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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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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: 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. 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. Board Certification. Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education. 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 Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/103 Part II Appendix G18 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: This work requires use of fingers, must be able to see computer screen and hear (aid may be permitted). Environmental factors are working closely with others and working alone. ["The Psychologist provides clinical psychotherapy and psychological assessment to eligible veterans. Practices under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist. Their health care and psychological problems and needs are complex and require a high degree of clinical intervention. The incumbent is required to interact with the patient, family, significant others, community agencies and other VA staff. Duties will include, but are not limited to: Teamwork: (1) Attends and participates in team meetings to share information, plan programs and provide clinical expertise; (2) Supports designated clinical, administrative and educational activities (3) Helps solve operational problems and assists in the development, clarification and implement of policies and procedures; (4) Participates in team meetings to review and discuss patients' physical, cognitive, social, emotional, vocational and behavioral assets and liabilities in order to establish, modify or review treatment plans; (5) Accepts additional duties to fill in for coworkers as program needs arise; (6) Develops and maintains appropriate communications, constructive interactions and positive working relationships with co-workers in order to identify and resolve problems that interfere with the delivery of patient services; (7) Communicates unresolved problems to immediate supervisor in a timely and direct manner; (8) Performance should demonstrate the ability to adjust to work pressure in a professional manner; (9) Successfully carries out special projects, as assigned by management staff, which significantly contributes to program development, performance improvement or accreditation. (10) Participates in supervision/support of psychology interns. Direct Patient Services & Case Management: (1) Meets with patients to observe, assess and improve their cognitive, family, social, emotional, vocational and/or behavioral functioning by means of interview and/or psychological testing techniques; (2) Provides an appropriate range and quality of assessments and interventions for all indicated patients in a timely manner. Completes 100% of clinical documentation within one business day of the service rendered and within 4 hours of any emergency intervention where there is threat of harm to self or others. (3) Provides individual and group counseling to patients and their families, on a regularly scheduled basis to engage in activities and/or discussion designed to improve patients' cognitive, social, emotional, vocational and/or behavioral functioning; (4) Is sensitive to issues of age, gender, sexual orientation, cultural background and spiritual orientation; (5) Explains the structure, rules and goals of treatment to patients; (6) Understands and practices security and confidentiality of patient information; (7) Coordinates and directs ongoing care for assigned patients and initiates appropriate referrals and consultations; (8) Takes prompt action to address and document patient absences, relapse, non-adherence to treatment plan and non-compliance with program policies; (9) Initiates and maintains effective liaisons with other programs and divisions in order to facilitate mutual referrals and promote continuity of care. Ethical Conduct: Provides all indicated Clinical Services in accordance with VA policies and the American Psychological Association Ethical Standards of Conduct. (2) Seeks Administrative guidance and peer review on ethical dilemmas (3) Demonstrates knowledge of the ethical standards of Psychology and implements the standards consistently. Supervision & Teaching: Meets with staff, other trainees and clinicians of other disciplines to explain and describe treatment, assessment, psychological testing and professional issues in order to inform and educate regarding psychology and its role and functions on the health care team. Administrative: (1) Attends and participates in Behavioral Health activities including quality assurance, peer review and staff meetings; (2) Participates in activities and programs beneficial to the Walla Walla VA, including committees, task forces, investigations and medical staff meetings as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Telework: Not available since remote Remote: Available (Remote refers to work performed on full-time basis anywhere other than a VA facility or using VA-leased space) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact V20CompensationTeam@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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