Clinical Psychologist
Out-patient Psychologists provide direct care to veterans & their family members; consultation for difficult/complex cases; staff education and intern/post-doctoral fellow supervision. In some situations, they may have research or teaching obligations, collateral supervisory responsibilities, or limited administrative/managerial duties. Clinical Responsibilities may include:
- Provision of a full range of psychological assessment services along with diagnoses of mental disorders, for veterans referred to or enrolled in the Mental Health Clinic. - Provision of education to patients, family members, and significant others regarding assessment processes, VA services, treatment options, or other issues impacting the veteran or family. - Comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and/or group psychotherapy within the Mental Health Clinic, CBOC or in-patient setting as warranted. - Consultation with other professional staff within the WBVAMC, its CBOC's and/or community providers, regarding clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients assigned to various mental health related programs. - Development, implementation, and documentation of the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients within Mental Health/Behavioral Services (MH/BS), including prompt completion of a variety of clinical reminders. - Functioning independently as a member of the WBVAMC Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges, assuming complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. - Completion of Compensation and Pension examinations as directed by the Chief of Psychology/Chief of Mental Health/Behavioral Services, to be completed in accordance with quality standards established by external review organization (CPEP) and in terms of timeframes established for programs nationally by National Headquarters. Administrative responsibilities may include:
- Assists the Chief of Psychology and Chief of Mental Health in the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers. - Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, established by the Mental Health and Behavioral Service and the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center. - Assists the Chief of Psychology and Chief of Mental Health in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program. - Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. - Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients and with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes). - Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the ACOS for Mental Health. Participates and complies with Psychology peer review procedures, including serving on the Peer Review Subcommittee Review Board as needed or required all Performance Improvement/Quality Management initiatives, including service on Root Cause Analysis (RCA) reviews as needed or as required. Teaching and/or Training may include:
- Provides clinical supervision and instruction for students and/or residents assigned to the Mental Health Clinic rotation. - Participation in student/resident/staff training program, including facilitating or presenting in venues such as case conferences and training seminars; may be assigned to present on mental health issues to Clinical Staff Grand Rounds or other internal medical center educational activities. - Provides leadership, guidance and consultation to staff assigned to the Mental Health Clinic. - Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics, and appropriate treatment expectations regarding veterans with anxiety and adjustment related disorders as well as other psychological conditions. Other Responsibilities may include:
- Serving as a member of the Mental Health and Behavioral Service Performance Improvement Team, and regularly attending scheduled meetings, functions and relevant training associated with this committee. - Serving as a member of the Code White Team, and regularly responding to Code White psychiatric emergencies in a timely fashion, coordinating efforts with the Code White Team Leader or designate. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday 8:
00am to 4:
30pm Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. 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. 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. 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:
(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. AND, Internships. 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; ORVHA 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.) 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 (a)(1)(D) 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. Grandfathering Provision. Psychologists previously grandfathered upon conversion to hybrid status effective March 17, 2006, continue to be subject to the grandfathering provisions in effect on that date but no additional employees are subject to grandfathering as a result of this revised qualification standard. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Grade Determinations:
GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level) (a) Experience. At least 1 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience. At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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 5005/87 Part II Appendix G18 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.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
- Provision of a full range of psychological assessment services along with diagnoses of mental disorders, for veterans referred to or enrolled in the Mental Health Clinic. - Provision of education to patients, family members, and significant others regarding assessment processes, VA services, treatment options, or other issues impacting the veteran or family. - Comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and/or group psychotherapy within the Mental Health Clinic, CBOC or in-patient setting as warranted. - Consultation with other professional staff within the WBVAMC, its CBOC's and/or community providers, regarding clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients assigned to various mental health related programs. - Development, implementation, and documentation of the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients within Mental Health/Behavioral Services (MH/BS), including prompt completion of a variety of clinical reminders. - Functioning independently as a member of the WBVAMC Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges, assuming complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. - Completion of Compensation and Pension examinations as directed by the Chief of Psychology/Chief of Mental Health/Behavioral Services, to be completed in accordance with quality standards established by external review organization (CPEP) and in terms of timeframes established for programs nationally by National Headquarters. Administrative responsibilities may include:
- Assists the Chief of Psychology and Chief of Mental Health in the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers. - Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, established by the Mental Health and Behavioral Service and the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center. - Assists the Chief of Psychology and Chief of Mental Health in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program. - Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. - Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients and with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes). - Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the ACOS for Mental Health. Participates and complies with Psychology peer review procedures, including serving on the Peer Review Subcommittee Review Board as needed or required all Performance Improvement/Quality Management initiatives, including service on Root Cause Analysis (RCA) reviews as needed or as required. Teaching and/or Training may include:
- Provides clinical supervision and instruction for students and/or residents assigned to the Mental Health Clinic rotation. - Participation in student/resident/staff training program, including facilitating or presenting in venues such as case conferences and training seminars; may be assigned to present on mental health issues to Clinical Staff Grand Rounds or other internal medical center educational activities. - Provides leadership, guidance and consultation to staff assigned to the Mental Health Clinic. - Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics, and appropriate treatment expectations regarding veterans with anxiety and adjustment related disorders as well as other psychological conditions. Other Responsibilities may include:
- Serving as a member of the Mental Health and Behavioral Service Performance Improvement Team, and regularly attending scheduled meetings, functions and relevant training associated with this committee. - Serving as a member of the Code White Team, and regularly responding to Code White psychiatric emergencies in a timely fashion, coordinating efforts with the Code White Team Leader or designate. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday 8:
00am to 4:
30pm Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. 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. 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. 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:
(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. AND, Internships. 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; ORVHA 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.) 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 (a)(1)(D) 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. Grandfathering Provision. Psychologists previously grandfathered upon conversion to hybrid status effective March 17, 2006, continue to be subject to the grandfathering provisions in effect on that date but no additional employees are subject to grandfathering as a result of this revised qualification standard. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Grade Determinations:
GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level) (a) Experience. At least 1 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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. GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience. At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. 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 5005/87 Part II Appendix G18 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.
- Department:
0180 Psychology - Salary Range:
$73,962 to $137,045 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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