Staff Psychologist- BHIP Substance Use Disorder Specialist - Baltimore, United States - Department of Veterans Affairs

Description

Summary

This position is assigned to the Mental Health Clinical Center, VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS).

The position at this time is based at the Loch Raven Medical Center of the VAMHCS but may need to provide psychological services at other VAMHCS sites.

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Overview

• Accepting applications
• Open & closing dates

12/05/2023 to 09/30/2024

• Salary

$128,814 - $167,456 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 13

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Baltimore, MD
• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

Occasional travel - To other VAMHCS facilities for meetings and trainings, as needed.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -* Work schedule

Full-time -* Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

None

• Job family (Series)

0180 Psychology

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBTF TH

• Control number

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This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency


AREA OF CONSIDERATION:
Qualified Candidates will be referred and considered in the following order: (1). Current Permanent Employees of the VA Maryland Healthcare System. (2). Other current permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs. If you are an OTHER current permanent federal employee or NOT a current permanent federal employee, apply to job announcement
CBTF TH
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Duties

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.

This is an open continuous announcement until September 30, 2024. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.


Major Duties:

• Full range of psychodiagnostic services including assessment, and using the most appropriate, evidence-based psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care in the delivery of a full range of psychological and multidisciplinary services.
• Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including, as clinically appropriate, evidence-based psychotherapy such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Problem Solving Therapy (PST).
• Conducts evidence-based group therapy, psycho-educational, and orientation groups as needed.
• Works in the MHC delivering specialty services for the treatment of co-occurring substance use disorders (SUD), participates in interdisciplinary team dispositions of patients within the MHC and SUD programs, and provides consultation services to medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues, particularly related to identifying and treating comorbid SUD concerns and related needs of Veterans.

Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 4:30PM


Telework:
Available


Virtual:
This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 0000


Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not Authorized


EDRP Authorized:
Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized


Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required

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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.
• 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.
• 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

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 (1)

A doctoral degree in psychology from graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association, the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System, or the Canadian Psychological Association at time of program completion.

Specialty area of degree must be consistent with assignment in which applicant is to be employed.

The term "specialty area" refers to specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body, not to specific job duties that require special skills.

APA accredits doctoral programs in specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas.

PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. No job assignments in VHA require the skills of a school psychologist. An applicant with a degree in specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment.

Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology).

OR (2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in have successfully completed a specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions:

(a) Re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and,(b) specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with assignment in which the applicant is to be employed



NOTE:

The applicant must provide official transcript and/or certificate documenting the completion of the re-specialization program, including completion of an APA or CPA internship.

[Psychologists who successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification.] [OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally accredited institution, with dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND (4) Internships(a) Have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program, accredited by APA or CPA at time of program completion and is consistent with assignment in which the applicant is to be employed.

OR(b) New VHA psychology internship programs in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable to fulfill internship requirement, provided such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time the individual was an intern; OR(c) VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL pre 1979) are considered to fulfill the internship requirement OR(d) Whom completed internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time of program completion may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area consistent with assignment in which they are to be employed.

(

NOTE:

Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification.) [OR (e) Those who have 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 equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program.

If internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from doctoral program verifying the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program



NOTE:
Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard

• 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.
• 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.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:
Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance, Level)

(a) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to a 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:
None


References:
VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 PART II APPENDIX G18 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 GS 13.

Physical Requirements:

Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs.); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; walking (intermittent); standing (intermittent); hearing (aid permitted); clear speech.

Work is sedentary. No special physical demands required to perform work.

Education


IMPORTANT:

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note:
Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.

You can verify your education here:
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education


For further information, visit:
Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation)

Leave:

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.

The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive , VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy).

VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations.

If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.

The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.

As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

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Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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, resume, 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.