Staff Psychologist- Recruitment Incentive/ EDRP Authorized

A Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual. This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is March 11, 2024.

Additional applications will be referred as needed. EDRP. The following approved Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) information has been added to the T38 and HT38 announcement templates in the Summary section with instructional placeholders : 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 : Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

Education : To be qualified for a GS-0180 Psychologist you must possess 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 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 Requirement - 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.

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 7405 (a)(1)(D) 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. 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 : : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates : GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience : None beyond the basic requirements.

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.

Experiences include : Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research.

They may be assigned to any program area. Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist.

GS-13 (Full Performance, Level) : at least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.

I am required to maintain independent licensure at this grade level. Experience includes : diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs : GS-12 : 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.

GS-13 : 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. Preferred Experience : Full, unrestricted license for the practice of Psychology from a US State or Territory.

Experience in health and / or rehabilitation psychology settings. Training in psychotherapy and behavioral management methods relevant to a Veteran population with complex medical & psychological concerns.

Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team. Experience using psychological assessment instruments to assist with diagnostic assessment.

Experience providing crisis intervention and case management services. References : VA Handbook 5005 / 1003 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 in the range of GS-11 to GS-13.

Physical Requirements : The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work.

Work may also require walking / standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and / or conferences away from the work site.

Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. "This is a direct patient care position which requires General Core Psychology privileges.

This position will require the provider to work primarily with an outpatient SCI population although coverage for the inpatient unit and / or home care visits will also be involved.

The psychologist's main clinical role is to assess and treat a wide variety of psychological conditions typically co-morbidly seen with SCI and related medical disorders.

The employee demonstrates knowledge regarding the interaction of cognitive, personality, psychological and psychosocial factors in the context of disability and rehabilitation.

The employee diagnoses psychological conditions using a variety of assessment techniques including clinical interview and psychological assessment;

this includes completion of SCI annual psychological evaluations. The employee uses a variety of modalities to treat psychological conditions and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders and increase treatment adherence.

Treatment interventions include a combination of brief individual and group therapy to patients, their families or caregivers alongside behavioral and environmental interventions.

The employee also supports renewal and ongoing maintenance activities for both CARF and Joint Commission accreditation. Finally, the employee serves the whole VA North Texas Health Care System in a consultative role related to psychological issues pertaining to Spinal Cord Injury and rehabilitation.

There are no formal administrative responsibilities with this position. The employee may directly supervise psychology practicum students, interns, post-doctoral fellows, and unlicensed staff psychologists.

The employee may also participate in psychology training program applicant interviews, selection and didactic training. As with all staff psychologist positions within Mental Health Service, the employee is called upon to serve on ad hoc workgroups or committees within the service to address problems and concerns of the profession and service.

VA Careers - Psychologist : Psychologist : The Mental Health Service of the VA North Texas Health Care System values cultural diversity across our staff and training programs.

Mental Health Service leaders are deeply committed to fostering an environment that is highly sensitive to and appreciative of all aspects of diversity.

Our staff represent a variety of cultural backgrounds, competencies, interests, and theoretical orientations. We believe that increased self-awareness and appreciation for other viewpoints and cultures makes our service stronger and strengthens our ability to provide the highest quality of mental health care.

Work Schedule : Monday- Friday, 8 : 00a-4 : 30p Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus) : Authorized, Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance) : Not Authorized EDRP Authorized : Contact VISN17EDRP, the EDRP Coordinator for questions / assistance.

Learn more Pay : Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.

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 : Telework may be possible depending on needs of service Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report : Not required"