Summary The incumbent will serve in the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic as a member of an interdisciplinary team. They will consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. In addition to these primary responsibilities, the incumbent may provide consultation or program oversight, be involved in program evaluation, training, educational activities, and other duties as assigned. Responsibilities Psychological services are an integral part of the overall VHA health care program and are provided as part of health care service delivery. Psychological services provide help to veterans and their families in resolving the psychosocial, emotional, and cognitive problems associated with the stresses of illness. The Psychologist's primary duties will be psychological assessments, diagnostic evaluations, crisis interventions, psychotherapy, and case management services. In the inpatient setting, the Psychologist will assist in diagnostic assessments, psychological assessments, psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, follow-up management, and coordination of care. In the CBOC setting, the Psychologist will consult with Primary Care staff regarding patient needs, provide telephone and Tele-mental Health consultation and provide psychosocial assessment, diagnostic evaluations, crises interventions, brief psychotherapy, and care management services. Based on needs of the department, we would entertain applicants who either have interest in a generalist position. As a professional staff member of Mental Health Service, participates in goal-setting and treatment service planning discussions; serves on or chairs task groups or administrative committees of the service or Medical Center at the direction or approval of the Chief, Mental Health Service or designee; participates in professional peer review of his/her own work and that of other staff; maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and skills by involvement in appropriate continuing education activities, and participates in at least one of the following at the direction or approval of the Chief, Mental Health Service or designee: a. Teaches or supervises psychology trainees receiving training in mental health services. b. Designs, conducts and reports the results of research relevant to psychology as a body of knowledge and to the effective delivery of high-quality mental health services. c. Designs and implements the evaluation of treatment efforts or services of health care delivery program and support services in the hospital. d. Consults with or provides psychological services to treatment programs or hospital services outside of his/her primary duty assignment. e. Will be expected to serve as consultant to other agencies and community organizations. f. Actively supports the implementation of the Uniform Mental Health Service Handbook. Duties include but are not limit to: Providing a full range of psychotherapeutic interventions including individual therapy, group therapy, family counseling, and psychoeducational classes to address identified psychological needs of patients presenting to the clinic. Providing a full range of psychological assessment services to clarify needs of veterans and to facilitate development of a treatment plan. Completing all clinical charting and documentation required by the health care system. Participates fully in peer review and clinical pertinence review to ensure the quality of professional psychology services provided in the organization. Assures that appropriate referrals to specialty programs, including community resources, are accomplished. Other Duties Assigned Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday. Some evening and weekend coverage may be required as a part of a shared department crisis response schedule. Telework: Not Suitable Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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) VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional 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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen. 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 specifi
