Summary

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. Program 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.

Qualifications

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 chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3.g) 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
• Note: There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a School Psychologist
• therefore - an applicant with a degree in this specialty area is not eligible for appointment
• ---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--- 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 (ABPP) 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
• [Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard]
• 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
• Loss of Credential: A Psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade level for each candidate
• Psychologist - 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
• ~AND~ Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): 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
• References: VA Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) Physical Requirement: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• The full Performance level of the GS-0180 Social Worker job series is GS-13
• The actual grade at which a candidate may be selected for this vacancy is either the GS-11 or the GS-13 grade level.

Duties

• Total Rewards 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 NOTE: Readjustment Counselors are multi-disciplinary and can be filled by: Social Worker - Psychologist - Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor - and Marriage & Family Therapist
• Each discipline is announced separately - and applicants must apply to the announcement for which they are qualified
• Major Duties Include (But are not limited to): Screening and Assessment: Will work directly with eligible individuals to establish a therapeutic relationship sufficient for completing all required readjustment counseling intake procedures to include an assessment of risk for self-harm and psychosocial functioning
• This information will be used as the foundation for identifying the presenting clinical focus areas and for developing the readjustment counseling service plan
• Counseling Planning / Goal Setting: Develop and periodically update an individualized readjustment counseling service plan that reflects a course of therapeutic and psychosocial interventions - including identification of achievable goals and measurable outcomes
• Direct Counseling Service Provision: Will implement the individualized counseling plan through an appropriate course of individual - group - couple and / or family readjustment counseling
• Will maintain an effective therapeutic relationship with eligible clients fully guided by professional ethics throughout the course of readjustment counseling
• Risk Assessment and Crisis Intervention: Will apply risk assessment procedures during the initial assessment and periodically throughout the planned course of readjustment counseling as required and appropriate
• For individuals identified from intermediate to high risk - the incumbent will work with the individual to develop a safety plan that identifies the precipitating life stressors and safety procedures identified by the client
• Will provide crisis case management services inclusive of coordinating services with the individual's family members
• Care Coordination: Will establish and maintain a network of community care relationships - internal and external to VA - to coordinate access to readjustment counseling through community referrals to the Vet Center - and to ensure that eligible individuals and / or family members receive the full spectrum of services to support the veteran's readjustment that are outside the scope of readjustment counseling
• In support of client care coordination - the incumbent maintains a general knowledge and understanding of the military experience and available VA benefits and services such as VA health care and VBA service-connected benefits
• Outreach: Will maintain active coordination with Vet Center outreach workers to ensure seamless referral to Vet Center services for those individuals and family members engaged in the community at outreach events that may require follow-up readjustment counseling
• Team Cohesion and Coordination: Will actively participate in Vet Center staff meetings designed to promote team building and staff development through conjoint planning and problem solving - staff discussion of problematic cases - coaching and mentoring new hires
• Documentation / Consultation: Will document all clinical interactions with eligible individuals and episodes of care coordination on their behalf as required by RCS policy
• Will provide consultation services to other staff inclusive of other community partners
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm Some evenings and weekends may be required based on operational need of the facility Compressed / Flexible: Not Authorized Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions / assistance
• Learn more Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: PD63065A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required