Psychologist

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 : 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 , 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 : (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.

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.

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 a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 Â 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. 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.

At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists.

Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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.

Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates : 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 KSAs. 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.

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 KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs : 1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.

2. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.

3. Knowledge of clinical research literature. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. An applicant may be selected in the range of GS-11 to GS-13.

Psychologist : The overarching function of the SATP Addiction Psychologist is to provide concurrent, integrated treatment for outpatient veterans diagnosed with a Substance Use Disorder.

This assignment is located within the Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program, which is a Treatment Program within Substance Use Disorders Services and the Hackensack Community Based Outpatient Program.

Although this position is primarily based out of the Hackensack NJ CBOC, the incumbent would be expected to work out of the East Orange VAMC approximately 2 days a week.

As the SATP Addiction Psychologist in the Outpatient Programs, the incumbent is responsible for coordinating addictions programming and providing direct care to Veterans.

The SATP Addiction Psychologist also is a member of the treatment team in providing substance abuse services in the Outpatient Program and the Community Based Outpatient Program.

Addictions Programming - The incumbent is responsible for development, implementation, oversight and evaluation of addictions services in Outpatient Program and the Community Based Outpatient Program.

The Addiction Psychologist also leads the team providing substance abuse services in the Outpatient Program and the Community Based Outpatient Program.

Screening / Assessment - The Psychologist participates in screening appointments of veterans applying to enter the Outpatient Substance Abuse Program.

The Psychologist completes psycho-social assessments within the first week of admission and identifies problem areas and veteran goals for treatment.

Treatment Planning / Goal Setting - The Psychologist is responsible for developing an individualized treatment plan in collaboration with the Veteran that reflects a course of therapeutic intervention to address the needs identified in the assessment.

The course of treatment is reflected in progress notes completed upon each significant contact with the client. The treatment plan is completed within the first week of admission and is reviewed and updated at least every two weeks, or as the treatment goals are resolved or changed.

Crisis Intervention - The Psychologist is experienced in assessing whether a client is in danger of harm to self or others and will utilize the emergency services available at VA NJ Healthcare System when appropriate.

Psychotherapy - The Psychologist exercises a variety of individual and group counseling techniques, including evidence-based psychotherapies, in the treatment of SUD.

This psychologist may also provide treatment for veterans with a history of other psychological diagnoses. Administrative responsibilities - The Psychologist complies with all regulations of the Veterans Health Administration and ensures that Clinical documentation complies with VANJ policies and current standards of practice for psychologists.

The Psychologist may also be assigned other administrative duties relating to requirements of Mental Health Outpatient Programs Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule : Monday-Friday 8 : 00am-4 : 30pm The employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours to include evening or weekend hours.

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : Not Authorized EDRP Authorized : Contact VISN2EDRPC, the EDRP Coordinator for questions / assistance.

Learn more Pay : Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off : 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave : After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy : After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $ Retirement : Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance : Federal health / vision / dental / term life / long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework : Not Available Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 24253-F Financial Disclosure Report : Not required"