Job opening: Psychologist- Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
Salary: $86 796 - 160 817 per year
Relocation: YES
Published at: Oct 11 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
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
Responsibilities/GeneralDescription
The Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Psychologist position exists within the PTSD Clinical Team/Substance Abuse Treatment Program (PCT/SATP) Specialty Team. The SUD Psychologist primarily treats Veterans admitted to the SATP program, for the treatment of Substance Use Disorders. The incumbent will be able to fully assess and objectively diagnose mental health disorders, particularly SUD related disorders, conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological screenings and/or assessments, and provide Evidence Based Psychotherapy (EBPs), specifically pertaining to the diagnoses of SUD. The incumbent's primary function is the delivery of individual and group psychotherapy for SUD, which may include, but is not limited to Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for SUD (CBT SUD), Contingency Management, as well as other Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) consistent interventions for SUD. The incumbent's clinical work may also at times include the use of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) if trained, and necessary, as explained below. Treatment is provided in person or via telemental health modalities, such as Clinical Video Teleconferencing (CVT) or VA Video Connect (VVC). Training in, or a willingness to obtain and complete training in the SUD treatments mentioned above, in addition to others that are job consistent, is expected. Other therapies consistent with the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) pertaining to the treatment Veterans with SUD, and to their families, may be utilized. The incumbent will develop, implement, and document the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt completion of clinical reminders.
The psychologist consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues.
Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. The incumbent may also, depending upon need and clinical skill, be flexibly involved in the treatment of Veterans with PTSD or comorbid PTSD and SUD, as the demand warrants and under the direction of the PCT/SATP Program Manager (This will be noted by a functional statement change when a change in workload exceeds 5% of the incumbent's time, and will be made only if/when this change is indicated as determined by the PCT/SATP Program Manager).
Functions/Scope
Psychologists The psychologist functions in accordance with the policies, principals, professional ethics and techniques of accepted Psychology practice to include the American Psychological Association, professional licensing code, and State laws. Additional guides are available in the form of Veterans Administration directives; program guides, bulletins and circulars; Center Memoranda; Medical Staff By-Laws; applicable Labor-Management Bargaining Agreements; and external accreditation agencies utilized by the VA Medical Center (TJC, CARF, etc.).
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800-1630
Telework: Available, Pending Supervisor Approval
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Recruitment and Relocation
EDRP Authorized: Contact
[email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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). And
Internships (a) 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.
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.
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 the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
Staff Psychologist, GS-11: (Entry Level)
(a) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level)
(a) Experience. At least one 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.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations.
2. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies.
3. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures.
4. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties).
5. 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.
Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance, Level)
(a) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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.
Preferred Experience: Prior substance abuse training and experience are necessary.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 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.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
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 Roseburg VA Medical Center
913 Northwest Garden Valley Boulevard
Roseburg, OR 97471
US
- Name: Caleb Stone
- Phone: 208-422-1315
- Email: [email protected]