Staff Psychologist (PCMHI)

Department of Veterans Affairs • Martinez, CA

29d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. The psychologist serves within the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Program, which falls within the VA Northern California Health Care System (NCHCS) Mental Health Service. The incumbent will function as a psychologist within the Primary Care clinic, with an emphasis on integration of mental health services within Primary Care. It is expected that the incumbent will successfully coordinate service delivery with Primary Care staff and other Mental Health Providers as appropriate. The primary job functions of psychologists at the GS-13 level include the provision of direct psychological patient care, consultation services on difficult or complex cases, education of staff and participation in Psychology Training Program(s), including training committee activities, providing didactics, and supervision of practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows, with protected time established by OAA and the VANCHCS Supervision Manual. While some virtual care may be provided as appropriate, please note this is not a 100% virtual position.

Responsibilities

• Provides a full range of diagnostic and evaluation services appropriate to the primary care setting, especially in the areas of general psychological evaluation of emotional and behavioral problems and focused cognitive screening.
• Provides a full range of psychological interventions consistent with training and expertise, with special emphasis on brief and evidenced-based interventions found to be effective in primary care settings.
• Facilitates patient and family education appropriate to the primary care setting and the specific presenting mental or behavioral health issues.
• Provides consultation services for primary care providers to maximize the effectiveness of their interventions in reducing health-risk behaviors and enhancing health-promoting behaviors, with a significant emphasis on a prevention-oriented model of care.
• Supports primary care provider (PCP) decision-making, building on PCP interventions and improving PCP-patient working relationships.
• Provides clinical care management when appropriate directly to an assigned cohort of patients.
• Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues to include patient's decision-making capacity regarding health care.
• Completes all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Above Minimum Rate of the Grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Administration of Human Resource Programs
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees