Summary

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. Program 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.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• 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 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: 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
• 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
• OR - Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Internship: 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 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
• 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 meeting the basic requirements stated above - the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• Staff Psychologist GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements
• Staff Psychologist GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience: At least one (1) 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
• Staff Psychologist GS-13 (Full Performance Level) Experience: At least two (2) years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one (1) year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level
• While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills - and Abilities (KSAs) - you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position
• Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training
• otherwise - we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim
• These are the KSA's for this subject position: Staff Psychologist GS-12 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 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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 physical demands of the work are generally minor
• The work is primarily sedentary in climate controlled clinical and administrative settings
• The incumbent will be expected to successfully negotiate various functional requirements: lifting (15-44 pounds) - carrying (15-44 pounds) - walking (1-3 hours) - reaching above their shoulder(s) - the use of hands or fingers - sitting (4-6 hours) - standing (1-2 hours) - repeated bending - using stairs or elevators - functional vision - clear speech - hearing - and emotional stability
• There may be occasional requirements to relocate boxed materials from one area to another - equipment and room set-up - and physical inspections of the facilities.

Duties

• *****Recruitment/Relocation incentive may be offered to highly qualified candidate(s).***** The Staff Psychologist is under the Mental Health and Behavioral Science Service and duties include working with and clinically supporting the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center (VAMC) and outpatient clinics
• The Staff Psychologist works within the Primary Care Behavioral Health Program providing direct patient care and supportive administrative duties
• Additionally - the West Palm Beach VAMC Mental Health Service reserves the right to adjust recruitment placement as the need arises in a shifting environment as it is dedicated to providing comprehensive - evidence-based care to individuals experiencing mental health challenges
• The recruitment is for the Mental Health Service - and the assignment to the specific mental health service program may vary and/or change in the future at the discretion of the mental health service leadership based on the service and the facility needs
• The role of the Psychologist is integral to our mission of delivering high-quality - compassionate care
• This position involves diagnosing - treating - and managing psychiatric disorders within a multidisciplinary team framework
• Duties may include - but are not limited to: Performing psychological assessment - triage - and brief psychotherapy for individuals seen in a primary care and medical setting
• Conducting reviews of medical records - as necessary - for the purpose of coordinated and informed patient care
• Providing a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including the use of psychological testing such as cognitive screenings for patients
• Providing a range of psychological therapeutic interventions with individuals with mental health and medical disorders utilizing empirically supported modalities when indicated
• Consulting with and serving as a resource for other professional personnel concerning the need for - evaluation of - and development of psychological services
• May be asked to assist in the selection - training - and supervision of staff at lower grades
• Adhering to operational policies and procedures established for the MH&BS and Psychology Section
• Complying with CPRS documentation procedures - including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check-out procedures (e.g
• entering diagnostic and procedure codes) Attending and participating in administrative and informational meetings held by the Mental Health Clinic - the Chief of the Psychology Section - the Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences Service Chief - and the Chief of Staff
• Also - weekly PC-BH team meetings
• Serving on Medical Center or Healthcare System - VISN - and/or National VA committees or task forces - including participation in assigned RCA committee activities as needed
• Representing the Medical Center at professional/program community group/events and committees
• May be called upon to participate in \"Outreach\" programs to veterans in the community
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm - Monday - Friday Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for a highly qualified candidate subject to approval - available funding - and in accordance with agency policy
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact V8_EDRP_WPB@va.gov - 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 $416.66
• 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 #: 40006F Staff Psychologist (PCBH) Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.