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. 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. 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 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. 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: Full, unrestricted license for the practice of Psychology from a US State or Territory. Experience treating a Veteran population presenting with complex and co-morbid conditions. Training in Evidence Based Psychotherapies relevant to the position/clinic (e.g. Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Written Exposure Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, EMDR). Experience providing mental health care in a virtual/telemental health modality. Experience using psychological assessment instruments to assist with diagnostic assessment. Experience providing crisis intervention and case management services. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II APPENDIX G18. 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 up to 44 pounds; moderate carrying up to 44 pounds; pushing 1/2 hour; walking, standing 3 hours; Repeated bending 1 hour; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination; near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; hearing (aid may be permitted. ["A Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual. This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until December 4, 2023. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. The initial cut-off date is September 22, 2023. Applications will expire after 90 days, and applicants must update their application through USAJobs for further consideration. The Primary Purpose of the Position is: to serve as a Staff Psychologist on the Mental Health Trauma Services Team. The MHTS team is recovery and customer-service oriented, meeting a variety of emotional, psychological, behavioral, interpersonal, and social needs of Veterans. The incumbent is responsible for providing a wide array of psychological services to veterans of all eras, many of whom need assistance with recovery from PTSD, but who may require assistance with a wide range of Mental Health problems. Their responsibilities involve providing outpatient services such as individual and group psychotherapy, psychological evaluations, consultation with other disciplines, and supervising psychology interns, practicum students, postdoctoral psychology fellows, as well as psychiatry residents within the VA North Texas Health Care System. Duties include but are not limited to: The incumbent is knowledgeable and able to present complex, technical mental health information on co-occurring psychiatric disorders to diverse groups. The incumbent administers and interprets a variety of psychological assessment tools. Psychological interviews, testing, and assessment skills are utilized for a variety of patient conditions. The incumbent is 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 incumbent is knowledgeable and able to apply, a wide range of professional psychological theories and assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. - The incumbent is able to develop coherent treatment strategies and effectively incorporate new clinical procedures. - The incumbent is knowledgeable of current research literature and has received training in evidence-based treatments relevant to the position (e.g., Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Written Exposure Therapy, EMDR, Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy). The incumbent uses their knowledge of advanced professional theories and techniques to provide a high level of service to a wide range of Veterans on the Trauma Services Team, including: Time-limited individual and marital/family therapy, process and time-limited group therapy, behavioral interventions, and psychoeducation in individual and group format. The incumbent responds to patient crisis situations in a timely manner with the goal of assisting the patient to maintain a positive and effective relationship with the staff, family and other patients. Patient and staff safety will take priority in any crisis. Team meetings, monthly Psychology staff meetings, and overall compliance with Psychology peer review procedures. The incumbent regularly consults with medical center staff regarding various patient care issues. The incumbent 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. The incumbent 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 Patient Record System (CPRS). The incumbent may be involved in the Psychology Training Program with active participation in ongoing supervision and didactics. The incumbent may teach educational seminars for pre-doctoral psychology interns and for postdoctoral psychology fellows as applicable. The incumbent may assist the clinical and medical directors in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the Trauma Services Team. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework: Partial Telework is approved. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Recruitment Incentive: 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"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
