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

Duties included but not limited to: Doctoral degree in psychology from American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) accredited graduate program in an area of training consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. 2) Internship in professional psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association or current board certification 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. 3) Professional Psychology Licensure: A psychologist must hold a full, current and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the US, or the District of Columbia. b. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1) Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and met multiple deadlines. 2) Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. 3) Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. 4) Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. 5) Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. 6) Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. 7) Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. Program Manager Responsibilities: 1) Program Management and Supervision (50% of time): Under the direction of the Chief and/or Assistant Chief, Mental Health Service (MHS), the BHIP Outpatient Manager maintains overall managerial and supervisory responsibility for clinical operations across the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) at the Columbia VAHCS main (Dorn) campus to include Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) and assigned MH Specialty Programs. Assists the Chief and Assistant Chief, Mental Health Service in the overall operation of the service. Maintains direct and/or indirect supervisory responsibility of program coordinator/s, non-physician supervisors and frontline clinical staff of the following programs: Outpatient BHIP teams in General Mental Health; Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) at the Dorn campus; and assigned specialty mental health program areas to include Marriage and Family Therapy Services and the Trauma Recovery Program (TRP) Develops and maintains high-quality outpatient mental health services while meeting all VISN and VACO Environment of Care and programmatic requirements. Works cooperatively with the Chief and/or Assistant Chief of MHS, Nurse Executive for Mental Health or designee, and other services across CVAHCS including facility Executive Leadership. Fosters a cohesive interdisciplinary team environment. Oversees quality control issues and performance measures in consultation with the Chief and/or Assistant Chief, MHS. Oversees compliance with and successful execution of Mental Health Performance Measures, SAIL, workload, VERA capture, Veteran satisfaction, and quality assurance. Utilizes the service recovery model with veterans who express dissatisfaction or concerns regarding their mental health care As requested, provides consultation for all mental health clinicians in regard to the clinical care of complex cases. Clinical Responsibilities (50% of time): Independently provides Psychological assessment and diagnostic services for Veterans with a broad range of mental health challenges receiving care within the clinical setting. Has advanced knowledge and experience in the use of mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment strategies; this includes acute, chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic alliances with Veterans and their families. Provides education to both patients and family members regarding Work Schedule: 08:00am - 4:30PM subject to change Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized Telework: Authorized 1-2 days Per Pay Period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Psychologist - FS-544-54189F Social Worker - FS 544-54186F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 Requirement - 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 Requirement - 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 Requirement - 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: Psychology Program Manager, GS-14 (a) Experience. At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines 2.. Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. 3. Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view. 4. Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. 5. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. 6. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. 7. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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-14 .. Physical Requirements: The work requires extreme patience and controlling of emotions. The work may require using appropriate techniques to physically restrain patients who present a danger to self or others. The work may also require assisting physically disabled Veterans. Day-to-day work involves sitting, walking, standing and carrying light objects. The work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes the incumbent to the communicable diseases common to Veterans. Some of the work is performed in a setting away from the office, where the environment cannot be controlled. The incumbent must be able to safely operate a government owned vehicle for the purpose of community work and to transport patients.

Education

Basic Requirements for Psychologist (0180): Successfully completion of a degree with a major or equivalent in psychology for all specializations.
AND
Successful completion of 2 full academic years of graduate study directly related to professional work in counseling psychology, or successful completion all the requirements for a master's degree directly related to counseling psychology in an accredited educational institution.

Basic Requirements for Social worker (0185):Successful completion of a degree in social work that fulfills all of the requirements for the master's degree in social work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. AND successful completion of a master's degree in social work with practicum.

In lieu of specialized experience listed in the Qualifications section, applicants may qualify based on equivalent combination of education and experience, as follows:Successful completion of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
OR
Successful completion of three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent degree
.OR
Possession of a combination of experience and education as described above that equates to one year of experience. Your percentage of the required education plus your percentage of the required experience must equal one hundred percen


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 Columbia VA Health Care System 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: Deborah Little-Hill
• Phone: (757) 722-9961 X6101
• Email: [email protected]