Staff Psychologist - Home Based Primary Care

Veterans Health Administration • Salt Lake City, UT

20h • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist practices independently in providing psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. The psychologist diagnoses mental disorders; conducts psychological or neuropsychological assessments; treats mental disorders through varied modalities; provides adjunctive interventions for medical disorders; and consults with medical center staff on patient-care issues. The role may also include program evaluation, teaching, training, and research.

The position serves the VA Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) program, which provides comprehensive interdisciplinary primary care in the homes of Veterans with complex, chronic, disabling diseases. HBPC also provides palliative care, rehabilitation, disease management, and care coordination, particularly for Veterans at high risk of recurrent hospitalization or nursing-home placement.

The psychologist provides screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for depressive and anxiety-related disorders and other Axis I conditions, emphasizing time-limited, evidence-based approaches. Services also address subclinical dysphoria and anxiety, adjustment difficulties, and excessive or misused alcohol or other drugs; psychological prevention; cognitive screening; capacity and competency questions; grief and loss; behavioral medicine concerns; and support for Veterans’ families and caregivers. Care may be delivered individually, in groups, to families, or through telemental health and telehome technology. The psychologist helps facilitate communication among medical teams, patients, and families and supports transitions to new living situations.

The position provides clinical supervision and training to psychology postdoctoral fellows, interns, and practicum students, and participates in the Psychology Training Program and Training Committee. It also trains medical students, psychiatric residents, and nursing students; monitors relevant performance measures; completes required clinical documentation; and participates in program-wide outcome evaluation studies.

The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Significant local community travel is required to provide home-based care and meet with representatives and stakeholders. A valid state driver’s license is required. The full performance level is GS-13; selection may be at GS-11 through GS-13. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval; the stated maximum award is $200,000, for an eligibility period of one to five years. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; or an eligible alternative doctoral degree and respecialization or qualifying historical degree pathway described in the announcement.
• Successful completion of a professional psychology internship meeting the stated accreditation, VHA, or other qualifying criteria, subject to the specified exceptions.
• Full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; qualifying nonlicensed applicants may be considered for a supervised temporary graduate psychologist appointment of up to two years.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Valid state driver’s license; local travel is required to provide community-based care.
• For GS-12: at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities in psychological treatments and assessment, treatment strategy design and implementation, and incorporating clinical procedures; research-related abilities apply as specified for research duties.
• For GS-13: at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, plus knowledge and ability to apply psychological treatments across patient populations, provide professional advice and consultation in psychology and behavioral health, and knowledge of clinical research literature.
• Must meet applicable U.S. citizenship requirements; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Selected applicants are subject to applicable pre-employment drug screening, background/security investigation, onboarding, and physical examination requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel requirement.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period if appointed, subject to the stated employment conditions.
• Must be able to perform the position’s physical requirements, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering health and safety.
• Must complete application requirements described in the announcement’s Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Recent experience serving a home-based geriatric or aging population within the past five years.
• Recent neuropsychological testing experience within the past five years.

Responsibilities

• Practice independently in providing psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate.
• Diagnose mental disorders; conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments; treat mental disorders using a variety of modalities; and provide adjunctive interventions for medical disorders.
• Consult with medical center staff on patient-care issues.
• Provide screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for depressive and anxiety-related disorders and other Axis I conditions, emphasizing time-limited, evidence-based approaches.
• Assess and treat subclinical dysphoria and anxiety, adjustment difficulties, and excessive use or misuse of alcohol or other drugs, taking account of medical conditions and potential medication interactions.
• Provide psychological prevention services to patients at significant risk for psychological problems.
• Provide care to family members of Veterans with dementia when directly related to the Veteran’s treatment plan, including training families to manage dementia-related behavioral problems.
• Provide clinical services through telemental health and telehome technology.
• Screen for cognitive deficits to address functional questions or determine whether referral for a complete neuropsychological evaluation or dementia assessment is needed.
• Perform capacity and competency assessments concerning medical decisions, specific functions, or independent living.
• Assess patients’ understanding of advance directives and consent forms, and assist staff in presenting treatment options and other materials in an understandable format.
• Provide individual and group interventions to help patients cope with grief and loss related to disability and life transitions.
• Provide psychoeducational and supportive interventions for Veterans’ spouses, family members, caregivers, and other key supports.
• Facilitate transitions and adjustment to new living situations, such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities, and provide seamless intervention services as appropriate.
• Provide behavioral medicine interventions to manage pain and disability, address sleep problems, facilitate weight loss, promote smoking cessation, and enhance medical compliance.
• Promote communication among medical team members, patients, and families to facilitate medical treatment.
• Provide clinical supervision to psychology postdoctoral fellows, interns, and practicum students training in the HBPC clinic.
• Participate in the Psychology Training Program and serve on the Training Committee.
• Train medical students, psychiatric residents, and nursing students in the HBPC clinic.
• Participate in monitoring performance measures related to Outpatient Mental Health Services, HBPC, and Med Psych Services.
• Complete clinical charting and documentation required by Mental Health Services and VASLCHCS in a timely manner.
• Participate in program-wide outcome evaluation studies.
• Travel locally in the community to provide home-based care and meet with representatives and stakeholders supporting Veterans.

Benefits

• Eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval; award amounts may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package for themselves and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type and other factors.
• Selected applicants may qualify to receive annual-leave accrual credit for prior federal work or military service, subject to approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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