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. 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. 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. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). 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. f. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. g. 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 Determinations: 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. Preferred Experience: Mental Health Crisis Management, complex case management, psychotherapy and previous work with SMI, dual diagnosis MH/SUD, military/Veteran populations. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination. Exceptions: A pre-placement examination is required for any occupation or assignment that requires the operation of a government-owned or -leased motor vehicle in order to properly carry out assigned duties. Examinations may also be required for any occupation or assignment that requires a pre-placement examination by virtue of another policy, regulation, or statute ["GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION: Incumbent is a professional psychologist whose duties and responsibilities relate to the case management of veterans who are identified as \"high risk\" for suicide or suicide behaviors on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit of the VA Roseburg Healthcare System. The principal role of the APU High Risk Case Manager is to coordinate care and monitor services for APU veterans designated as high risk for suicide, and act as the transitional coordinator of care for these patients. The incumbents are responsible for coordinating the care of high-risk APU patients at the Roseburg VA Medical Facility. The incumbent is expected to work collaboratively with the Suicide Prevention Coordinator to implement principals of the Suicide Prevention Program on the APU unit. Additionally, the incumbent will follow VACO guidelines with regards to management of APU patients at high risk for suicide. The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of APU at risk veterans as they transition from inpatient to outpatient care. Case management responsibilities also include providing supportive services to families. In addition, the incumbent assists at risk APU veterans in coping with acute illness, chronic illness, combat stress, the residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), community adjustment, addictions, and other health and mental health problems. The APU psychologist case manager addresses home care needs, homelessness, and transition across levels and sites of care. Psychology case management practice, which includes psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, is focused on helping at risk veterans and their families maximize behavioral health rehabilitation and treatment potential and achieve more adequate, satisfying, and productive emotional and social functioning. The incumbent is also responsible for completing the following duties/responsibilities: - Collaboration with the suicide prevention coordinator and inpatient treatment providers to support appropriate discharge planning following recommendations for treatment of patients at high risk for suicide. - Actively manages the High-Risk Patient Dashboard. Ensuring that APU Veterans have a Safety plan within 7 days of the high-risk flag being established, coordinate Veteran access to care (i.e., 4 visits within 30 days) once a flag is established, and ensuring all high-risk flags are reviewed every 90 days. - Assuring that all APU high risk for suicide veterans is being followed for a time period not less than 30 days after discharge IAW PDEl requirements and the following activities: - Until a documented out-patient appointment is completed following hospitalization, facilitate face to face and/or telephone contact with the veteran to assess their safety and ongoing engagement with treatment. This may include home visits, as clinically appropriate. - Until a documented out-patient appointment is completed following hospitalization, tracking all noshow appointments by these patients, and following up with the patient as soon as possible to reschedule the appointment. - If the safety of a high-risk veteran is unable to be established, or it is determined that the veteran is at imminent risk for self-harm, initiating emergency interventions appropriate to the situation, including but not limited to, contacting veteran's identified emergency contact, and /or calling 911. - With patient's consent, contacting family members and/or other identified supports to provide education and involve in patient's treatment and safety planning. - Assist with coordination of care for APU Veterans who have discharged less than 30 days prior that call into the Veteran's Crisis line when appropriate. - To provide care to high-risk veterans based on Evidence Based Practice - Maintaining awareness of suicide treatment options and making recommendations to the APU Team when new options become available. - Respond to consults and referrals to the APU from providers, the national suicide prevention hotline and other sources. Providing APU veterans with education, resources, support and when appropriate development of an outpatient \"Crisis Response Plan.\" - Is responsible for furthering own professional growth through education, appropriate to area of assignment, and providing coverage during the psychologist absences. - Must maintain a level of productivity and quality consistent with facility and psychologist standards. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 0800-1630 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]
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.