatment providers. -Actively participates in the MH team's performance improvement project(s) aimed at evaluating inefficiencies within the clinic and developing strategies to remedy such issues. -Uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail. The incumbent uses the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (Vista) to access information in the Medical Center Computer System. -May provide clinical supervision to psychiatry residents, typically with regard to group psychotherapy. Incumbent may also provide clinical supervision to psychology postdoctoral fellows, interns and practicum students in the areas of women's mental health, treatment of personality disorders, PTSD treatment, differential diagnosis and evaluation, individual and group psychotherapy, as well as psychological testing and report writing. -Teaches educational seminars for psychology interns and/or for postdoctoral fellows. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Partial telework may be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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