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 Major duties of the Clinical Psychologist (80%) include, but are not limited to: Provide a full range of diagnostic/evaluation services in the areas of PTSD evaluation, MST, treatment of women Veterans, and suicide assessment. Emphasize individual/group evidence-based treatments to Veterans. Ensure appropriate documentation to include measures of effectiveness and Veteran response using clinical judgment and standardized assessment instruments. Developing, implementing, and documenting the psychotherapeutic treatment plan fir ab assigned caseload of patients, including prompt completion of clinical reminders. Serving as the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) for assigned Veterans and conducting the duties of this role when indicated. Delivering services both in person and via video technology. Actively participating in the Psychology Training Program Committee Meetings, Didatics, and Integrated Case Conferences. Serving as clinical supervisor for the PTSD rotation, to include holding regular supervision hours, conducting performance reviews, and reviewing clinical sessions conducted by interns. Conducting didactics for interns on PTSD and MST-related topics. Assisting in the ongoing improvement of the Psychology Training Program. The MST Coordinator (20%) supports the implementation of national and VISN-level policies related to MST at the facility and associated CBOCs. The psychologist primarily plays a problem-solving role in implementing policy, and is responsible for monitoring and coordinating the implementation of the MST-related administrative responsibilities, which include: Ensuring the MST screening is being conducted properly, and that Veterans who screen positive and are interested in treatment are referred and connected with appropriate treatment in a timely manner. Coordinating with facility business offices and clinical service/care lines to ensure Veterans are not being charged for MST-related care, and the Veterans eligible for MST care only are able to access the appropriate services. Serving as a point person, source of information, and problem-solver for MST-related health care issues at the facility and associated CBOCs. The MST Coordinator should publicize his or her contact information to clinical providers, business office staff, and frontline staff. Serving as an advocate for Veteran MST survivors in the interactions with relevant VHA clinics and offices, intervening when necessary to ensure that MST policies are correctly identified. Directing and providing staff education to improve MST-related care and services. Planning, directing, and conducting periodic outreach efforts to Veterans, both within the facility and in partnership with community allies, with the goal of raising awareness about VA's MST-related services and how to access them. Developing facility-wide partnerships to facilitate problem-solving about systemic issues, coordination of patient care, collaboration on education and outreach initiatives, and information gathering for program evaluation. Communicating with national, regional, and facility-level leadership and other stakeholders as needed, in order to remain informed about notable policies, trends, and events, and to share information on local circumstances and practices. Maintaining communication with regional-level MST POC and other MST Coordinators in the region. Responding promptly to requests for information from members of the national MST support team; Participates in MST-specific email lists, and national and regional-level teleconference calls. Physical Requirements: Extended periods of standing, bending, and carrying light items such as books, medical records and paper is required. Walking long distance throughout the medical center, on units and travel between divisions is required. Conducting patient encounters in a community setting or in community or in the patient's home environment may be required. Position often places the incumbent in a position of stress. Due to the nature of the work, the incumbent may encounter Veteran patients who are confused, intoxicated or have a contagious condition. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 08:00 - 16:30 pm Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Psychologist/PDF00825 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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: 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: 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 degree; and b) the specialty in which were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are 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: 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 to 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 the 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 in 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. 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. Grade Determinations: For Staff Psychologist, GS-11 (Entry Level): None beyond the basic requirements. For Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level): Applicant must have at least one experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Psychologist who are not licensed must practice under the supervisor of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level. In addition to meeting experience listed above, your resume must also demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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. GS-13 Level: Experience. At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 Level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of and ability to understand and communicate existing policies and regulations. 2. Knowledge of and ability to utilize resource materials as well as ability to develop new materials when needed. 3. Ability to relate to individuals at many different levels both within and external to the organization . 4. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a diverse group of professional staff. 5. Ability to provide information about policy to various stakeholders or audiences in a useable and understandable manner. *Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as describes in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in the occupation and meet the criteria). References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center One Freedom Way Augusta, GA 30901 US
• Name: Leslie Hawkins
• Phone: 210-439-6422
• Email: [email protected]