Career Center

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: 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 submit a transcript showing you were awarded the doctoral degree to receive credit. 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 provide a copy of your transcript, program information and completion date in your resume, copy of current board certification, or 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, as applicable, to receive credit. 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). 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. 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. You must provide an unexpired copy to receive credit. 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. Grade Determinations: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following: Staff Psychologist, GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level) (a) Experience. At least 1 full year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the GS-11 level. To receive credit, you must list hours worked per week and demonstrate your experience through job tasks in your resume. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience, the candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs in their resume: 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) (a) Experience. At least 2 years of experience, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level, as a professional psychologist that was obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post-doctoral psychology training program that demonstrates1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and 2) a full, current and unrestricted license. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current psychology practice. To receive credit, you must list hours worked per week and demonstrate your experience through job tasks in your resume AND submit a copy of your unexpired licensure. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience, the candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs in their resume:: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to a 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. *Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed. See Education section for continued requirements. ["This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 29, 2023 or until these positions are filled. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 8, 2023 and every Wednesday until it closes or as needed. Current permanent VA employees, Federal employees from other federal agency, and HPTs should apply under CBST-11844639-23-AYC. This position serves as a fully qualified staff psychologist in the Community Living Center (CLC) in the Mental Health Care Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC). The focus of the position is integrating care for a population of older adults, with mental and physical health conditions, who reside in the Community Living Center. The Psychologist applies knowledge of successful aging, medical complications in older adults and psychotherapeutic techniques in the assessment and treatment of patients with the goal of assisting patients to partner with the interdisciplinary team in working to diminish, eliminate, or better cope with issues of aging, as well as stabilization of common psychological conditions. The Psychologist uses evidence-based psychotherapies, relaxation techniques, stress management, and/or other discipline appropriate techniques. The Psychologist may also offer educational services to the family support systems of patients with whom they work in order to facilitate and generalize treatment gains. Additional Major Duties: Provides a full range of psycho diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. Provides direct patient contact including psychological assessment and treatment planning, individual psychotherapy/assessment sessions, family/caregiver stress therapy sessions. Performs evaluations for patients with a variety of psychological disorders. Provides psychological assessments and individual and group psychotherapy for patients in the CBOC for which they work. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including: individual and family psychotherapy, caregiver stress support and evidence based treatments for a variety of psychological disorders and conditions. Provides supervision of trainees conducting direct clinical care. Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. May be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. May provide clinical supervision to various disciplines and levels of training, including trainees seeking licensure in psychology. Graduate students Interns Fellows May be involved in Psychology Training Program and Training Committee. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staffs of units to which assigned. May be involved in the training of medical students, medical and psychiatric residents, nursing students, fellows and other graduate or post-graduate trainees, as appropriate. Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. May present outcome data and research at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings, as appropriate. Assists in preparation of RFPs and grant proposals, as assigned. May serve on Medical Center, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces. May represents Psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center, VISN or National VA committees. May participate in leadership roles on local, state, and national professional organizations. May represents the Medical Center or VISN at professional/program community group/events and committees. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, evenings and weekend as determined by CLC Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 580-0036-F: GS-11; 580-0037-F: GS-12; 580-0038-F: GS-13 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact demetrius.roberts@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

Return to Search Results