Clarification from the agency

VETERANS PREFERENCE IS WAIVED FOR THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES IAW Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) BULLETIN "FY23 Staffing Shortages Determination" Date: 9/30/2022. Areas of Consideration are as follows: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the Alaska VA Healthcare System and its outlying Clinics. 2. Current permanent VA employees of other facilities. 3. Current "Health Professions Trainees." Current permanent Federal employees of other Agencies. 4. Public/ US Citizens.

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~INCENTIVES MAY BE AUTHORIZED~
Summary:
The Psychologist in the Mental Health Service at the Alaska VA Healthcare System (Alaska VAHCS) Mental Health Residential Rehabilitative Treatment Program conducts psychological and/or neuropsychological assessment, diagnoses and treats mental disorders. Treatment modalities may include individual, family, and group psychotherapies; other interventions such as biofeedback, psychological hypnosis, and environmental interventions, and adjunctive therapies within scope of practice.

The duties and responsibilities of the Staff Psychologist include but are not limited to:
The Psychologist consults with facility staff on a wide variety of patient care issues and may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities. Operating from a Scientist-Practitioner model, the Psychologist provides a full range of evidence-based psychological services in treating patients with mental health and substance use disorders. Additionally, the Psychologist may provide leadership in development and evaluation of evidence-based treatment components, approaches, and programs, train Alaska VAHCS staff in the skills and knowledge necessary for implementing evidence-based treatments and collaborate with clients, families, and other healthcare providers to ensure top-quality mental health and medical care to clients. Psychologists at the Alaska VAHCS provide services across the mental health continuum of care to include the Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans, Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitative Treatment Program and Compensated Work Therapy/ Transitional Residence when needed. It is expected that the incumbent will provide treatment recommendations and consultation to other disciplines and treatment team members involved with the treatment of clients referred to them, including teams throughout the Alaska VA Healthcare System.

Staff Psychologist, GS-11 and GS-12.
The incumbent GS-11 and GS-12 level Staff Psychologist in this position is working toward state license to practice psychology (see Qualifications below for specifics). The incumbent functions in accordance with the policies, principals, professional ethics and techniques of accepted Psychology practice to include the American Psychological Association (APA), professional licensing code, and state law.
Under graduated levels of supervision conducts wide-ranging psychological assessments of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning of Alaska VAHCS MHRRTP clients and provides consultation to the interdisciplinary treatment team regarding the impact these difficulties have on psychological and physical well-being and any interaction with treatment team, and makes recommendations to the team for effective coordination and management of cognitive, physical and mental distress. Assists in developing new assessment or measurement devices for the Mental Health Services client population.
Staff Psychologist, GS-13.
The incumbent GS-13 level Staff Psychologist in this position holds a state license to practice psychology (see Qualifications below for specifics). The incumbent functions in accordance with the policies, principals, professional ethics and techniques of accepted Psychology practice to include the American Psychological Association (APA), professional licensing code, and state law. Additional guides are available in Veterans Administration directives; program guides, bulletins and circulars; Center Memoranda; Medical Staff By-Laws; applicable Labor-Management Bargaining Agreements; and external accreditation agencies utilized by the VA Medical Center (Joint Commission, CARF, APA et.al.). Incumbent is expected to independently make use of guides in a creative, flexible manner and et.al.). Incumbent is expected to independently make use of guides in a creative, flexible manner and et.al.). Incumbent is expected to independently make use of guides in a creative, flexible manner and et.al.). Incumbent is expected to et.al.). Incumbent is expected to independently make use of guides in a creative, flexible manner and must use sound judgment in selecting techniques or introducing new practices and methods, adapting these as necessary to fit the needs of the patient population with which he/she serves.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday: 8:00am to 4:30pm-(flexibility for optional TOD or Weekends)
Telework: Ad Hoc Telework is available with Management approval
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Staff Psychologist, GS-0180-11/12/13; FS: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact Stacy.Hermann@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• Must possess a current, valid, and unrestricted State issued Drivers License.
• 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

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 Requirement. 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.
  ~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: (Transcript Required). 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.
  ~OR~
  Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.
  NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts/documentation showing degree earned and conferred date.
• Internship Requirement. 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 psychological in nature may fulfill this internship.
• Licensure. Candidates must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
  Exception: Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (c)(2)(B) for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.
  NOTE: If licensed, you must submit a copy of your current, valid, and unrestricted Psychologist license.
• English Language Proficiency Requirement. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS.
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.
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.
Part-time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a fulltime workweek. For example, a psychologist employed 20 hours per week, or on a half time basis, would receive one full-time workweek of credit for each two weeks of service.

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

Staff Psychologist, GS-11 (Entry Level)
Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

Staff Psychologist, GS-12 (Developmental Level)
Experience. At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations.
(b) Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies.
(c) Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures.
(d) Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties).
(e) Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team, including research participant relations, research documentation, data acquisition, maintenance, and collaboration.

Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance, Level)
Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
(a) Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.
(b) Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
(c) Knowledge of clinical research literature.

References: VA Handbook 5005/103 Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard dated: February 7, 2018

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Light Carrying and lifting (under 15 lbs.), Reaching above shoulders, Use of fingers, Both eyes required, Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Depth perception, Ability to distinguish shades of color, Hearing (aid permitted), Operation of motor vehicle.

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

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.