The primary purpose of this position is to provide psychological services as requested by licensed psychologists involved in conducting evaluations of Veteran or Service Member patients. The incumbent is a member of a comprehensive evaluation and testing program within the Neuropsychology Section of the Medical Specialty Service at the El Paso VA Health Care System.

Duties

Psychological Services: Under the direct supervision of a fully licensed psychologist, the incumbent aides the psychologist in conducting psychological and neuro-psychological evaluations of patients. Duties include skillful administration and scoring of a broad range of specialized tests measuring cognitive, intellectual, sensory, and motor functioning. These measures could include, but not be limited to the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Wechsler Memory Scale, and Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery. In performing these duties, the incumbent would utilize general knowledge of important psychometric issues, such as adherence to standardized test administration and precise scoring techniques. Incumbent would be able to establish rapport and gain cooperation of patients in a congenial manner that utilizes motivational techniques which do not violate standardized test administration. With input from the requesting or supervising psychologist, the incumbent determines ways to best communicate with patients exhibiting language or processing difficulties. The incumbent exercises good judgment and readily consults with the requesting or supervising psychologist if patients exhibit distress or reveal dire personal problems during testing. The incumbent collects pertinent patient information from a variety of sources to assist in the acquisition of a thorough clinical history. The incumbent would be. expected to perform other clinically-related duties as designated by the Neuropsychology Section Supervising Psychologist. Professional relationships: The incumbent develops and maintains necessary professional relationships with other healthcare service providers, and maintains related records and confidentiality. Incumbent provides necessary information concerning work projects, workload, and statistical data for clinical and administrative purposes. Maintenance of records 10 percent The incumbent maintains client records as part of the VHA medical records system and follows Federal Privacy Act Regulations, Title 5, U. S. Code, Section 552(a), HIPM, Psychology Technician and other relevant privacy regulations. Incumbent provides veteran healthcare services in accordance with the professional ethical standards of the American Psychological Association. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:45pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Psychology Technician/PD01083A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Note: This is a Bargaining Unit Position.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/25/2023. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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 may qualify based on your education or experience as described below: Education: You must have 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Experience: Two years equivalent to the GS-7 grade level which includes 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: Two years of graduate study in psychology in an accredited college or university may be substituted and meets in full the requirements at the GS-9 grade level. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Quality of Experience: Except for those who qualify solely on the basis of education, candidates for GS-9 grade level must have had at least 6 months of experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade (GS-7) in the Federal service, or 1 year comparable to the second lower grade (GS-5). Personal Characteristics: Must be able to deal effectively with a variety of people, be tactful, and must have demonstrated ability to exercise good judgement. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Psychological Assessment Interpersonal Effectiveness Veteran and Customer Focus Teamwork Self-Management 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: Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech may be required. The position will require light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), walking (up to 3 hours), standing (up to 1 hour), both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic and shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), mental and emotional stability. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix F5 dated April 15, 2002. These are VA specific qualification standards.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Failure to provide transcript may result in non-referral of your application if your education cannot be verified.

Basic Education Requirement: 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.

Substitution of Education for Experience: Graduate study in psychology from an accredited college or university.

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.

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 the Department of Education at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the Accreditation: Postsecondary Education Institutions | U.S. Department of Education website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Contacts

• Address El Paso VA Clinic 5001 North Piedras Street El Paso, TX 79930 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]