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. 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. Education: (1) 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. 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 (2) 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. 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 (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internships: (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 (d) 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 (e) 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: 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 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. 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. Grade Determination: GS-13: 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: 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: Cognitive and Psychological testing; Rehab psychology-particularly experience with traumatic brain injuries; training in CBT for chronic pain, CBT for insomnia, and/or CBT for headache. Quality Rating Factor: (1) Licensed Clinical Psychologist; (2) Prior Work experience with veterans with traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain, insomnia and/or headaches; (3) Prior work experience working within the VA system References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 dated February 7, 2018. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; light carrying, under 15 pounds; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (1 hour); standing (1 hour); specific visual requirement-good; hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability. ["Responsible for psychology interventions provided to patients and their families in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS). PM&RS provides rehabilitative and psychological services to veterans with traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, spinal cord injury, amputations, etc. The majority of the caseload will involve veterans with a history of a concussion (mTBI) who have complex mental health needs. Psychological services include assessment of mental health disorders, individual psychotherapy, group-based psycho-educational interventions, education and support for patients' family members, cognitive assessments that are designed to aid in diagnostic and treatment planning purposes, coordination of other mental health services, and consultation to other PM&RS team members and health care providers. Duties include, but are not limited to: Member of the Polytrauma Support Clinical Team (50% of time). Diagnostic assessments for psychological disorders and therapeutic intervention in patients with spinal cord injuries, amputations, and cerebrovascular disease (30% of time). Provides diagnostic interviews and other assessments for psychological disorders. Assesses risk of harm and implements appropriate safety interventions for veterans. Provides a full range of evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions (such as CBT-CP, CBT-i, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, etc.) suitable for use with individuals with traumatic brain injury including individual, family and group therapy, psychoeducational interventions, cognitive retraining, and milieu-based interventions. Conducts comprehensive cognitive and personality assessment of Veterans with a TBI history to inform treatment recommendations. - Assess appropriateness for, monitor home trials, and assesses the effectiveness of Cranial Electrical Stimulation (CES) delivered via Alpha Stim device. Participates effectively and collaboratively as a member of an inter-professional team in designing and implementing treatment plans and providing care coordination. Provides consultation to professional staff within Columbia VA Health Care System and to community providers concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients including prompt completion of clinical reminders. Functions independently as a member of the Columbia VA Health Care System with full clinical privileges. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. Documentation will meet both facility and departmental guidelines. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Provide coverage for pain psychology groups (CBT-CP & CBT-i) offered in the Outpatient Interdisciplinary Pain Program when needed. Provides clinical services through the use of tele-mental health/tele-home technology where available and appropriate. Maintains accurate records of patient care in accordance of standards of care policies that are Medicaid and CARF compliant. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm (subject to change based on agency need) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact holly.feemester@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

Return to Search Results