Best Care / Best Careers
This position is located in the Behavioral Health Care Line, with primary assignment to the Geriatrics and Extended Care Community Living Centers. The Incumbent provides psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients. Incumbent will also provide education to patients and family members; also provides comprehensive interventions including individuals and families. Incumbent provides consultation to professional staff within the Bath VAMC and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment finding and appropriate treatment plans. Incumbent will develop, implement and document the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt completion of clinical reminders. Incumbent will function independently as a member of the Medical Staff with full clinical privileges. Will also provide assistance with staff development in the Community Living Center Units. a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. b. Education (1) Have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. AND (2) Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that has been accredited by APA. Exceptions: (1) 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 Central Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern and (2) VHA facilities who offered full one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement. (c) 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. Exception. The Secretary may waive the requirement of licensure for an individual psychologist for a period not to exceed 2 years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is so licensed. Non-licensed psychologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate psychologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a) (1) (D). Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This may result in termination of employment.Physical Standards/Requirements: See VA Handbook 5005, Part III, and Chapter 2, paragraph 7, and VA Handbook 5019, Occupational Health Services. All applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position. English Language Proficiency. Applicant must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407 (d). [No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. Chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity that is not proficient in written and spoken English].Grade Determination: For GS-11: Internship consisting of 1 year of training under a licensed psychologist in an organization with sufficient staff and varied programs to provide the required breadth and quality of training. The sponsoring organization should provide a written statement or brochure describing the goals and content of the internship with clear expectations for the quantity and quality of the trainee´s work and license eligible. For GS-12: One year of appropriate postdoctoral experience and license eligible. For GS-13: Two years of postdoctoral experience and must be licensed as a psychologist in a State. This experience must have been gained in a professional program concerned with health, rehabilitation, or vocational rehabilitation.