Career Center

Summary

This position is eligible for EDRP - a student loan payment reimbursement program. The incentive approval is dependent on further facility leadership approval and available remaining funds. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy. Final program approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services office. Former participants are ineligible to apply for the EDRP incentive.

Qualifications

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. 03/31/2025

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Required
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy
• No person will be appointed to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
• Education - must have one of the following (further details in Education Section): 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
• 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
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship - must have one of the following: 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
• GS11 and GS12 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 not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that a graduate psychologist provides 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above - the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• Staff Psychologist GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements listed above
• Staff Psychologist GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience: At least one (1) 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
• Staff Psychologist GS-13 (Full Performance Level) Experience: At least two (2) years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one (1) year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• 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
• References: VA Regulations - specifically VA Handbook 5005/103 Part II Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard - dated Feb 7 - 2018
• For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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
• Preferred experience: Substance abuse counseling/case management Physical Requirements: The work requires patience and emotional regulation
• The work may require using appropriate techniques to physically restrain patients who present a danger to self or others
• The work may also require assisting physically disabled Veterans
• Day-to-day work involves sitting - walking - standing and carrying light objects
• Some of the work is performed in a setting away from the office - where the environment cannot be controlled.

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf The Staff Psychologist (Substance Abuse) position provides oversight and coordination of treatment services for Veterans as a part of the mental health continuum of care
• This includes comprehensive outpatient - residential and inpatient treatment
• This position is located in the Mental Health Service and coordinates SUD services at various selected Gainesville sites including: Jacksonville and Tallahassee
• Applicants must select their location of interest or can select both
• Staff Psychologists diagnose mental disorders - conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments - treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders
• They consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues
• Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities
• Professional supervision of the incumbent will be provided by the Chief Psychologist until the individual is fully credentialed and privileged
• Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Manages assigned caseload alongside a interdisciplinary team of providers plan designed to treat alcohol and drug use related diagnoses
• Providing individual - family and/or group treatment to individuals with substance use disorders
• Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders - particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients
• Provides education to patients - family members - and significant others
• Treatment of substance use disorders in the substance use disorder specialty clinic
• Provides consultation to professional staff with NFSG area clinics and to community providers - concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients
• Develops - implements - and documents the treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients - including prompt completion of clinical reminders
• Assists/advises other staff in processes and procedures related to VHA or program specific performance measures and/or program outcome and evaluation
• Ability working successfully as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team
• Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures - including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g. - entering diagnostic and procedure codes)
• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8am-4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 51984F - 51985F - 51986F Staff Psychologist - Substance Abuse EDRP Authorized: May be authorized for a highly qualified candidate subject to further facility leadership approval - available funding - and in accordance with agency policy
• Once selected and approved - contact VISN8CCOE@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Additional Benefits Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• This is an open continuous announcement and will remain open until March 31 - 2025.
• The first cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 8 calendar days from opening of announcement - with subsequent cut-off dates
• Eligible applications received after that date will be referred as qualified applicants apply or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled
• Posting could be removed earlier than close date if all vacancies are filled
• Your application will only be sent and referred to hiring manager once.