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

Duties include, but are not limited to: Planning and directing the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Program coverage and assigning staff according to program needs and individual staff capability. SUD Chief ensures Evidence Based Therapy and Measurement Based Care are fully implemented and utilized. Ensures that essential clinical functions are coordinated and provided, which include but are not limited to: Assessment, intervention, and recovery-oriented care management and treatment planning. Community liaison and networking services. Outreach services as appropriate. Case management for a variety of special populations. Crisis intervention services. Patient and family education. Tele-mental Health services. Oversees and provides the coordination and assignment of S&BHS staff during disasters, drills and emergencies when indicated. Drafts assigned facility level policies and institutes necessary revisions. Assists with monitoring the completion of mental health consults with subsequent care coordination and referral in accordance with national standards and directives. Supervising and evaluating the work of the employees assigned to the SUD Section. In concert with VA policies/procedures and the Uniform Mental Health Handbook, the SUD Chief will work with other Mental Health staff to develop policy and procedures for the daily functioning within the clinic and the MHRRTP. Providing administrative input into the development and planning of the service as a whole, keeping the ACOS-MH appraised of changes/needs. Actively implements LEAN principles, supports quality improvement projects and promotes a culture of continuous quality improvement. Responsible for program development and monitoring performance metrics to ensure care provided is effective. Maintaining records, statistics, audits, quality assurance, and narrative reports as assigned. The incumbent is responsible for overseeing the accuracy of information provided by staff. Assuming committee and special assignments necessary for the operation of SUD. Providing clinical consultation and direction for the non-routine, non-typical case or problem situation. The SUD Chief Psychologist is an active member of the Psychology Training Committee who attends and participates in Training Committee meetings and training activities throughout the year. It is expected that this individual will clinically supervise psychology trainees. Developing and maintaining good working relationships with key community agencies and resource persons. The SUD Chief's responsibilities involve meaningful contact with the AVAHS professional and support personnel from different disciplines on behalf of patients. The incumbent is in contact with a wide variety of patients, their families and significant others and a broad range of community agencies and staff to gather information needed to make accurate assessments for SUD intervention, suitable continuing care plan, facilitate referrals for follow up services and provide ongoing services. The Chief has a reduced case load and acts in a consultative and advisory capacity to SUD staff. Providing direct clinical services. Incumbent is engaged in evaluating the needs of patients and families and problem solving in regard to a broad range of physical, social, and economic needs. The complexity varies from task oriented assessment services to extremely sensitive and complex personal and family problem solving situations. The SUD Chief is available to consult with staff on the more complex situations related to substances abuse and dually diagnosed patients. Making recommendations for professional development of assigned staff. Participates in recruiting qualified Psychologists, and other professional staff as required. Develops position descriptions or functional statements, performance standards and competency assessments for all assigned staff. Completes performance appraisals. Monitors productivity standards and data of assigned staff. Provides education and consultation to VA staff, Veterans and their families, and staff of non-VA organizations regarding practice standards, the range of service provided by S&BHS staff, and professional roles and responsibilities (example, reporting abuse and neglect). Work Schedule: 8AM - 4:30PM, Monday - Friday Telework: Available (Ad-hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized 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

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.g, this part.) 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. 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) 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 (or will complete) as part of the re-specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: Must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program, and,the specialty in which the applicant is retained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.(TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) AND Internships: 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. 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. 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 supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED FOR GS-14) Board Certification: Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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. The board certificate must be current, and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education. 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: GS-14 Psychology Program Manager Experience: At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. 2. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. 3. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. 4. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. 5. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. 6. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. 7. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. Preferred Experience: At least on year of experience in a leadership role, and one year experience working in SUD. References: VA Handbook 5005/103, Part II, Appendix G18, February 7, 2018 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14 Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs.), operation of a motor vehicle, 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, and emotional/mental stability. Environmental factors include dry atmospheric conditions, working closely with others, and working 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 Anchorage VA Medical Center 1201 North Muldoon Road Anchorage, AK 99504 US
• Name: Gabriel Johnson
• Phone: (503) 220-8262 X53014
• Email: [email protected]