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. 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 - 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, 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, have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. 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; 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). 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. 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. Grade Determinations: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following: GS-11 Level: no additional experience beyond the basic requirement GS-12 Level: at least 1 full year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the GS-11 level, and are able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities: Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). 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. GS-13 Level: at least 2 addition 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. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current psychology practice: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to a 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. *Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, light carrying, use of fingers, hearing (aid permitted), operation of a motor vehicle may be required 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. ["Sleep/Pain Psychologist: The incumbent will the psychologist assigned to the Sleep Clinic and Pain Clinic (50% Sleep Clinic, 50% Pain Clinic), and will provide in-person and virtual assessment, individual, and group treatments for Veterans with sleep and pain conditions. Preference will be shown for clinicians already trained in either CBT-Insomnia or CBT-Chronic Pain. The Incumbent has duties primarily in support of the behavioral health services for patients with chronic pain and will function as a member of the interdisciplinary pain clinic team to provide care to Veterans with mental health and medical conditions, with a focus on treating chronic pain. The incumbent is part of the Behavioral Medicine Program in Mental Health Service. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Diagnoses mental disorders and provides a full range of psychological assessment and treatment services as indicated for pain clinic environment. Receives Veteran referrals through the Pain Clinic. Provides screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions and impact of pain on psychological functioning, with an emphasis on the application of time-limited, evidence based approaches (e.g. CBT-CP, MI, etc.). Provides behavioral medicine interventions to manage acute and chronic pain, sleep problems, facilitate weight loss, manage disability, enhance medical compliance, and other interventions as indicated. Completes psychological evaluations as requested by Pain Clinic Team (e.g. pre-procedure evaluations for spinal cord stimulator implants and other relevant evaluations). Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions with a strong emphasis on evidence-based models of care in the management of chronic pain. Performs evaluations for patient conditions that include a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and general emotional and cognitive functioning. Provides group, individual, and family psychotherapy and counseling to Veterans and family members. Provides psychoeducation to patients and family members to support healthcare adherence and pain management. Consults to Ambulatory Care staff, primary care providers, and PCMHI providers on a wide variety of patient care issues pertinent to medical treatment and psychosocial recovery. Provides services in traditional clinical settings by utilizing telecommunication technology, in addition to face-to-face services. Functions independently as a member of the VA Medical Center at Memphis Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges and assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. This includes Psychology Peer Review. Supports same-day access to mental health services for Veterans as deemed necessary by the service, in person and by telephone and telehealth. Collaborates closely with other mental health providers. Refers Veterans to additional mental health services as indicated. Provides education appropriate to patients with mental and behavioral health concerns, their family members, and significant others. Strong preference will be given to candidates who will have completed a postdoctoral fellowship or one year of post-graduate clinical experience prior to onboarding. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified applicants EDRP Authorized: Contact visn9hredrp@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
