Staff psychologists at assigned to the Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (PRRTP) at this level, diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provide adjunctive interventions for treatment, and may conduct research. Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies, and other interventions such as biofeedback and environmental interventions.

Duties

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES: At the GS 13 level, the following clinical activities are expected in the assignment for the PRRTP Staff Psychologist: Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and treatment using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care for Veterans with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) in PRRTP. Serves as a treatment provider conducting assessment interviews, composing psychosocial assessment reports, formulating diagnostic impressions, developing treatment plans, providing psychotherapy to patients through individual and group sessions, making referrals for aftercare and placement, and documenting services provided in the course of patient care. Psychotherapeutic interventions are comprehensive, evidence-based practices specifically for use with an SMI population. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper Veteran check out procedures (e.g. entering diagnostic and procedure codes). Consults with PRRTP team and other medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues and provides leadership guidance as indicated. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others, as needed. ACADEMIC/TEACHING/TRAINING: Assists the Program Manager in the design, development and implementation of psychological services and programs and coordinates these services with the PRRTP team. Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, established by the affiliated contract under which PRRTP operates in service to VAPHS. Assists the Program Manager in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program. Complies with national and local performance measures including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all Veterans, inclusive of appropriate documentation of suicide risk. Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings as required by the Behavioral Health Service Line ACOS/DACOS, Program Manager, and Facility Director. Participates in and complies with Psychology peer review procedures, including serving on the Peer Review Subcommittee Review Board as needed or required. May provide clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training, including trainees seeking licensure in psychology. Graduate students Predoctoral psychology interns Postdoctoral psychology trainees Attends monthly Psychology Clinical Training Committee meetings and intern supervisory staff meetings as required. May facilitate or present seminars to trainees in such venues as case conferences and training seminars. OTHER SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITIES: Liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staff assigned to PRRTP, particularly in the area of diagnosis and treatment. Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces as appropriate. Represents Psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System as indicated. May participate in leadership roles on local, state, and national professional organizations. Represents the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees as indicated. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized Telework: Not Authroized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: Psychologist GS-180-13, Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. English Language Proficiency Requirement: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Education Requirement: You must 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. OR, have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully completed a 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; and b) the specialty in which you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are am applying for; OR, have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internship Requirement: You must 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). NOTE: 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: Candidates 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. 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-13 Psychologist Preferred Experience: Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level (Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations; Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies; Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures; Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties); 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.).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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005, 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 GS-13. Physical Requirements: ???????Work is primarily sedentary, but requires use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 4 hours); sitting (up to 8 hours); 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; hearing (aid permitted); light lifting (under 15 pounds); mental and emotional stability.

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 Pittsburgh VA Medical Center 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15215 US
• Name: Jonathan Davis
• Phone: 405-439-1259
• Email: [email protected]