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. The position is assigned to the Center for Treatment of Addictive Disorders (CTAD) section within the Behavioral Health Service Line.

Duties

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. Provides initial behavioral assessments, individual and group psychotherapy, treatment planning, consultation/referral, and crisis intervention for veterans in the outpatient mental health clinic. Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, for veterans referred to or enrolled in the CTAD. - Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy both within the Center for Treatment of Addictive Disorders Residential Care Program, as well as all affiliated residential and outpatient follow-up programs. Provides consultation to professional staff within VAPHCS and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients assigned to various CTAD related programs. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients within CTAD, including prompt completion of clinical reminders. Functions independently as a member of the VAPHCS Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. Completion of Compensation and Pension examination as directed and supervised by the Vice President BHSL, and Executive Psychologist/Program Manager BHSL and C&P Program Manager. Examinations are completed in accordance with quality standards established by external review organization (CPEP) and in terms of timeframes established for programs nationally by National Headquarters. ACADEMIC/TEACHING/TRAINING: Assists the CTAD Program Manager in the design, development and implementation of psychological services and programs within CTAD and coordinates these services with the assigned team or treatment providers. Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, established by the affiliated contract under which CTAD operates in service to VAPHS. Assists the CTAD Program Manager in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all Veterans, inclusive of appropriate documentation of suicide risk. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper Veteran check out procedures (e.g. entering diagnostic and procedure codes). Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings as required by the Behavioral Health Service Line ACOS/DACOS, CTAD Program Manager, and Facility Director. Participates and complies with Psychology peer review procedures, including serving on the Peer Review Subcommittee Review Board as needed or required. May provide clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training, including trainees seeking licensure in psychology. a) Graduate students b) Predoctoral interns c) Postdoctoral trainees May be involved in Psychology Training Program and Training Committee. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staff of units to which assigned. May be involved in the training of medical center staff, medical students, medical and psychiatric residents, nursing students, fellows and other graduate or post-graduate trainees, as appropriate. Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients. OTHER SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITIES: Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. Involved in Psychology Training Program and Training Committee, including facilitating or presenting to interns in venues such as case conferences and training seminars. Represents Psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System. Actively participates in leadership roles on local, state, and national professional organizations. Represents the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Psychologist GS-180-00 # 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. 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: (1) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, (2) 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. Internship: 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 ORVHA 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 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 Determination GS-11: There are no additional education or experience requirements above basic eligibility requirements. Grade Determination GS-12: Experience: At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-11.Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the criteria above the candidate must demonstrate the following KSA's; Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team, including research participant relations, research documentation, data acquisition, maintenance, and collaboration. Grade Determination: 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, advanced professional psychological theories and techniques to the full range of Veteran populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. Ability to provide supervision in areas related to behavioral health and social services provisions in order to accomplish the organizational goals and objectives. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18.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. 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. 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 Pittsburgh VA Medical Center 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15215 US
• Name: Jonathan Davis
• Phone: 405-439-1259
• Email: [email protected]