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. Basic Requirements: The basic requirements for employment as a VHA psychologist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. § 7402. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of psychologist in VHA must meet the following: United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.g, this part.) 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. 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 Internships: 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. 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. Exception on-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)] Loss of Credential: A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. Grandfathering Provision: May qualify based on being covered by the 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) 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). 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. 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature Preferred Experience: Substance Use Disorders and Comorbid Mental Health 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 PART II [APPENDIX G18. PSYCHOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0180 ["The DCHV is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary residential rehabilitation treatment program designed to address the substance related, mental health, vocational, and medical factors contributing to Veteran homelessness. The DCHV program works to reintegrate Veterans into the community with a plan for long-term recovery, community based housing, and stable income. This psychologist provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic assessment, therapeutic, and psycho-educational interventions as well as consultative services to Veterans served within the DCHV program. The DCHV program is part of the Mental Health Care Line. Duties and Responsibilities include but not limited to: Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including: Individual and group therapy, psychoeducation, and evidence based psychotherapies to treat common conditions within the DCHV patient population (e.g., MET, CBT-D, CBT-I, DBT, relapse prevention, etc.) Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Involved in Psychology Training Program and Training Committee. Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using a data-driven quality assurance process. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. If applicable, plans and oversees the completion of personal research programs, designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches. Organizes residential treatment program to maintain efficacious programming. Presents outcome data and research results at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings. Submits data to VA and national conferences Assists in preparation of RFP's and grant proposals, as assigned. Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces. Attends Psychology staff meetings up to twice monthly. Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies, particularly for veterans with substance use disorders and various co-morbid mental health conditions. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures including rehabilitation, recovery and relapse prevention. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, advanced professional psychological theories and techniques to the full range of patient populations, particularly veterans with substance use disorders and various co-morbid mental health conditions. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health with patients with substance use disorders and various co-morbid mental health conditions. Knowledge of clinical research literature, particularly in the area of substance use disorders and various co-morbid mental health conditions. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines independently. Ability to balance responsibilities in a complex environment and to work with great autonomy, analyze complex organizational problems, and ability to develop and implement effective solutions for those problems. Skill in persuasion, negotiation, and motivation to negotiate multiple program policies. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. Ability to assess need for basic and complex services across multiple programmatic patient care venues. Ability to coordinate the efforts of multiple program elements across a complex system. Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations. Knowledge of, and ability to appropriately utilize, evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines 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. Provides supervision in areas related to behavioral health in order to accomplish organizational goals and objectives. Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care Performs evaluations for the DCHV program. Participates in Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations according to hospital policy. Represents psychology as directed by the Program Manager on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System. Actively participates in leadership roles on local, state and national professional organizations. Represents the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: GS-0180 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized"]

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