Career Center

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. Learn more The Mental Health Service of the VA North Texas Health Care System values cultural diversity across our staff and training programs. Mental Health Service leaders are deeply committed to fostering an environment that is highly sensitive to and appreciative of all aspects of diversity. Our staff represent a variety of cultural backgrounds, competencies, interests, and theoretical orientations. We believe that increased self-awareness and appreciation for other viewpoints and cultures makes our service stronger and strengthens our ability to provide the highest quality of mental health care. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job 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: To be qualified for a GS-0180 Psychologist: Have 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:(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 Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND Internship Requirement 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;ORNew 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: 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. 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 (a)(1)(D) 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 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.GS 12 equivalent experience includes: 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. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate 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: Experience treating a Veteran population. Experience on PCMHI, Behavioral Health setting or working closely with Primary Care providers Experience with brief, problem focused treatment modalities Experience with service provision via Tele Mental Health At least 2 years' experience beyond the doctoral degree Licensed as a psychologist References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II APPENDIX G18. PSYCHOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0180 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 13. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds Light carrying, under 15 pounds Straight pulling ( 1hour)Pushing ( 2 hours) Reaching above shoulder Use of fingers Walking (3 hours)Standing (3 hours) Repeated bending (1 hour)Climbing, use of legs and armsBoth legs required Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other Both eyes required Depth perception Ability to distinguish basic colors Ability to distinguish shades of colors Hearing (aid may be permitted) frequent keyboarding to operate computer Distant vision (Snellen): without corrective lenses: 20 right 20 left ; with corrective lenses, if worn; 20 right 20 left Right Ear From 20 feet away. Left From 20 feet away. ["A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual. The Primary Purpose of the Position is: To serve as a staff psychologist and behavioral health consultant on an interdisciplinary primary care mental health team in which the psychologist conducts functional assessments and provides, brief, problem focused treatment interventions. The behavioral health consultant/psychologist will also utilize a variety of measurement-based care instruments. The Organizational Location of the Position is: Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI), Tele Mental Health Service, VA North Texas Health Care System, (VANTHCS), Tyler, TX.PCMHI is a component of the inter-professional Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). The PCMHI role is to provide support' for Primary care providers and the rest of the PACT to assure that the mental and behavioral health needs of the primary care population are addressed. Duties may include the following: Provides ongoing support to other PACT members. Performs direct in-person or virtual face to face assessment and treatment when indicated. This assessment includes a mental status examination. Communicates frequently with other primary care staff and attends primary care service meetings Provides chart-based consultation, including E-consults as needed/requested. Maintains availability for informal and \"curbside\" consults as needed by PACT members. Ensures ongoing availability for urgent or emergent situations Provides diagnostic clarification when needed. Routinely attends PACT huddles for informal consultation and education of the team Offers and provides formal education sessions as desired by other team members Serves as liaison between PACT providers and other mental health providers working with PACT patients who are receiving ongoing services in general and subspecialty MH clinics. Generally, the PCMHI psychologist does not provide direct treatment for such patients though should be of help during times of crisis. In such instances, the PCMHI psychologist is expected to make every effort to contact and involve the mental health team of record or the designated on-call psychiatrist Provides consultation to co-located collaborative psychologists, social workers, nurses, clinical pharmacists and other disciplines as needed. Psychologists' are expected to be able to assist with understanding the often-complex interaction resulting from comorbid psychiatric and non-psychiatric conditions. Works closely with other mental health clinics and staff to identify patients whose episode of illness has been successfully treated to plan termination from specialty care and return to PACT for long term follow-up. While it is not expected that the psychologist or others on the PCMHI team will routinely follow such patients, they are to be available for consultation in instances of recurrence of symptoms. They may at that time provide early intervention or determine that return to specialty care is needed. The psychologist bears overall responsibility for the MH treatment of the patient evaluating and providing optimal treatment, referring to other providers, coordinating activities of MH providers seeing the-·same patient, documenting an appropriate brief M'H treatment plan, seeking consultation when necessary, and approaching treatment within the context of available services within the facility as well as community providers and networks. As required by the Chief of Psychology, in some instances and where applicable, participates in grand rounds, teaching of medical students and residents, as well as· psychology trainees (practicum students, interns; and post-doctoral fellows). In all facilities, participates in training and teaching of a variety of trainees in many professions. Must be familiar with medical staff bylaws and fulfill other obligations required of medical staff in the facility, such as serving on peer review committees and other tasks as assigned. Serves as an \"ambassador\" for integrated care within and outside VHA to promote its spread as a critical ingredient in healthcare. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual.\nEDRP Authorized: Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]