This position splits the psychologist's time; 50% as a Training Director and 50% as a Clinical Psychologist.  The psychologist applies advanced professional psychological diagnostic methods and evidence-based intervention strategies to a full range of patient problems.  The primary job functions of the training director includes both the provision of direct behavioral health patient care, consultation services on difficult or complex cases, and broad administrative responsibilities for the training of pre-doctoral interns and postdoctoral residents in the psychology training program. The training director is a generalist who may work in areas such as Integrated Primary Care or in the General Mental Health Services or inpatient psychiatry conducting intakes, full assessments and Evidenced Based Psychotherapies (EBP's).

Clinical Responsibilities:

·         Provides a full range of assessment in settings assigned by the Psychology Section Chief.

·         Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others.

·         Provides comprehensive, evidence-based interventions, including group and individual modalities.

·         Provides consultation to professional staff within the VA Maine Healthcare System and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients.

·         Develops, implements, and documents the behavioral health treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt (within 24 hours) completion of progress notes, encounter forms and clinical reminders.

·         Functions independently as a member of the Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges.  The incumbent assumes professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.

Administrative Responsibilities:

·Assists the Psychology Section Chief in the design, development, and implementation of the psychology training program for pre-doctoral and post-doctoral residents.

·Assists the Psychology Section Chief in the design, development and implementation of other training programs within the Mental Health such as training for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC).

·Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACTs) established by the Chief of Mental Health Services.

·Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate training services.

·Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely completion of American Psychological Association and VA training reports and other paperwork.

·Complies with all computer documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes).

·Complies with VHA Directive 2006-055 in scheduling own appointments and consults.

·Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Service Line Director (or designee) and facility Director as requested.

·Attends regular Mental Health staff meetings, and Medical staff meetings as requested.

Teaching and Training:

·         Provides clinical supervision and instruction for psychology and other trainees.

·         Provides in-house training to staff on a variety of treatment related issues as requested by the staff and approved by the Psychology Section Chief.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm. 

Functional Statement Title/#: Clinical Psychologist (Training Director/Clinical Psychologist)

 Recruitment & Relocation Incentives are NOT authorized.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship
• English Language Proficiency
• Background/Suitability Investigation
• Must pass pre-employment examination
• Designated and/or random drug testing required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

Physical Requirements: The work requires the ability to move around the office and facility.

Work Environment: The work is performed in offices and meeting rooms.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Citizenship. U.S Citizen. (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.

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 the specific job duties that might require special skills. 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 respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization program) meeting both of the following conditions:

   (a) the respecialization 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.

NOTE: You must provide an official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the respecialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship.

AND

(3) Internships  (a) 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

   (b) 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

   (c) 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

   (d) 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.)

Licensure. Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (e.g., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. 

English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS:

a. Creditable Experience

(1) Current Professional Psychology Practice. To be creditable, psychological work experience can be obtained through paid or non-paid employment providing psychological work or through participating in a supervised postdoctoral psychology training program (i.e., fellowship or residency). Psychological work experience must have occurred after the doctoral degree was obtained and must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with current professional psychology practice. "Professional psychology practice" includes but is not limited to the following psychology-oriented job duties: providing professional clinical services, conducting research, carrying out education and training activities, carrying out program evaluation activities, clinical consultation, supervision and administration.

(2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding professional psychology experience at the next lower level.

(3) Part-time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a full-time workweek. For example, a psychologist employed 20 hours per week, or on a 1/2 time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.

(4) Post-Doctoral Degree Fellowships. Postdoctoral fellowships or residencies are training programs in an advanced area of clinical practice. Training as a fellow or resident is considered to be creditable experience on a year-for-year basis.

b. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

GS-13 (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:

1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.

2. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.

3. Knowledge of clinical research literature.

Assignment. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. At this level, psychologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. They may be assigned to any VHA program and setting, such as inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, Compensation and Pension, Vet Centers, and the VHA National Center for Organization Development. Psychologists diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide 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. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities.

References: VA Handbook 5005/87, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard, dated June 6, 2016. This can be found in the local Human Resources office.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified.  Please follow all instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.  The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will recommend the grade and salary for new appointments. For internal selectees bring promoted, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.