Psychologist - Program Manager

Summary

Psychologist Program Managers have broad responsibility for managing one or more programs that deliver specialized, complex, and highly professional services. These programs are integral components of the facility and have a significant impact on the health care provided to Veterans.

Duties

This position is located in the Psychology Service. Psychologist program managers have broad program management responsibilities for a specific program or programs that are designed to deliver specialized, complex, highly professional services that are important program components of the facility and that significantly impact the health care provided to Veterans. Decisions made by the Program Manager affect staff and other resources associated with the programs managed and are made while exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. The specific position requires expertise in one or more of the following areas, including neuropsychology, geropsychology/extended care, and/or inpatient mental health. FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES INCLUDES BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: Administrative Responsibilities (50% of time): Responsibilities include operation and management of key programs to include full responsibility for managing the day-to-day activities of those programs. Responsibility includes supervision of psychology staff associated with the program and/or assigned by the Chief of Psychology. Responsible for strategic planning to ensure the provision of high-quality services to meet the needs of the Veterans being served. Clinical Responsibilities (35% of time): Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services, including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. Treats mental disorders through a variety of modalities and provides adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions. Psychologists consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Academic/Teaching/Training (approximately 10% time): Provides clinical supervision to Psychology trainees including practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows. Provides training and supervision as needed to other disciplines including medicine, psychiatry, nursing, social work, addiction treatment, and recreational therapy. Supports the Psychology Service training program as needed by serving on committees, presenting at seminars and other activities. Provides training to program staff and other mental health/community care providers as needed about psychological and psychosocial issues related to SCI and disability. Research/ Program Evaluation (approximately 5%): Assists the chief of psychology with ongoing measurement of program evaluation and preparation of reports to meet Joint Commission and VA National compliance. Assists with the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using data-driven quality assurance processes as needed. Assists with planning and overseeing the completion of research programs designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches as needed. Other Significant Responsibilities (approximately 5% time): Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces as needed. Represents psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System as needed. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm or as determined by the supervisor. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 11137F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. 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. 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 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: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and 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 Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. 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; 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. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) OR Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally- accredited institution with a dissertation primarily