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. Program 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

Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP): The psychologist in the MH RRTP, often referred to as the Domiciliary or Dom, functions as part of an interdisciplinary mental health team, which consists of a clinical pharmacist, nurses, nurse practitioners, peer specialists, physician assistant, social workers, vocational rehabilitation staff, etc. The MH RRTP psychologist independently diagnoses mental disorders, conducts psychological and/or cognitive screenings and/or assessments, and provides psychotherapy for Veterans for a variety of mental health conditions as a part of a general mental health residential treatment program, in which treatment and services are delivered in person. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities, and may provide clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training. Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP): The Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) psychologist functions as part of an interdisciplinary mental health team, which consists of other social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, nurse case managers, peer support specialists and clinical mental health pharmacists. The BHIP psychologist independently diagnoses mental disorders, conduct psychological and/or cognitive screenings and/or assessments, and provides psychotherapy for patients for a variety of mental health conditions as a part of a general mental health program. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Provides clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training. Trauma Recovery Clinic (PTSD Clinical Team): Clinical Psychologists in the outpatient Trauma Recovery Clinic, will practice as a specialist in Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders. TRC Psychologists are integral members of an interdisciplinary treatment team, which consists of Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, Nurse Case Managers, and trainees. The incumbent will be able to independently diagnose psychiatric disorders, conduct comprehensive psychological and/or cognitive evaluations, and provide trauma-focused psychotherapy. TRC places an emphasis on, evidence-based psychotherapies and utilizes a recovery model of care rather than symptom management. Therapies include, but are not limited to, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Written Exposure Therapy (WET). The clinic also offers skill-based groups and is interested in adding Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) as a therapy option soon. TRC staff communicate with a daily huddle and weekly protected team meeting times to develop treatment plans and ensure quality mental health care to our Veterans. Staff can participate in committees and workgroups with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Psychologists may also be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Major duties of the Clinical Psychologist in these clinics include, but are not limited to: Provide a full range of diagnostic/evaluation services in the areas of PTSD evaluation and suicide risk assessment. Emphasize individual/group evidence-based treatments to Veterans. Participate in a shared decision-making model of care to collaboratively determine which psychotherapy modalities are most appropriate based on the Veteran's individual and intersecting cultural factors, goals, strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences. 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 for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt of clinical reminders. Delivering services both in person and via video technology. Actively participating in the Psychology Training Program Committee Meetings, Didactics, and Integrated Case Conferences. Serving as clinical supervisor for the PTSC rotation (TRC) and General MH (BHIP) rotation, to include holding regular supervision hours, conducting performance reviews, and reviewing clinical sessions conducted by interns. Conducting didactics for interns on specialty topics. Assisting in the ongoing improvement of the Psychology Training Program. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 08:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Lena Cowder @ [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. 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 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: 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. 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. 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: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 year of 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. 6. Ability to develop and recommend new or revised policies that are consistent with organizational goals and objectives. *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 described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Inpatient or Residential Mental Health Experience Physical Requirements:

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/.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 08:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 51346F/F00825/51345F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact Lena Cowder @ [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Contacts

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