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. English Language: Must be proficient in written and spoken English Education: 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 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. OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. 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. (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. 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).Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist, 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: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. References: VA Handbook 5005/103, Part II, Appendix G18The 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: Work is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items such as books, files, or laptop computer. ["Major duties include but not limited to: Provides a full range of diagnostic services, including general psychological evaluations for the assessment of basic cognitive functioning, current emotional status and/or personality structure, as well as evaluations in specific areas such as risk of harm to self or others, and substance abuse/chemical dependency. The psychologist functions as part of the Psychosocial Rehabilitation & Recovery Center (PRRC) treatment program, locally known as Transitional Empowerment Center of Honolulu (TECH), to provide mental health services to the veteran population engaged in the PRRC Program. PRRC's are outpatient transitional learning centers designed to support recovery and integration into meaningful self-determined community roles for Veterans challenged with serious mental illness and severe functional impairment. Programming is curriculum-based and is specifically designed to teach the requisite skills that are necessary for defining and realizing Veteran's self-chosen roles and goals in all domains of health and life. PRRC services are part of the mental health continuum of care and are coordinated with other services in the VAMC and in the community. Provides the most appropriate psychotherapeutic service, crisis intervention, or other psychological intervention to guarantee the highest quality of psychological care, with a particular focus utilizing MH Recovery and psychosocial rehabilitation models. Provides psychosocial rehabilitative services includes interventions delivered in the milieu and in the community. Will participate in community integration and other therapeutic activities that are vital in the MH recovery process. Will perform initial screening and diagnostic assessments for veterans with the full spectrum of mental health disorders to include psychotic disorders, affective disorders, anxiety disorders including PTSD, substance use disorders, and/or with a dual diagnosis. Focus will be on assessing for safety and determining the appropriate initial treatment. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual, couples, family and group therapeutic services, psycho-educational instruction, and consultation with families or caregivers. Will consult with other Medical Center staff to address the impact of psychological areas of functioning on broader health care issues. Providing direct clinical care including evidence-based treatments in Clinical Psychology. Fully accountable for practice, including entering patient visits, completing encounters, resolving consults, appropriate clinical documentation, measuring outcomes to interventions, and meeting productivity standards. Additional duties may include diagnostic clinical interviewing and psycho-diagnostic evaluation with a full complement of cognitive and personality assessment instruments; recovery-oriented treatment planning developed and implemented in collaboration with the veteran and their identified supports; appropriately selected psychotherapeutic techniques, including individual, group, couples and family psychotherapy, to provide for the highest quality of care across a wide variety of clinical conditions and diagnostic categories, including both substance use and primary psychiatric disorders. Utilizes tele-mental health as a medium for delivering psychological services, consultation and education as needed. May be required to perform evaluations as needed for Mental Health Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Mental Health Evaluation, Triage, Suicide Risk Assessment, Caregiver Support, Compensation and Pension, or any other areas identified by MHS, the VISN or VACO as necessary to accomplish the VA's health care mission. Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues; routinely provides recovery-oriented consultation to Mental Health and other medical center staff. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system. May be required to serve as the rotating on-call licensed independent provider during non-working hours to provide coverage for the Clinical Call Center (CCC). Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Telework: Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized to highly qualified applicants. EDRP Authorized: Contact V21CCOEEDRP@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required."]
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?Readying Warriors and Caring for Heroes! This position is located within Surgical Services at the CAPT James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, IL. The FHCC is a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), and Department of Navy (DoN)/Department of Defense (DoD). It is larger than just a single facility, but rather it is a fully-integrated medical care facility with a single combined VA and Navy mission. The combined mission of the FHCC means active duty military and their family members, military retirees, and eligible veterans receive health care at this facility.VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Join the FHCC team of energetic, career-minded professionals! For additional information, click onhttp://www.lovell.fhcc.va.gov/index.asp.