Staff Psychologist-Psychotherapist

at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration in Quincy, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Summary 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. Program 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. Responsibilities VA Careers – Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf Major Duties: Essential Clinical Responsibilities (95% time): The psychologist provides (under supervision if unlicensed) a full range of psychological services to include psychological assessment, diagnostic, and evidence-based treatment services. The psychologist has familiarity with the full range of DSM5 clinical presentations and experience with associated brief, evidence based psychological intervention for mild, moderate and severe presentations. The psychologist should have knowledge regarding mental health assessment and treatment. The psychologist should also have generalist knowledge regarding Substance Use Disorders, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders and Serious Mental Illness (SMI); and skill/experience with treating patients within a Veterans’ Hospital PTSD and MHC setting who may present with all forms of Mental Health and Behavioral Health concerns and comorbidities. The psychologist should have generalist psychology assessment and intervention skills, as well as some specialized experience with Evidence Based Treatment. The psychologist has the ability to work effectively within interdisciplinary teams. The Psychologist has knowledge of thorough risk assessment and mental health crises procedures and should have skill in leading interdisciplinary treatment teams in intervening in patient mental health crises. The psychologist provides individual and group interventions to support patients that are coping with health psychology presentations related to mental health diagnoses (e.g., sleep, pain, adherence to medical regimen, adjustment to illness), psychosocial stressors, grief or phase of life difficulties (e.g., discrimination, stress management, coping with loss, transition to civilian life), and mild-moderate severe mental health presentations. The psychologist has skill in providing cognitive screening to address specific functional and/or cognitive ability questions. Experience in providing consultation about mental health diagnosis and appropriate treatment plans to professionals representing a variety of disciplines, particularly concerning psychiatrically and medically complex patients. Ability to provide education to patients, family members of patients, professional staff and trainees. In addition, will be able to engage families of Veterans in empirically supported treatment for caregiver burden. Knowledge of most current clinical assessment and psychotherapy research literature as it pertains to areas of specialization and clinical privileges. Ability to communicate with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and with varying levels of understanding. Ability to demonstrate excellent customer service skills toward both patients and coworkers. Demonstrated ability to function successfully as a member of a multidisciplinary team of medical and mental health providers. May have secondary duties in other outpatient or inpatient medical settings, and other duties as assigned. Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor. Work Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:00AM to 4:30PM EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHAVISN23EDRP@va.gov, 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 existing pay, 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: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details. Qualifications 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. 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 (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. OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internships Have success