Job Description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - 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
• 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: 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
• 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
• 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 Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND 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 & 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 & 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 & 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
• 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)
• Licensure: Hold a full - current - & unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State - Territory - or Commonwealth of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates Experience: At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 grade level Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Ability to organize work - set priorities - delegate tasks - and meet multiple deadlines
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds - interests - and points of view
• Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives
• Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations
• Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-14 Physical Requirements: The Incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands - exercise patience - and control emotions - with reasonable accommodation - if necessary - without endangering the health and safety of the incumbent or others.

Duties

• The psychologist serves as a Psychology Program Manager for outpatient mental health-related services at the MTVAHCS medical center
• In this capacity - the psychologist manages Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) and some specialty mental health services (e.g. - military sexual trauma coordination) at the site
• The psychologist additionally functions as the first-line supervisor for a team of up to approximately 15 staff members across a variety of disciplines (nursing
• psychiatry
• psychology
• social work
• addictions counselors
• licensed professional mental health counselors) - and coordinates supervisors of other staff (e.g. - clinical pharmacists) within his/her program
• Provides broad program management responsibilities for several programs - including leadership in the development - implementation - evaluation - and oversight of such complex programs responsible for comprehensive clinical care of Veterans
• Leads a multidisciplinary team - which include psychologists - physicians - social workers - nurses - and other health care professionals
• Responsible for the development - implementation - and oversight of operational policies and procedures for the programs - with the approval of the affiliated Service Line Leader
• Conducts ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects that monitor the effectiveness of clinical operations within their respective program(s)
• Organizes and leads leadership team meetings to facilitate case disposition - care management - effective delivery of clinical interventions - and the adherence to administrative demands
• Monitors and distributes provider-specific workload reports to team leaders and ensures provider adherence to workload standards
• Plans work to be accomplished by team leaders - including establishing priorities - timelines for completion - and necessary adjustments therein
• Ensures timely access to care of patients assigned to each team - in accordance with local and national policies
• Initiates and maintains liaisons with associated VA health care programs to effectively coordinate services Sets productivity targets - monitors progress - and creates action plans when appropriate
• Provides clinical supervision - as appropriate - to assigned team leaders and members regarding adherence to Montana VA Health Care System medico-legal stands and policies - documentation of CPRS procedures - and the clinical management of difficult - complex - and dangerous patients
• Provides leadership in hiring of new staff members for each program - which may include constructing job announcement(s) - preparing functional statements - and/or selecting final job candidates
• Resolves conflicts among staff (both leadership and line staff) and adjudicates complaints and problems of employees in a timely and effective manner
• Assumes responsibility for taking appropriate disciplinary actions for employees with performance problems in a timely and effective manner
• Ensures that appropriate coverage is arranged for patient care responsibilities when staff members are on leave
• Approves leave for employees directly under their supervision
• Initiates performance awards for outstanding employees and completes administrative paperwork with both accuracy and timeliness
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services
• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Psychology Chief - Service Line Leader (or designee) - Chief of Staff - and/or Facility Director
• Attends recurring psychology service meetings and trainings Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with provisions of Federal privacy acts and confidentiality statutes
• Follows regulations and instructions regarding release of sensitive or protected patient or employee information
• Allocate resources based on a data-driven decision-making process with consideration given to the overall needs of the organization and Service Line (e.g. - productivity - clinic utilization - staffing needs - barriers to access - etc.)
• Ensures optimal collaboration across program teams - to include effective communication - resource sharing - permeability - and transfer of patients across a continuum of services
• Independently provides psychological assessment and diagnostic services for Veterans with a broad range of psychopathology receiving care within the clinic setting
• Incumbent must possess and maintain a current unrestricted valid state driver's license
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:436-51552-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact michael.warner3@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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Permanent employment, Full time, Internship, Local area, Remote job, Relocation, Flexible hours, Monday to Friday,

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