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

The Psychology Program Manager (Training Program) within the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System Mental Health & Behavioral Medicine (MHBM) provides oversight of all aspects of Psychology Training including the APA-accredited pre-doctoral Psychology Internship Program, LPMHC Internship program, Psychology Practicum program, and Graduate Psychologist/LPC-A development. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Administrative/Program Management Responsibilities (80%): Has broad program management responsibilities for the APA (American Psychological Association) accredited Psychology Training Program, which includes operation and management of clinical, training, or administrative programs (e.g., internship, practicum, and unlicensed staff training programs). Provides oversight of administrative and programmatic resources of the Psychology Training Program consisting of a pre-doctoral internship consisting of 6 interns as well as the training of other pre-doctoral level graduate students completing practicum within the Central Texas system from nearby universities (typically 5-7). Provides oversight of administrative and programmatic resources of the LPMHC Training Program consisting of 4 interns as well as the training of other pre-Master's level graduate students completing practicum within the Central Texas system from nearby universities, as relevant. Provides oversight for Graduate Psychologists and Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor Associates supervision and training opportunities. The Psychology Training Director determines resources needed to maintain and/or expand the programs, working with the Deputy Chief of Psychology and qualified supervising psychologists to ensure quality training can be provided. Organizes, directs, administers, and manages all aspects of the program including comprehensive planning, developing, and implementing policies and procedures, determining the needs of the program, overseeing the quality and quantity of training, and establishing program initiatives and direction within the limitation of available staff and budget. Some of the core duties include: National/Local recruitment and selection of interns and practicum students. The process will adhere to the guidelines of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC), and any requirements set by VACO OAA, and conform to the principles and guidelines of the APA Commission on Accreditation (APA CoA) as well as any relevant national and/or local guidance. Maintain a comprehensive quarterly evaluation system of the trainees that is consistent with accreditation guidelines. Incorporate feedback from trainees, supervisors, and other sources to continuously assess and improve the quality of the training programs. Develop program self-studies as needed to maintain national accreditation. Orientation of trainees to the medical center, mental health services, and their respective training programs. In addition, familiarizing the trainees with essential policies and procedures of the VA and this medical center, through coordination with specific department heads. Attend any relevant national VA Psychology Training Committee and Training Director meetings to stay abreast of and address any updates from the Office of Academic Affiliations. Complies with local and national policy regarding the management of a training program, including facilitating regular chart audits, attendance at bi-annual meetings, and completion of surveys, record reviews as requested/necessary. Develop and maintain informational/recruiting website for Psychology Training Programs. The Training Director works with VACO OAA and with APPIC to maintain an accurate program description on the designated web sites for each of the training programs. Direct Patient Care Functions (20%): Provides clinical services that are appropriate to area of specialty. Ensures that all clinical work is documented accurately and in a timely fashion, consistent with Medical Staff Bylaws and other relevant service/facility policies. - Provides clinical care coordinator and case management, as appropriate. Work Schedule: Monday -Friday; 8:00 a.m. -4:30 p.m. Alternate tours per management discretion; Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not 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

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 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: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoralprogram; and, (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. Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards. OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND 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. NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard. 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. Board Certification and Loss of Credential. 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. Loss of Credential. Once board certified, psychologist must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment. A psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Experience. At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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. Additional KSAs, Preferred Experience and Physical Requirements are listed in the Education Section of this announcement.

Education

Continued KSAs:

• 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.

Preferred Experience:

1. At least 2 years of experience with mental health VA psychology training programs
2. At least 1 year of experience with Non-VA accreditation agencies
3. Experience working within interdisciplinary teams
4. At least 2 years of experience providing clinical supervision for psychologists

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103, PART II, APPENDIX G18, APPENDIX G18. PSYCHOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-0180.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: "The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds."


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.

Accreditation Information: The doctoral degree must be fully 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.. Verification of accreditation may be made obtained from APA, CPA, or PCSAS

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by any of the above-named agencies at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the website(s), you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Contacts

• Address VA Central Texas Health Care System 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive Temple, TX 76504 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]