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.

Duties

The Psychology Director of Training (DOT) is responsible for the spectrum of clinical and administrative oversight and training responsibilities for psychology trainees at all levels, consistent with American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines. Clinical Responsibilities: The Psychology DOT works with the psychologist supervisor to establish a psychodiagnostics assessment clinic, write and maintain an associated Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The DOT provides a full range of psychological assessment services, including the use of psychological testing and diagnostic interviews to complete evaluations and diagnoses of mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients. They involve trainees in the psychodiagnostics assessments at their training level. The DOT provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. They provide comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy. They provide consultation to staff and community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients. They develop, implement, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients. Administrative Responsibilities: The Psychology DOT has program management responsibilities at all levels of learning for unlicensed psychologists including practicum, pre-doctoral interns, post-doctoral fellows, and unlicensed psychologists. They have supervisory duties for trainees and other staff as assigned. The Psychology DOT provides administrative and programmatic oversight of the Psychology Training Programs. They organize, direct, and administer all aspects of the program including comprehensive planning development and implementation of policies and procedures, determining needs of the program, overseeing the quality and quantity of training, and establishing program initiatives and direction with the limitation of available staff and budget. Some of the core duties involved include: Building a clinical curriculum that meets the need of all trainees to sufficiently prepare them for the next step of clinical practice, consistent with APA and Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) guidelines. Duties will include but not limited to: Prepare appropriate Request for Proposals (RFP) in consultation with the Psychologist Supervisor for internship and post-doctoral fellowship slots as appropriate for facility. Recruitment and selection process of practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows. Maintaining a comprehensive handbook for psychology trainees appropriate for their level of training. Maintaining a comprehensive evaluation and feedback system that is consistent with APA and APPIC guidelines as appropriate. Elicit and incorporate feedback from trainees, supervisors, and other sources to continuously improve the quality of the training program. Prepare and participate in all remediation needs for addressing trainees that are not meeting training goals. Develop self-studies as needed to maintain national accreditation or earn national accreditation. Develop the Didactic Training Calendar to provide trainees that follow the necessary training requirements by APA. Ensure all aspects of training meet VA and national requirements in preparation for the next step of training and are consistent with APA requirements for accreditation. Develop and maintain websites and brochures for training programs. Coordinate training with other discipline specific training programs in the medical center. Ensure the training program meets the requirements of the VA, APA, and Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) guidelines. Ensure ongoing program evaluation, including analyzing survey data of current and former trainees for the purpose of evaluating the training program. Administering and analyzing trainee survey data on the didactic sessions, supervisors, rotations, and training program itself for the purpose of continual improvement. Ensure appropriate levels of clinical opportunity are available for trainees to observe, participate in, and receive feedback in, for effective training of trainees. Comply with and assist trainees and supervisors in compliance with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. Comply with and assist trainees and supervisors in compliance with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: May be available at the Supervisor discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 / Psychologist (Program Manager) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Requirements

Qualifications

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: 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: (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. OR; Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. 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. English Language Proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grade Determinations: Psychology Program Manager,GS-14 Experience. At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. 2. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. 3. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. 4. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. 5. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. 6. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. 7. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. Programs include but are not limited to addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental health intensive case management (MHICM), mental health compensation and pension examination (C&P) programs, Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers, inpatient mental health, residential rehabilitation, domiciliary, palliative care, neuropsychology, and internship and postdoctoral fellowship training programs; management of an off campus site; psychology program oversight and coordination throughout the facility and its affiliated clinics as a psychology executive, typically at lower complexity facilities. Decisions made by the Program Manager affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. The type of program managed and scope of responsibility are critical aspects of the assignment at this level. Responsibilities include operation and management of key clinical, training, research, or administrative programs to include full responsibility for managing the day to day activities of those programs. Responsibility may include supervision of staff but is not required. Psychologist Program Managers are responsible for strategic planning to ensure the provision of high quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans being served and planning, and developing and implementing short- and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the program's strategic plan. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005, PART II, APPENDIX G18 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. Physical Requirements: Light to moderate lifting, up to 44 pounds; light carrying, under 15 pounds; reaching above shoulder, use of both hands and fingers required, walking/standing 6-8 hours; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted); emotional stability; ability to work alone.

Education

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

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 James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard Altoona, PA 16602 US
• Name: Tianna Miller
• Phone: 404-680-6127
• Email: [email protected]