Job opening: Staff Psychologist Inpatient Psychiatry Unit
Salary: $81 564 - 151 124 per year
Published at: Oct 26 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
Clinical Responsibilities
1. The incumbent of this position is assigned to the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit, where he or she provides a full-range of psychological services to
hospitalized veterans with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses.
2. He/she performs psychological evaluations of patients on the IPU in response to referrals by the treatment teams.
3. The psychologist offers empirically-validated and evidence-based psychotherapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. Treatment modalities include individual, group, and marital/family therapy, and psychoeducational training.
4. The psychologist in this position functions as a part of the treatment team and can be instrumental in program development and evaluation. He/she
consults with IPU staff on a wide variety of patient care issues.
ENRICHING ELEMENTS
1. Participates in the training of medical students, psychiatric residents, and nursing students as appropriate.
2. May supervise psychology students, interns, or postdoctoral fellows as assigned.
3. 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.
Research/Program Evaluation
1. Participates in the monitoring of performance measures that pertain to the IPU.
2. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by Mental Health Services and the VASLCHCS policies.
Other Significant Responsibilities (5% time)
1. Serves on Psychology Service and Mental Health Services workgroups and committees as assigned.
2. Represents the VASLCHCS at appropriate professional and community group events.
Other Significant Responsibilities
1. Serves on Psychology Service and Mental Health Services workgroups and
committees as assigned.
2. Represents the VASLCHCS at appropriate professional and community group
events.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 51694-O,51695-O,51696-O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
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:
Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States.
Education
(1) 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. . OR
(2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization 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-2 (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.
OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.
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.
OR (b) 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 (c) VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement;
OR (d) 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.
OR (e) 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.
Exception. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 [(c)(2)(B)] for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
Grandfathering Provision
All persons employed in VHA as a psychologist on the effective date of this qualification standard (February 7, 2018) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education (i.e., degree and internship requirements) and licensure/certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.
Grade Determinations:
Staff Psychologist, GS-11
Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
Staff Psychologist, GS-12
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.
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
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:
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: Familiarity with residential programing is preferred. Experience in working with PTSD, Substance Use Disorders, Co-occurring mental health disorders, and Serious Mental Illness. Able to work within an interdisciplinary team (medical providers, psychiatrists, nursing staff, case managers).
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 FEBRUARY 7, 2018 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: This position provides direct services to patients and their families through psychological intervention. Incumbents
must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing (aid permitted), clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The
incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.
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 VA SALT LAKE CITY HCS
500 Foothill Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84148
US
- Name: Tamara Martin
- Phone: (801) 584-1284
- Email: [email protected]
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