The Psychologist serves as head of PTSD Services, which include one VA Medical Center, and seven CBOCs. The Psychologist serves as the PTSD services liaison between local Management, Services or care lines, other facilities, Veterans Integrated Service Network offices, and VHA Central Office. The incumbent will also serve as a Section Chief overseeing multiple Specialty Outpatient areas. In that role the incumbent may serve as direct supervisor to the manager for other programs in that area.

Duties

A Relocation Incentive may be authorized for eligible, highly qualified candidates. Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Section Chief (20% of the time) The incumbent will serve as a Section Chief overseeing multiple Specialty Outpatient areas. These may include programs such as PTSD, PRRC, and PCMHI. In that role the incumbent may serve as direct supervisor to the program manager/coordinator for each of those (non-PTSD) programs. The incumbent will be responsible for coordinating activities among section programs, communicating to programs in their area, representing program interests within the wider service line, and ensuring programs are in compliance with all relevant regulatory and accreditation requirements, as well as with all VA guidelines. The incumbent will also serve on the Mental Health Executive Committee and will have significant input into Service Line management. NWIHCS PTSD Clinic Program Director (20% of time) The incumbent has broad management responsibilities in areas related to provision of PTSD evaluation and treatment services, and evaluation of the professional practice aspects of PTSD staff performance appraisals (Manages a multidisciplinary staff, of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers). Responsibilities include development and implementation of PTSD program policies and procedures; oversight of administrative and programmatic resources; and monitoring of outcomes using a data-driven quality assurance process for a program that delivers specialized, complex, highly professional services that are important program components of the highly professional services that are important program components of the NWIHCS and significantly affect the health care provided to veterans. Has direct administrative and professional supervision with line and staff authority and the authority to hire, fire, reward, and discipline NWIHCS PTSD program staff. Develops and monitors compliance with PTSD evaluation and treatment practice standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery. Prepares annual report for the National Center for PTSD. Receives and disseminates PTSD practice and resource information to PTSD program staff of the NWIHCS, including CBOCs. Provides consultation to PTSD program staff and other facility staff on PTSD practice issues. Assures adherence to continuing education requirements for PTSD specialists; develops plans for meeting education requirements for clinical practice; and identifies opportunities for professional continuing education. Consults with Care Line Managers and Program Managers on questions regarding diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of PTSD. Responsible for recruiting and retaining qualified clinical staff, to include participating in interviewing, selection, and orientation of new clinical staff regarding PTSD program functions and clinical duties. PTSD Clinic (50%) Provides services to veterans with PTSD needing specialized services, through the provision of evaluations and psychotherapy using the most appropriate evidence-based modalities. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual, and group psychotherapy, psycho-educational groups and case management primarily with veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Facilitates veterans' timely referral to specialty mental health or substance abuse treatment as appropriate. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for assigned patients. Other Psychological Evaluations and Consultative Services (5%) Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually challenging patients using the most appropriate evidence-based modalities. Provides neurocognitive screening assessments for veterans. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Academic/Teaching/Training/Research (2.5%) Provides clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training, including psychology trainees, medical students, psychiatric residents, social work students, and nursing students. Other Significant Responsibilities (2.5%) Serves on Medical Center or Health Care System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. 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. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). 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: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and The specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR 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. Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. 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. 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: Psychology Program Manager, GS-14: Experience: At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. GS-13 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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. GS-14 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G18. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 Nebraska-Western Iowa HCS - Omaha 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 US
• Name: Kira Kuhn
• Phone: 3193380581 X636737
• Email: [email protected]