Staff Psychologist - Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

Veterans Health Administration • Danville, IL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist will provide evaluation and treatment to veterans participating in the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) program in Danville, Illinois. The program includes intensive outpatient care, medication management, individual and group outpatient services, and occasional inpatient consultation. The psychologist provides evidence-based, recovery-oriented care to veterans with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.

The position provides diagnostic and evaluation services appropriate to a mental health setting, including assessment of emotional and behavioral problems and suicide risk. It also provides psychological interventions consistent with the clinician’s training and expertise, with an emphasis on substance use, and facilitates patient and family education. The clinician provides same-day access, documents clinical work accurately and promptly, participates in peer and clinical pertinence reviews, identifies needs for multidisciplinary consultation and makes referrals, and is accountable for entering visits, measuring intervention outcomes, and meeting productivity standards. Licensed psychologists perform clinical functions independently and may guide or supervise others. Unlicensed psychologists practice under close supervision of a licensed psychologist, with supervised experience meeting psychology licensure standards. Other duties may be assigned.

This is a full-time position with a schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The announcement is open continuously, and candidates are referred to the hiring official weekly until the position is filled. Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. Some positions may qualify for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval; eligible participants may receive up to $200,000 over one to five years.

Applicants must meet VA psychologist education, internship, and licensure requirements. The role may be filled at GS-11 through GS-13, with GS-13 identified as the full performance level. Grade-specific experience and competency requirements apply at GS-12 and GS-13. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise qualify may be temporarily appointed as graduate psychologists for up to two years and must practice under licensed supervision.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Doctoral degree in psychology meeting the stated accreditation, specialty, or grandfathering requirements; transcripts or applicable supporting documentation are required.
• Successful completion of a professional psychology internship meeting the stated accreditation or qualifying alternative requirements.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; qualifying non-licensed applicants may be considered for a supervised temporary graduate psychologist appointment of up to two years.
• For GS-12, at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11 and the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities; research competencies apply only to staff psychologists with specified research duties.
• For GS-13, at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, and the stated knowledge and abilities.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including a physical evaluation and, for testing-designated positions, urinalysis; comply with security, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Complete the application requirements listed in the announcement.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.

Responsibilities

• Provide diagnostic and evaluation services for mental health concerns, including emotional and behavioral problems and suicide assessment.
• Provide psychological interventions consistent with training and expertise, with special emphasis on substance use.
• Facilitate patient and family education related to mental and behavioral health issues.
• Provide same-day access.
• Document clinical work accurately and in a timely manner in accordance with facility expectations and policies.
• Participate in peer review and clinical pertinence review.
• Identify patient problems requiring consultation with multidisciplinary medical center staff and make appropriate referrals.
• Enter patient visits, measure outcomes of interventions, and meet productivity standards.
• If licensed, perform clinical functions independently and provide guidance and/or supervision to others as appropriate.
• If unlicensed, practice under close supervision of a licensed psychologist.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or agency needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, subject to eligibility.
• Child care subsidy may be available to eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension and federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.
• Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized.
• Potential Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement for eligible positions and applicants, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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