The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for a full-time Staff Psychologist for the Behavioral Recovery Outreach (BRO) Team within the Mental Health Service Line. A recruitment/relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. This position is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) This position provides 51% or more direct patient care and is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. The Incumbent's clinical work will be primarily within the BRO Team. S/he will serve a core panel of patients within the Community Living Center (CLC), be a resource consultant for complex difficult to discharge patients hospitalized at the Fargo VA, and serve as a liaison to those patients served in supportive community settings (e.g community nursing homes, assisted living settings, medical foster homes, group homes, etc.). The Incumbent will be responsible for providing clinical care, working with the inter-professional teams to create and implement effective behavioral treatment plans, and provide recommendations to medical staff, community partners, and family members. The BRO Team Psychologist takes primary responsibility for overseeing behavior plan development, guiding formulation of behavioral assessment using information obtained from staff partners, and coordinating the implementation of behavioral interventions. The Incumbent may act as a consultant for problems of distressed behavior and provide education/training for staff on effective behavioral strategies in other staff partners inpatient VA settings outside of the CLC. The Incumbent will provide ongoing care transition services to BRO Team Veterans post-discharge, collaborating with all relevant stakeholders to help ensure the Veterans' success in the community. The Veteran population served by the BROT commonly exhibit behavioral disturbances and dementia-related behaviors. They commonly have complex psychosocial circumstances, ethically challenging situations, and limited psychosocial supports and/or limited financial resources. The incumbent is capable of practicing at the advanced practice level and has specialized knowledge of practice typically related to a particular diagnosis or population. Clinical Responsibilities: (80%) 1. Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult Veterans with co-morbid mental and physical health problems. 2. Provides education to Veterans, family members, and significant others within the BRO Team. 3. Consults with BRO Team/CLC professional staff, medical center staff, and VISN 23 referral sources, concerning clinical assessment, appropriate treatment plans, behavioral plans, and discharge plans for Veterans. 4. Provides consultation to other affiliated health care providers about treatment plans for patients, to ensure care is coordinated, collaborative and integrated within the overall care plan. 5. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual, couple/family, group psychotherapy and psycho-educational groups (i.e. anger management, coping skills), as well as specialized interventions such as behavior management and systems or environmental interventions. Uses evidence based interventions. Program Evaluation/Accountability/Research (5-10%) 1. May oversee the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes. 2. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. Academic/Teaching/Training: (5-10%) 1. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staff and trainees. This occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Participants must sign a service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program. 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. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (negotiable) Telework: Regular telework is available 1-2 days/bi-weekly pay period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP: AuthorizedLearn 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. 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: (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 (d) 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 (e) 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) (a) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level) (a) 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. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. 2. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. 3. Knowledge of clinical research literature. 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 to GS-13. 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 Fargo VA Medical Center 2101 Elm Street Fargo, ND 58102 US
• Name: Kelsey Albanese
• Phone: (515) 699-5999 X22023
• Email: [email protected]