Psychologist

Veterans Health Administration • Hinesville, GA

3d

About The Position

The Psychologist independently provides psychological assessment, diagnosis, education, consultation, and evidence-based psychotherapy to patients. The role includes developing, implementing, and documenting treatment plans for an assigned caseload and practicing as a member of the VAMC Medical Staff with full clinical privileges and professional responsibility for clinical findings, care decisions, and documentation.

The Psychologist also supports clinical program design and implementation, follows treatment-team operating policies, contributes to program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement, coordinates services with other health care programs, and complies with performance measures, documentation requirements, and clinical reminder standards. The position participates in Mental Health Service Line, Medical Staff, administrative, and informational meetings, as well as peer-review procedures.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and application review. The position is not virtual; telework is available. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; alternatively, the specified qualifying doctoral degree and completed accredited re-specialization, or a qualifying 1951–1978 doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution with a primarily psychological dissertation.
• Completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship, subject to the stated exceptions for certain VHA programs, pre-1979 internships, qualifying board certification, or qualifying supervised experience.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• For applicants whose internship was not accredited when completed, current American Board of Professional Psychology certification in a specialty consistent with the assignment, with continuing certification maintained.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For the GS-12 developmental level, at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11 and demonstration of the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For the GS-13 full-performance level, at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, and demonstration of the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Comply with VA pre-employment, security, identification, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable, subject to the conditions described in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience; approval is required and not guaranteed.

Responsibilities

• Independently provide psychological assessment services and diagnose mental disorders and behavioral health conditions.
• Provide education to patients, family members, and significant others.
• Provide evidence-based individual, family, and group psychotherapy.
• Consult with VAMC professional staff and community providers regarding clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans.
• Develop, implement, and document psychotherapeutic treatment plans for an assigned caseload, including timely completion of clinical reminders.
• Practice independently as a member of the VAMC Medical Staff with full clinical privileges, taking professional responsibility for assessment findings, patient-care decisions, and documentation.
• Assist the Service Line Director or Program Director with the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for treatment-provider teams.
• Follow treatment-team operational policies and procedures established by the Service Line Director.
• Assist with program evaluation and data-driven quality-improvement projects to monitor clinical-program effectiveness.
• Coordinate services by facilitating liaisons with other health care programs.
• Comply with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders.
• Follow CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards and patient check-out procedures such as entering diagnostic and procedure codes.
• Attend and participate in administrative and informational meetings held by the Service Line Director or designee and facility Director.
• Attend regular Mental Health Service Line and Medical Staff meetings and comply with Mental Health Service peer-review procedures.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years, subject to program approval and individual eligibility.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Child care subsidy may be available after 60 days of employment to eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000, covering up to 25% of eligible child care costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree