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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. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States 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 (2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization 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. 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. (1) 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. 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. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists. e. Grandfathering Provision. [All persons employed in VHA as a psychologist on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education (i.e., degree and internship requirements) and licensure/certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. 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-11 (Entry Level) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Assignment. Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychologicalor neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research. They may be assigned to any program area. Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist. 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.(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 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. (c) Assignment. Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research. They may be assigned to any program area. 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. (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 andsetting, 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. Psychologists diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions. Psychologists consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities. Preferred Experience: Clinical experience in the treatment of PTSD and/or substance use disorders References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 PART II APPENDIX G18 The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 11 to 13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["The Psychologist is a member of the PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) Specialty care and functions as a liaison to substance use disorders (SUD) Specialty care including outpatient and residential treatment settings. Addresses the complex needs of Veterans with co-occurring PTSD and SUD, and specifically focuses on treating PTSD for individuals whose substance use is directly linked to their maladaptive coping with trauma for individuals whose substance use is directly linked to their maladaptive coping with trauma through consultation, service coordination, psychological assessments, and the provision of evidence-based psychotherapies in accordance with the VHA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines. Experience in one or more evidence-based interventions for PTSD and substance use (e.g. Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure [COPE], and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders, etc.) is expected. The Psychologist provides a broad range of professional psychological services at the full-level of professional licensure and granted clinical privileges. Modalities of care will include both face-to-face and VA virtual care. The primary duty station is the Topeka VAMC.May plan and personally participate in station-wide training programs and in the training of psychologists and other personnel. May serve on the Psychology Training Committee. Receives training from staff psychologists and other professional personnel including supervision, in-service training, and station workshops and seminars.Additional and/or collateral duties may be assigned by the direct supervisor, Chief of Psychology, and/or Behavioral Health ServiceLine Manager (BH SLM). May plan and personally participate in station-wide training programs and in the training of psychologists and other personnel. May serve on the Psychology Training Committee. Receives training from staff psychologists and other professional personnel including supervision, in-service training, and station workshops and seminars. Additional and/or collateral duties may be assigned by the direct supervisor, Chief of Psychology, and/or Behavioral Health Service Line Manager. Clinical Responsibilities: 1. Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex care needs of Veterans with co-occuring PTSD and SUD. unusually difficult patients 2. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others 3. Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy 4. Provides consultation to professional staff within VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans. 5. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for Veteranss who require such treatment 6. Functions independently as a member of the Eastern Kansas Health Care System Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation Administrative Responsibilities: 1. Assists the Chief of Psychology and the Behavioral Health Service Line Manager (BHSLM) in the development, and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers 2. Adheres to operational policies and procedures established by the Chief of Psychology and THE BHSLM 3. Assists the Chief of Psychology and BHSLM in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program 4. Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services 5. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients 6. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes) 7. Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Chief of Psychology, BHSLM (or designee) and facility Director 8. Complies with and participates in peer review, Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluations (OPPE), Focused Professional Practice Evaluations (FPPE), and/or recommendations from the Professional Standards Board (PSB). 9. Attends regular Psychology Service staff meetings, Medical staff meetings, and Behavioral Health Service Line staff meetings Work Schedule: Full time Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm Telework: Adhoc, and as needed Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for highly qualified applicants EDRP Authorized: . Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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