The psychologist for whom this functional statement applies is a Clinical Psychologist who is experienced in providing psychological assessment and treatment to male and female patients from a variety of cultural backgrounds with the full range and types of Substance Use Disorders. They will function as a full member of the interdisciplinary treatment teams in the outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP).

Duties

General Description: The Clinical Psychologist will function as a full member of the interdisciplinary treatment teams in the outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP), including the outpatient, IOP, and relapse prevention programs, and in the residential Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP). Duties include providing diagnostic interviews, psychological assessments, psychoeducation, behavior planning, and individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapies for patients with substance abuse and dual diagnoses. The incumbent may be involved in Psychology Training, program evaluation, and/or research activities. S/he reports to the Associate Chief, Mental Health Service Line/Supervisory Psychologist. Clinical Responsibilities (80%): 1. Conducts initial screening and intakes of Veterans referred to the Substance Abuse Treatment Program. 2. Within the scope of privileges granted, incumbent provides a full range of comprehensive psychotherapeutic interventions, including crisis intervention and individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapies for primary and co-morbid conditions and diagnoses, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and PTSD, with an emphasis on time-limited evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches. Clinical services provided include such evidence-based practices as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Seeking Safety, Motivational Interviewing, Behavioral Couples Therapy for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, and harm reduction strategies. 3. Incorporates new evidence-based and recovery clinical theories and procedures (including psychoeducational and rehabilitation interventions) into clinical services for patients with psychological and substance abuse problems and dual or multiple diagnoses. 4. Devotes at least 0.2 FTE time to providing evidence-based treatments to Veterans. 5. Administers, scores, interprets, and writes psychological evaluations, including evaluations for malingering and for co-morbid disorders. In the SATP, the goal of the assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs to optimize the Veteran's functional status, formulate a diagnosis, and lay the foundation for the treatment plan. 6. Develops safety plans for patients with suicidal and/or homicidal ideation and intent. 7. Communicates and coordinates treatment with other members of the treatment team, including psychiatrists, social workers, nurse practitioners, nurses, recreation therapists, occupational therapists, etc. 8. Works with Veterans to identify community-based self-help groups and other resources to continue mental health and substance abuse recovery. Makes referrals to grant & per diem social worker, homeless program coordinator, CWT program coordinator, and other service providers to maximize continued functioning. Program Development/Program Evaluation/Research (5% time) 1. Participates in the development of policies, standard operating procedures, goal setting, and treatment planning processes of the SATP and the SARRTP. 2. May assist in the development and implementation of a battery of pre- and post- intervention psychological assessment measures to evaluate the effectiveness of units to which the incumbent is assigned. 3. Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes. Academic/Teaching/Training: (5% of time, as appropriate) 1. Is involved in Psychology Training Program, as appropriate. May provide clinical supervision to psychology practicum students, interns, and post-doctoral fellows in assessments and clinical interventions. 2. Provides consultation to staffs of units to which assigned. 3. May consult with other Medical Center staff, as requested, and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients. Administrative responsibilities (5%): 1. Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment teams to which the incumbent is assigned. 2. Facilitates liaisons with other mental health and health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. 3. Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings. Other significant responsibilities (5%): 1. Participates fully in peer review and quality improvement reviews of other psychologists at the McGuire VA Medical Center and its CBOCs. 2. Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: 8:00am -- 4:30pm Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified applicants EDRP Authorized: Contact Hector France, [email protected] the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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: 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...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; (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. AND 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...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. 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. 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. 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: Staff Psychologist, GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level) 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: 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 GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level) 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, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. A psychologist at the GS-13 level must 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. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. 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 GS-11,12, or 13. Physical Requirements: The work of the psychologist is largely office based and in a sedentary setting. No manual labor is required above ordinary situations.

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 Central Virginia VA Health Care System 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard Richmond, VA 23249 US
• Name: Krista Schaidt
• Phone: 8049246112
• Email: [email protected]