The Primary Purpose of the Position involve assisting providers with the written documentation of psychosocial needs through the use of structured documentation protocols and education to Veterans with serious mental illnesses and substance abuse problems in a structured therapeutic program under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist.

Duties

Major Duties as Assigned, but NOT limited to: The incumbent in this position assists the other members of the provider staff team with the responsibility of administering and providing services to the Temple Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP), CTVHCS under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist. The incumbent will be responsible for implementing and assisting with specialized treatment services for Veterans with serious mental illnesses, PTSD, substance abuse, dual diagnoses, and other psychological problems under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist. In any area of the program, the incumbent will assist in the gathering and documenting of psychosocial data utilizing standardized protocols, providing support and rehabilitation services directed towards the goal of returning the veteran to his community, without dependence on drugs or alcohol, functioning effectively and compliant with medications and treatment under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist. Specific duties may include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Maintains information related to scheduling admissions and discharges. 2. Documents through standardized protocols psychosocial information (e.g. housing status, legal status, etc.) based upon interviews with the Veteran and background information for use by members of the interdisciplinary treatment team in developing treatment plans and discharge plans, using approved forms and format under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist. 3. Conducts psychoeducation with groups of residents, and family members to provide recovery-based interventions under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist. Documents services in Veterans' medical records and enters workload information. 4. Interviews and educates family members in order to help the family understand addiction and psychiatric disorders, and to assist with referrals to family support groups under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist. 5. Assist treatment team in monitoring Veterans progress through all phases of the program through documentation of Veterans status in regards to attendance to appointments and changes in psychosocial status as documented in standardized documentation protocols using written notes in the resident's medical record (frequency determined in the program's policy and procedures manual) under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist. 6. Works as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, collaborating with other professionals to formulate a Veteran-centered Master Treatment Recovery Plan for each resident assigned; offering pertinent knowledge of documented psychosocial needs as identified in standardized psychosocial documentation protocols relevant to the recovery process specific to the Veteran. Provides education to residents to help them to accomplish goals related to documented psychosocial needs identified in standardized psychosocial documentation protocol. 7. Assist a Psychologist by administering or scoring tests in accordance with clearly defined procedures under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist 8. Assumes responsibility for developing and delivering psychoeducational classes on topics felt to be therapeutic to the recovery process and provides and documents delivery of these services under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist. 9. Assists residents in arranging continuing care through contacts with other agencies such as halfway houses, private agencies, and community organizations under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist. 10. Participates in the Quality Improvement program in Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service, including developing monitors, evaluation of monitors and collecting data as directed by supervisors. 11. Handles crisis intervention and other emergency patient situations with specific instructions; evaluates and assesses Veterans how may be at risk to hurt themselves or others as appropriate under the direction of licensed staff members. Notifies other staff and providers as needed. 12. Contributes to team decisions regarding treatment and program decisions for each patient and makes recommendations about patients based upon observations and input from other team members. 13. Provides consultation to and leadership of the therapeutic community groups and resident committees, where appropriate. 14. Orients patients and staff to programs as appropriate. 15. Conducts computer administered psychoeducational classes under the direct supervision of the Licensed Psychologist. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Psychology Technician/PD08674A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/01/2023. Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above) Experience that involved the observation of and assistance in the application of techniques relating to behavior, capacities, traits, interests, and activities of either humans or, under laboratory conditions, animals. Experience may have been gained in connection with a program of research or direct services in psychology that gave a practical understanding of some of the principles, methods, and techniques of psychology needed to assist professional psychologists. REQUIREMENTS: Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in an appropriate social or biological science, which included or was supplemented by 12 semester hours in psychology. Experience GS-7: One year of technical work under the direction of a professional psychologist in a program of professional services, training or research. SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: One full year of graduate study in psychology in an accredited college or university may be substituted for 1 year of experience and meets in full the requirements at the GS-7 level. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service Teaches Others Problem Solving Manages and Organizes Information Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Note: If your school was accredited by Department of Education at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the DOE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Central Texas Health Care System 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive Temple, TX 76504 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]