Clinical Psychologist Jobs

Duties

General Duties

The psychologist for whom this functional statement applies is a Clinical Psychologist who is experienced in providing psychological assessment and treatment to Veterans from a variety of cultural backgrounds with the full range and types of PTSD, including simple PTSD and Complex PTSD. The incumbent serves as a full-time staff PTSD psychologist on the Mental Health Specialty Care Team at the Fredericksburg CBOC focused on treating Veterans with all forms of PTSD, including combat and war zone stress, military sexual trauma, childhood trauma, accident trauma, and all other forms of trauma.

Clinical Responsibilities (80% of time)

• Devotes at least 0.2 FTE time to providing evidence-based treatments to Veterans.
• Makes referrals to grant & per diem social worker, homeless program coordinator, CWT program coordinator, and other service providers to maximize continued functioning.
• Within the scope of privileges granted, incumbent provides a full range of comprehensive psychotherapeutic interventions, including crisis intervention and outpatient individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapies for PTSD, Complex PTSD, and co-morbid conditions and diagnoses, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and Substance Use Disorders, with an emphasis on time-limited evidence ­based and evidence-informed approaches.
• Provides PTSD and co-occurring diagnosis screening, evaluation, and treatment services via telemental health.
• Leads a minimum of four PTSD psychotherapy groups, including an introductory group.
• Develops specialized behavior plans as appropriate and consults with staff on how to implement them.
• Works effectively with treatment teams to develop coherent treatment services and strategies for patients with simple PTSD and Complex PTSD, including development of treatment and behavior plans that include measurable treatment goals.
• Incumbent will ensure productivity is maintained at the established level for the programs for which he/she is responsible.
• Consults with medical center and CBOC staff on a wide variety of patient care issues.
• Conducts initial screening and intakes of Veterans referred for PTSD Treatment
• Completes all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center, Health Care Center or healthcare system in a timely manner.
• Communicates and coordinates treatment with other members of the treatment team, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurse practitioners, nurses, recreation therapists, occupational therapists, etc.

Administrative Responsibilities: (10% of time)

• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings.
• Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients.
• Establishes follow-up appointments prior to the end of treatment sessions and communicates the dates and times of these appointments both in CPRS orders and in written communications with MSAs.
• Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and encounters, as well as proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes).
• Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment teams to which the incumbent is assigned.

Program Development/Program Evaluation/Research (5% time)

• May assist in the development and implementation of a battery of pre-and post­ intervention psychological assessment measures to evaluate the effectiveness of units to which the incumbent is assigned.
• Participates in the development of policies, standard operating procedures, goal setting, and treatment planning processes for the Trauma Recovery Program.
• Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance processes.

Other Significant Responsibilities (5% time)

• Serves on CBOC, Medical Center or Health Care Center, or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Represents the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees as assigned.

Work Schedule: 7:45 - 4:30; Monday - Friday

Telework: Ad Hoc; may include regular recurring telework for highly qualified candidate.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified applicant for up to $10,000, $5,000 of which will be paid after successful completion of 6 months of work, and $5,000 after successful completion of 2 years of work.

EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

Qualifications

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

• (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.
• Internship:

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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)

• 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.
• 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.

GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level)

• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
• Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
• Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.
• 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: Work is performed in a clinical setting. Walking, standing, light lifting, typing, carrying, and bending may be required.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional Information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.