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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. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA psychologist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. § 7402. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of psychologist in VHA must meet the following: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.g, this part.) b. 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. 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. NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship. [Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards.] [OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND (4) Internships (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 (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.) [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. NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard.] c. 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. 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 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. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance, Level) (a) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. (b) 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. (c) Assignment. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. At this level, psychologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. They may be assigned to any VHA program and setting, such as inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, Compensation and Pension, Vet Centers, and the VHA National Center for Organization Development. Preferred Experience: Conducting Psychosocial Assessments; Making Psychosocial Diagnoses; Effective Treatment Planning; Treatment Implementation; Treatment and Program Evaluation; Clinical Supervision, Graduate Student Field Instructor/Preceptor, Coaching, and Mentoring References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103PART II APPENDIX G18 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 13 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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. ["General Description This Staff Psychologist position is a full-time position with primary duties in the Durham Health Care System Mental Health Service Line. The incumbent is assigned to the Greenville Health Care Center (HCC), primarily in the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) and has responsibilities of being a member of a BHIP team and conducting evidenced based assessment and outpatient psychotherapy services in individual, family, couples, and group therapy formats. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. At this level, psychologists are licensed at the doctoral level to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Staff psychologists diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. They consult with HCC staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. The incumbent will also be assigned additional administrative responsibilities to assist with program management. Primary (Clinical) Responsibilities 1. Provides a full range of specialized services at all levels of complexity. 2. Service delivery to include screenings, intake evaluations, psychological diagnostic assessments, and psychotherapy. 3. Provides evidenced-based psychotherapies in both individual and group formats. 4. Provides consultation within the treatment team and other professionals staff across the Durham VAHCS. 5. As relevant and as requested, may provide clinical supervision to Psychology practicum students, predoctoral interns or fellows (or unlicensed Psychology staff, as requested). Administrative Responsibilities 1. Administratively tracks and manages workload needs, overseas triage of consults, fosters teamwork, and identifies and implements methods to improve efficiency. 2. Conducts program evaluation to inform program development needs (e.g., specific staffing needs, workload equality, Veterans' clinical needs, etc.) 3. Collaborates and serves as a liaison with other MHS clinics, in addition to clinics across the Durham VAHCS, to coordinate and enhance patient mental health care. 4. Responsible for ensuring implementation of any specifically designated new VA policy/procedures (e.g., VOD implementation, same day access); is aware of and responsive to performance indicators such as SAIL. 5. Collaborates with leaders within MBHS Outpatient Division as well as other clinic directors throughout MBHS to ensure efficient processes within clinic and high-quality collaboration across clinics. Other Significant Responsibilities 1. With approval, may serve on Medical Center, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces. 2. May represent Psychology / Mental Health programs in various workgroups and committees at the Medical Center. 3. May actively participate in leadership roles on local, state, and national professional organizations. Supervisory Controls: The Psychologist exercises independent judgment in the practice and provision of psychological services (clinical care, consultation, and education). S/he/they consults with peers, her/his/their first line supervisor, the Mental Health Service Line supervising psychologist, and the Chief of Mental Health, as needed. DVAHCS Chief of Psychology acts as the approving official for the Staff Psychologist to ensure adherence to professional standards of the practice of psychology as well as fulfillment of responsibilities for Psychology training. Work Schedule: Mon to Fri 8A to 4:30P Telework: Reg Teleworks 3+Days/PP Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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