Psychologist-Pain Management with Recruitment/Relocation Incentive
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Application
Details
Posted: 19-Sep-24
Location: Martinsburg, West Virginia, West Virginia
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 778557200
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. 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. 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: United States Citizenship: 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. 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: (a) The re-specialization 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. OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. Internships: 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.) 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 requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program. Licensure: 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. English Language Proficiency: Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j 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 two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. Preferred Experience: Chronic Pain (experience, training or certification) References: VA Handbook 5005/103 Part II Appendix GS18 February 7, 2018 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: light lifting (under 15 lbs), near and far vision correctable, both eyes required, emotional/mental stability, exposure to dry atmospheric conditions, working closely with others, and working alone ["Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Psychologist: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf The incumbent functions primarily in the Pain Clinic within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. In this environment, incumbent will be a member of interdisciplinary treatment teams with responsibility for assessment, psychotherapeutic intervention, case management, training and education, and administration. However, incumbent may be assigned additional responsibilities in other locations as directed by the Psychology Executive. Functions: Performs evaluations of patients in the Pain Clinic. This may include assessment of pain, intellectual/cognitive functioning, emotional adjustment, severe mental illness, personality issues, suicide issues, and level of care/placement needs. A range of assessment techniques may be employed including record review, interview, rating scales, questionnaires, standardized tests, behavioral observation, and consultation with other disciplines. Therapeutic Interventions: Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions for patients including individual and group evidenced-based therapy, supportive therapy, psycho-education, family counseling, and behavioral management. Customer Service: Responds to consults within the time limits specified by Psychology Service and Medical Center policies. Develops and maintains a reasonable caseload of patients. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. Looks for innovative ways to increase psychology services to the medical center. Serves as a member of standing or ad hoc committees as the need or opportunity arises. Documentation: Maintains/submits required documentation in a timely, complete and accurate manner in accordance with Psychology Service and Medical Center policies and procedures, without inaccuracies and/or tardiness. Develops written procedures as requested to facilitate the timely and efficient delivery of psychological services in Pain Management Clinic. Miscellaneous: May assist in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program. Completes mandatory VA training requirements in a timely fashion. Attends psychology-related training to maintain expertise in assigned work area. Attends Psychology staff meetings, Medical staff meetings, and Mental Health Service staff meetings. Complies with Psychology pertinence review procedures as well as credentialing and privileging procedures. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 Pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN5HREDRPCoordinators@va.gov, 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 existing pay, 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: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.