Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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
• Basic Qualifications: 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: 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.) Education: 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 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: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program
• and - the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND - Internship: 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.) 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
• 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
• Licensure: Holds 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
• 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
• Grade Requirements: Creditable Experience: Quality of Experience: Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties to be performed
• Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding professional psychology experience at the next lower level
• Part-time Experience: Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a full- time workweek
• For example - a psychologist employed 20 hours per week - or on a half time basis - would receive one full-time workweek of credit for each two weeks of service
• Post-Doctoral Degree Fellowships: Postdoctoral fellowships or residencies are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice
• Training as a fellow or resident is creditable experience on a year-for-year basis
• GS-13 (Full Performance Level) Experience: At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level AND - Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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.

Duties

• ***This position has been granted an extension from return to office
• This extension will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and does not imply permanent remote work status*** The VISN Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) is hiring a full-time Clinical Psychologist to work exclusively in the Suicide Prevention National Telehealth Program
• This is a VISN-based position located in the VISN 2 Clinical Resource Hub
• A Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) is a repository of clinical and administrative staff that serve Veterans Affairs facilities within a Veterans Integrated System Network (VISN)
• This position falls under the general supervision of the VISN CRH Mental Health (MH) Section Chief
• Staff within the Suicide Prevention National Telehealth Program are expected to provide outpatient - evidence-based - suicide prevention psychotherapy services (such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention - Problem-Solving Therapy for Suicide Prevention - and Dialectical Behavior Therapy) to Veterans across the VISN - and provide other services that align with suicide prevention needs (i.e. - training - consultation - etc.) and current/future Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Services provided by the Suicide Prevention National Telehealth Program staff are conducted virtually - with VA Video Connect (VVC) as the primary modality for treatment - although this position may require travel to VISN medical centers or Community Based Outreach Clinics (CBOC)
• As part of a Suicide Prevention National Telehealth Program team - the incumbent is expected to possess strong clinical skills to provide treatment for mental health disorders relevant to Veterans at risk for suicide
• Incumbent provides a wide range of care including: risk assessment and referral - intake/diagnostic and psychosocial assessments - comprehensive treatment planning - and evidence-based psychotherapy services in a manner consistent with established protocols to Veterans at risk for suicide
• Responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Maintains high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans and their families
• Independently works with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems within the context of suicide risk
• Completes a current psychosocial assessment to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans - after thorough review of the medical record
• The incumbent must be able to utilize this assessment and the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Assessment and Management of Patients at Risk for Suicide (2019) in facilitating the Veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of recovery that is possible and practicable
• Completes all reporting requirements set forth by SPP and CRH Participates as a member of a Suicide Prevention National Telehealth Program treatment team and engages in active collaboration with Veterans and family as well as other interdisciplinary treatment team members - including but not limited to Psychiatrists - Nurse Practitioners - Psychologists - Social Workers - RNs - Peer Support Specialists and Administrative Support staff - in the development and implementation of a treatment plan
• Possesses knowledge of current literature and experience in use of mental health and substance abuse diagnoses and treatment procedures - including acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses - as well as in suicide risk assessment and intervention
• Facilitates enrollment and discharge planning through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate plans are executed in a timely manner
• Serves as a liaison between Veterans and their families and VA and community resources in order to ensure thorough delivery of suicide prevention-related services
• Possesses knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities and to provide counseling and/or skills groups for Veterans and families
• Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources - VA benefits - specialty programs - and advance directives
• Provides consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans and their families particularly related to suicide risk and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning - compliance with treatment - and discharge planning
• Preferred experience: Past experience working in suicide prevention programs or with clinical populations at increased risk for suicide
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN2EDRPCoordinators@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Functional Statement #: 21N37A