Details
Posted: 31-Jul-22
Location: Shreveport, Louisiana
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 658510700
The Staff Psychologist assigned to behavioral health interdisciplinary (BHIP) psychologist position is administratively within the Mental Health Service. The BHIP Psychologist functions as part of an interdisciplinary team and is responsible for diagnosis of mental disorders, conducting psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments, providing psychotherapy through a variety of modalities and providing adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. 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. 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 (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 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 (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND Internship Requirement: (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement; OR (d) 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 (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 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. 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: GS-13 Requirement: 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 Preferred Experience: Inpatient Mental Health Experience References: VA Handbook 5005/103 Appendix G18 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS13. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. It occasionally requires carrying of light objects such as files, books and papers. Some walking, standing and bending is required. No special physical qualifications are required. ["*** If you are a current, permanent Dept. of Veterans employee, you should apply to CBST-11519146-22-TB *** Duties performed by the Staff Psychologist include, but are not limited to the following:\n1. Serves as the primary point of contact for Veterans, identifying him/herself as the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator.\n2. Provides screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of psychiatric disorders with an emphasis on the application of time-limited, evidence-based approaches.\n3. Assures that necessary health/administrative information is integrated into Computerized Patient Record System, with notes written, signed, and encounter information completed the same day as the patient appointment.\n4. Completes an individualized, interdisciplinary treatment plan on each patient, with goals developed through collaboration with the Veteran and with an emphasis on functional outcomes.\n5. Functions collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to identify patient needs and develop treatment plan.\n6. Documents treatment progress in each note as relates to Veteran's overall treatment plan.\n7. Completes a discharge plan when patients have reached their identified goals,\nintegrating internal and external support resources for the Veteran upon discharge as\napplicable.\n8. Provides clinical services through the use of tele-mental health/telephone technology.\n9. When administrating therapeutic groups, completes the \"Group Outline\" document\nrequired by Mental Health Service and submits to Mental Health leadership.\n10. When administrating therapeutic groups, maintains group membership at 15 or fewer\npatients. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)\nTelework: Not Authorized\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 667-00056F\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Maybe Authorized to a highly qualified candidate\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Robert Knudsen at email: robert.knudsen@va.gov or Cassandra Tramiel at email: cassandra.tramiel@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]