This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

GS-11/12 Staff Psychologist (SUD) - The incumbent provides specialized psychological services to Veterans diagnosed with addictive disorders within the SUD/IOP Program. The incumbent possessed advance knowledge that emphasizes an evidence­ based clinical approach to the application of addiction sciences to understand addictive behavior and develop interventions that improve health and well-being. The incumbent has advanced knowledge in pertinent areas of addiction psychology. The complexity of the work requires the psychologist to possess a thorough knowledge of commonly used treatments with empirical support including motivational interviewing, identifying conditioned and contextual cues (triggers) for addictive behavior, behavioral coping techniques for cravings, emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills for strong emotions, harm reduction, and relapse prevention plans to support sustained abstinence. GS-13 Staff Psychologist (SUD) - The incumbent diagnoses mental disorders, conducts psychological assessments and evaluations, treats mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provides adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. At this level, psychologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities. The incumbent is administratively assigned to the Substance Use Clinic (SUD) to provide treatment to Veterans with mental and/or behavioral disorders. Provides supervision of psychology trainees. GS-11/12/13 Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Performs professional work describing human behavior, determining the reasons for that behavior and predicting and/or modifying the behavior. Performs psychological assessment, evaluation, and treatment of patients with a wide range of psychiatric disorders and psychological issues. Provides evidenced-based psychotherapy to patients through individual, family and couples sessions or through group therapy sessions. Through clinical interviews, psychological testing, and behavioral observation, assesses behavior, emotions, personality, and intelligence. Administers, scores, and interprets a wide variety of cognitive and personality psychological tests for differential diagnostic purposes and to offer recommendations for management or treatment of patients. Renders a written report of findings. Serves as an authoritative source of information in the use and interpretation of psychological tests Plans and conducts individual, group, family and couples psychotherapy utilizing evidenced-based therapeutic models and techniques for population and problems served. Conceptualizes, develops, and presents detailed treatment plans for the cases served and documents treatment plans in the electronic health record and/or the Mental Health Suite. Provides consultation to other behavioral health staff professionals and peers in an attempt to promote and preserve therapeutic environment for individual patients. Provides consultation regarding appropriate staff responses toward patient or specific environmental factors that will stimulate more self-reliance, reduce anxiety, or achieve more socially adaptable behavior patterns. Evaluates and adjusts treatment as necessary. Continually monitors patient's progress through qualitative means and Measurement-Based Care. Maintains accuracy in therapeutic techniques by reviewing and/or participating in outcome research or quality improvement activities. Evaluates and exercises judgment in the adjustment of treatment plan goals in collaboration with the patient and the treating team. Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. Follows VHA mandated procedures for crisis intervention and suicide assessment procedures. Serves as key member of the interdisciplinary team of the clinic, program, or unit where assigned. Performs administrative duties including: Scheduling of Veterans and related issues and attending organizational meetings. Completes on a timely manner Provider Practice Reviews, Protected Peer Reviews, Fact Findings, Project Action Teams, Root Cause Analyses, and other workgroups tasks assigned. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday 10:00am - 6:30pm (Extended hours); Tuesday to Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:Staff Psychologist GS-11 FS# 62382F, GS-12 FS# 62383F and GS-13 FS# 62384F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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: (1) 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. OR (2) 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; and, (b) The specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. 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 temporary appointment as a graduate psychologist at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 USC 7405 for a period not to exceed two years of 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). All persons employed in VHA as a psychologist on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education (i.e., degree and internship requirements) and licensure/certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Employees grandfathered under this provision for this revision may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions or beyond the assignment currently held for those being grandfathered to assignments above FPL. Psychologists who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Psychologists initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. NOTE: If psychologists who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Preferred Experience: Previous experience treating substance use disorder patients. Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist, GS-11 (Entry level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental level) 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. Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full performance level) Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. References: VA Handbook 5005/103, Part II, Appendix G18 Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work requires light lifting, under 15 lbs.; Light carrying, under 15 lbs.; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking, Standing; Both legs required; Hearing (aid permitted). 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

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: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.

OR

Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.

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 San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Yolanda Ortiz-Davila
• Phone: (407) 631-7515
• Email: [email protected]