Staff Psychologist- SARRTP

Description:

This position is assigned to the Mental Health Clinical Center (MHCC), VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS), in the Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP) at Perry Point, but may need to provide psychological services at other VAMHCS sites as needed.

Requirements:

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 (1) A doctoral degree in psychology from graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association, the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System, or the Canadian Psychological Association at time of program completion. Specialty area of degree must be consistent with assignment in which applicant is to be employed. The term "specialty area" refers to specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body, not to specific job duties that require special skills. APA accredits doctoral programs in 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. No job assignments in VHA require the skills of a school psychologist. An applicant with a degree in 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 have successfully completed a specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: (a) Re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and,(b) specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with assignment in which the applicant is to be employed. NOTE: The applicant must provide official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program, including completion of an APA or CPA internship. [Psychologists who successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification.] [ OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution, with dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND (4) Internships(a) Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program, accredited by APA or CPA at time of program completion and is consistent with assignment in which the applicant is to be employed. OR(b) New VHA psychology internship programs in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable to fulfill internship requirement, provided such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time 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 fulfill the internship requirement OR(d) Whom completed internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time of program completion may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area consistent with assignment in which they are to be employed. ( NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) [ OR (e) Those who have 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 equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from doctoral program verifying 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. 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. 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-11 (Entry Level)
(a) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements

Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level)
(a) 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.
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/implement effective treatment strategies
3. Incorporate new clinical procedures
4. Conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties).
5. Perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within context of an established research team, including research participant relations, research documentation, data acquisition, maintenance, and collaboration

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
1. Knowledge and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to a 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: None

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 PART II APPENDIX G18 FEBRUARY 7, 2018

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 -GS 13

Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs.); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; walking (intermittent); standing (intermittent); hearing (aid permitted); clear speech. Work is sedentary. No special physical demands required to perform work.