Career Center

The psychologist will be a member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team located in the General Mental Health (GMH) Clinic of the VA Central Western Massachusetts Health Care System located in Leeds, MA. 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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education 1) 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 (2) 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 re­specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an AP A 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 (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND Internships (a) Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by AP A 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 (b) New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for AP A 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 ( c) 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 ( d) Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by AP A 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 (e) 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. 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. (1) 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. (2) 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: Staff Psychologist, GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. 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. 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: 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/103, 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 ["Duties include but are not limited to: Direct Service Provision a) Provides a full range of therapeutic services and interventions in the General Mental Health Clinic, including psychiatric assessments and individual, and group psychotherapy. Selects and provides the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care, including evidence-based care for substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.\nb) Completes intakes and makes appropriate treatment recommendations based on these interviews.\nc) Provides clinical supervision and training to psychology trainees.\nd) Contributes to clinical service activities ( e.g., urgent care, police evaluations, compensation and pension evaluations), as requested. Clinical administrative, support, and management functions\na) Attends GMH/BHIP treatment team meetings and serves as a consultant to other treatment providers including those in the specialty programs for veterans with SUD.\nb) Completes administrative functions, including report and progress note writing, and attending staff and organizational meetings.\nc) Keeps informed regarding treatment and outcome research development in the areas of substance use and mental health (including Affective and Anxiety Disorders), and assists in the implementation or modification of existing treatments based on developments in these areas of practice.\nd) Works in compliance with local and national performance measures.\ne) Answers clinic consults, coordinates patient care, and assists with tracking clinic data.\nf) Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by local and national guidelines, timely compliance with all safety/fire prevention guidelines and trainings, completion of other VA ­mandated trainings, renewing clinical privileges on schedule, and completing peer reviews, per Psychology Service guidelines.\ng) Provides clinical service in an ethical manner, consistent with American Psychological Association and VA Boston Healthcare System ethical guidelines.\nh) Provides cross-disciplinary clinical consultation and clinical guidance to mental health and medical staff, as needed. Academic/Teaching/Training\na. The psychologist may engage in supervision of interdisciplinary trainees ( e.g., psychiatry residents) who conduct direct clinical care.\nb. Provides direct education to psychology interns or fellows and psychiatry residents through clinical forums and seminars.\nc. Attends training meetings regarding psychology training.\nd. Participates in recruitment activities for the psychology internship and fellowship training programs ( e.g., application review, interviewing, and applicant selection).\ne. Serves as a consultant to other medical and mental health staff and trainees on issues related to addiction. Program Evaluation\na. Contributes to the development of innovative clinical services to better meet the needs of veterans served in the General Mental Health and SUD\nPrograms.\nb. Assists program managers to assess the efficacy of programming and adjusts programming as necessary to enhance clinical care and outcomes.\nc. Assists with the preparation and analysis of program outcome data to form appropriate questions for quality improvement projects. Research\na. Will be a regular consumer of research relevant to the conduct of evidence-based evaluation and treatment of patients, as well as supervision of trainees.\nb. Will supports research programs that are consistent with the mission of the medical center.\nc. As applicable, presents research results at VA, regional or national scientific or professional meetings.\nd. May assist in preparation of grant proposals and scholarly work including presentations at national professional conferences and publications in professional journals.\ne. As applicable, prepares and submits manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.\nTelework: Not available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: F04882\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]