Staff Psychologist

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.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Mental Health Staff Psychologist position is located in the Inpatient Mental Health service at the Brockton campus of the VA Boston Healthcare System. The psychologist will work on multidisciplinary teams to assist with treatment planning and care coordination for adult veterans in the inpatient psychiatry service with severe mental illness and/or substance abuse. The psychologist may be eligible for a faculty appointment at Boston University School of Medicine or Harvard Medical School. Duties may include, but are not limited to: CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES Direct Service Provision Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions, including individual and group psychotherapy, as well as suicide prevention safety planning. Selects and provides the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques, including evidence-based care for psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse disorders. Performs assessments for adult Veterans with a variety of psychological disorders including psychotic disorders, adjustment disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders, and personality disorders. Participates in interdisciplinary morning report, treatment team meetings/rounds, and family meetings as indicated. Provides treatment recommendations and guidance to inpatient psychiatry staff working with adult Veterans with severe mental illness. Consult with mental health staff and other medical staff on a wide variety of patient care issues, including formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations. Completes administrative functions, including report and progress note writing, and attending staff and organizational meetings. Works in compliance with local and national performance measures. ENRICHING ELEMENTS Academic/Teaching/Training May provide interdisciplinary supervision, conducting direct clinical care. May participate in continuing education, attending relevant didactics. May participate in organized psychotherapy didactics for trainees, as needed. Attends inpatient mental health service and staff meetings. Research/Program Evaluation May be involved in quality improvement projects or be asked to sit on service-wide, medical center-wide, or nationwide professional committees and workgroups. May design and implement research projects in collaboration with other mental health services and other VA organizations with a commitment to clinical research. May present outcome data and research results at VA, regional, or national scientific or professional meetings. Work Schedule: Monday-Saturday 8am-4:30pm Compressed: May be available Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected] , 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: May be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F08728, F08729, F08730 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by a special rate. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA psychologist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. § 7402. To qualify for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Education. (1) 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 (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, 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-specializat