Staff Psychologist (Family Services Coordinator)

The incumbent leads the development and dissemination of family based services throughout the behavioral health care line including Outpatient Behavioral Health - Recovery Services - Trauma Recovery - Community Outreach - Intensive Services and Integrated Services Divisions. The incumbent will work as a member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Treatment Teams and provide education - consultation - and guidance to various teams within the Outpatient Clinic.

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.

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g - this part.) 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 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
• 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
• OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• 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
• OR 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 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
• OR 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
• 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. A 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 4 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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level) 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations
• Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies
• Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures
• Ability to conduct research activities - such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties)
• 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) Experience
• At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist - with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of - and ability to apply - professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health
• Knowledge of clinical research literature
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• 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 Physical Requirements: Physical qualifications require the ability to sit frequently and for long periods of time
• Must be able to spend long periods of time on a computer
• Must have good hearing and eyesight
• Must be clean and neat in appearance
• This position also requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures - transcribing - viewing a computer terminal - extensive reading - and repetitive motions of the wrists - hands and/or fingers.

• VA Careers - Psychologist: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Clinical Responsibilities Provide a wide range of services - including evidenced based practices - to Veterans diagnosed with a MI and their loved ones including BFT - IBCT - CBCT for PTSD - SAFE - PAIRS - multi-family groups - family consultation - and crisis intervention
• Utilize advanced clinical judgment to determine the appropriate treatment intervention for the Veteran and their loved ones
• Allow for flexibility to provide services after hours and on weekends
• Establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with Veterans and their loved ones through engagement - rapport building - instilling hope - and offering support
• Provide orientation and overall program information to the Veteran and their loved ones
• Conduct comprehensive individual psychosocial assessments of the Veteran and loved ones - as well as couple/family assessments
• Utilize advanced clinical training - insight - and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options
• Promote and market FS and the benefits of participating in family intervention within the Ambulatory Care Center - to Veterans and in the community
• Work collaboratively with community agencies - Vet Center - Veterans Organizations and the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Academic/Teaching/Training: (up to 5 % of time) May hold faculty appointment at an affiliated university
• May provide training opportunities to various disciplines (PA students - Psychiatry Residents - Family Practice Residents - etc)
• May be asked to participate in the Psychology Training Program and Training Committee
• Serve as a consultant to various treatment teams in Behavioral Health Service and Primary Care regarding Veteran family issues and treatment
• Collaborate with Ambulatory Care Center staff on projects to improve patient care and resolving problems that might negatively impact patient care
• Provide education and training on various evidenced based treatment practices
• Research/Program Evaluation (up 10% time) Develop and maintain a clinical database for Veterans and their loved ones requesting or referred to FS
• Using this database - the incumbent will track and analyzes data to compile reports
• Collaborate with Medial Media and the Director's Office to develop promotional material
• Demonstrate accountability and responsibility for professional development by keeping abreast of current research in the field of families and couples therapy - psychiatric rehabilitation - and mental illness
• Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the ACC
• May participate in clinical research in a relevant area or inquiry and/or participate in program evaluation pertinent to clinical effectiveness of FS
• Presents outcome data and research results at VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings
• Participate in the writing of policies - procedures - and practice guidelines for FS
• Other Significant Responsibilities (5% time) Will attend weekly team and service level meetings as assigned up to
• May serve on ACC or Healthcare System - VISN - and/or National VA committees or task forces
• May represent psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Relocation Incentive: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact ... - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available (Ad-hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 91601-A/91602-A/91603-A