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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. Learn more 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience in behavioral health integration or PCMHI certification Experience providing suicide risk assessments and initial treatments for high-risk patients Demonstrated success in teamwork, collaboration, and interpersonal effectiveness especially in busy settings Commitment to continual growth in culturally competent practice Experience in treating behavioral health conditions such as chronic pain, sleep disturbance, diabetes treatment adherence, and tobacco cessation A strong background in the provision of brief, individual and group evidence-based therapies (i.e., Motivational Interviewing/Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Behavioral Activation, Mindfulness and Acceptance-based interventions, Problem Solving Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain) Interest in continued development of skills and competencies in evidence-based practice in the Primary Care setting (i.e. Prolonged-Exposure in Primary Care, Problem Solving Therapy in Primary Care, Couples Therapy in Primary Care, Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) Experience providing tele-mental health services Experience and willingness to supervise and train interns and fellows Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist, GS-11 (Entry Level) Experience: None above the basic requirements. Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level) Experience. At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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. Staff Psychologist, 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/103, Part II Appendix G18, Psychologist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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. *See Education section for physical requirements of this position. ["This is an open continuous announcement. Applicants will be reviewed and referred as they apply. The announcement will remain open until 04/28/2023 unless filled sooner. If you are a current, permanent VA employee, Federal employee from another agency or Health Professional Trainee (HPT), you should apply under CBST-11829656-23-ER. This co-located, collaborative care (CCC) psychologist position is administratively within the Mental Health Service, with primary assignment to the Primary Care- Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) program, located within primary care. The CCC behavioral health provider (psychologist) functions as part of multidisciplinary primary care teams, and delivers brief, consultation-based services to Veterans, primary care providers, and allied Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) members. The duties of a Staff Psychologist - Primary Care Behavioral Health/Mental Health Integration include but not limited to: PC-MHI Clinical Practice (at least 90% time): Provides functional assessment, triage, brief intervention, education and consultative services regarding a wide range of mental health and behavioral medicine concerns, on referral from primary care providers and allied PACT members. The PC-MHI psychologist uses population based practice management strategies and maintains competences in the following core domains. 1. CCC PC-MHI Clinical Practice Management: Conduct functional assessments, based on 30 minute appointments and will triage/refer to specialty care services as appropriate. - Applies principals of population based care (defines role and identifies problems rapidly) - Majority of all appointments are 30 minutes - Uses brief assessments routinely (e.g., PHQ-9, PCL, AUDIT C, etc) - Initial consultation appointments are based on functional assessments and treatment focuses on functional outcomes. - Maintains daily open access slots - Next available \"scheduled\" appointment is within two weeks - Provides brief mental health and behavioral interventions (e.g., 1-5 sessions for broad range of concerns) - Uses time-limited, evidence-based interventions that are simple and concrete - Uses self-management/home-based practice interventions - Uses intermittent visit strategies and flexible patient contact strategies - Triages appropriately and efficiently to specialty mental health services - Provide behavioral medicine interventions 2. Documentation skills - Writes clear concise notes, generally ½-1 page long, with explicit impression, recommendations and plan for PCP use - Notes document curbside consultation results - Notes are completed within 24 hours 3. Consultation Skills Routinely Consults with PCPs and other PACT team members about plan of care for patients Conducts effective curbside consultations Integrates within primary care team and works closely in collaboration with PACT team Attends PACT meetings and daily huddles Routinely provides feedback (verbal and/or written) to PCP and other PACT members same day as referral Uses warm-hand off strategy, Provides education to PACT on BH issues as well as consultation on tips for successful care management and patient facilitation, even when no direct patient contact. b. Administration (up to 10% time): Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces, as endorsed by supervisors. Participates in Psychology privileging, educational and peer review activities, in accord with Psychology and medical center policies. Participates as a non-voting member of the medical staff, in accord with medical staff by-laws. Participates in support of CAVHS and Psychology administrative and performance improvement activities, e.g., by taking on assigned projects and serving on committees. Completes required clinical and administrative documentation in a timely manner and in accord with governing regulations, including: o Actions required o Patient complaints o Patient appointment cancellations/rescheduling o Clinic utilization o No-shows o Note completion, including signature o Leave entry Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Authorized Virtual: This is a not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact aaron.fernau@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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