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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. - chapter 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English
• Education Requirement - (1) You must 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
• OR - (2) have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and - in addition - successfully completed a 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 you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are am applying for
• OR - (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• Note: Applicants must provide transcripts documenting the completion of the re-specialization program Internship Requirement - (a) 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 - (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 (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 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)
• NOTE: 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
• Board Certification and Loss of Credential: (1) 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 - non-restricted - and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education
• (2) Loss of Credential
• Once board certified - psychologist must maintain a full - valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment
• A psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification 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
• 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 Level: At least 2 additional years of experience - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level - as a professional psychologist that was obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post-doctoral psychology training program that demonstrates 1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and/or 2) a full - current and unrestricted license
• 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
• 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
• Physical Requirements: All candidates must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position - with or without reasonable accommodation - without hazard to themselves or others
• Candidates must meet the physical requirements outlined in Section II and Section VI of the OPM Operating Manual - Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions and must possess emotional and mental stability.

Duties

• VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders - particularly for patients with complex or unusually difficult medical conditions - including patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) - sleep disorders - chronic pain - kidney disease - cardiopulmonary conditions - and/or other health problems
• Provides comprehensive - evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions and behavioral medicine interventions - including individual - family - and group psychotherapy (in person and via telehealth) for patients with spinal cord injury - sleep disorders - chronic pain - kidney disease - cardiopulmonary conditions - and/or other health problems
• Provides specialized evaluations to assess patients' readiness and psychological suitability for medical procedures such as transplantation - bariatric surgery - and neuromodulation for chronic pain
• Provides evidence-based psychological interventions to improve health-related behaviors and coping (e.g. - motivational interviewing - CBT for insomnia - pain coping skills training)
• Provides psychoeducation regarding the interaction between psychological - behavioral - and physiological factors in health to healthcare staff - patients - and family members
• Develops and evaluates targeted intervention programs across diverse populations and settings to promote health and well-being and to prevent - treat and manage illness and disability
• Consults with professional staff on behavioral health concerns impacting medical or rehabilitation outcomes (e.g. - treatment adherence - adjustment to injury/illness - health risk behaviors)
• Develops - implements - and documents psychotherapeutic treatment plans for assigned caseloads - including prompt completion of clinical reminders
• Functions independently as a member of the VA Medical Center at Memphis Medical Staff with full clinical privileges
• assumes professional responsibility for clinical assessments - patient care decisions - and documentation
• Supports same-day access to mental health services for Veterans as needed (in person - by phone - or via telehealth)
• Provides clinical supervision and instruction for psychology interns and post-doctoral fellows
• Provides education appropriate to patients - family members - and significant others regarding mental and behavioral health concerns
• Provides clinical services using telehealth/telehome technology (e.g. - VVC)
• Assists the program director or coordinator in designing - developing - and implementing clinical programs for the Spinal Cord Injury team or treatment providers
• Adheres to operational policies and procedures for treatment teams as established by the Medical Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Unit
• Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the Behavioral Health and Neuropsychology Section as established by the Chief - Mental Health Service
• Facilitates liaison activities with other facility health care programs to coordinate patient care effectively
• Work Schedule: Primarily Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30 (evenings/weekends occasionally for outreach events) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized to highly qualified applicants
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): May be authorized to highly qualified applicants
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov - 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 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 $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
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