Staff Psychologist

Veterans Health Administration • Shawnee, OK

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, Mental Health Service, is recruiting a Staff Psychologist to provide care to Veterans at the Shawnee Community Based Outpatient Clinic. The position provides independent psychological services across levels of complexity, including diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, psychological assessment, crisis and triage services, and individual, family, and group psychotherapy. The psychologist conducts intake and biopsychosocial assessments, develops treatment plans, uses measurement-based care, and coordinates care with VA providers, teams, and community programs.

The role also includes consultation, program and clinic team participation, referral and treatment-program disposition, vocational consultation, and compliance with VA requirements for coding, scheduling, records retention, and secure handling of testing materials and protected information. The psychologist provides training and clinical supervision to trainees and other disciplines, contributes to psychology training programs and committees, and participates in program evaluation, research, and data-driven quality assurance activities.

This is a full-time position with a Monday–Friday schedule, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Situational (ad hoc) telework may be available under agency policy; this is not a virtual position. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program for applicants who meet its eligibility requirements. The full performance level is GS-13, and selection may be at GS-11 through GS-13.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A doctoral degree in psychology meeting the specified APA, PCSAS, or CPA accreditation requirements, or an eligible alternative doctoral-degree and re-specialization pathway.
• Completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship, subject to the stated exceptions and alternatives.
• A full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; qualifying non-licensed applicants may receive a supervised temporary graduate psychologist appointment for up to two years at GS-11 or GS-12.
• For GS-12 consideration, at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11 and demonstration of the specified treatment, assessment, treatment-planning, clinical-procedure, and research-related knowledge and abilities.
• For GS-13 consideration, at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including one year equivalent to GS-12, and demonstration of the specified advanced clinical, consultation, research, scientific reporting, research mentoring, and project execution knowledge and abilities.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including a physical examination and, for testing-designated positions, urinalysis; complete background/security investigation and onboarding requirements.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to male applicants born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable, subject to the stated continued-employment determination.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose mental disorders and treat patients using individual, family, and group psychotherapy, triage and crisis management, behavioral health, community interventions, and other modalities.
• Conduct psychological assessments, initial intakes, and biopsychosocial assessments, and develop treatment plans consistent with VA, Joint Commission, and clinic requirements.
• Practice measurement-based care using the Collect, Share, Act model.
• Consult with VA staff, referring providers, care teams, psychologists, and trainees on patient care and treatment expectations.
• Safeguard psychological testing materials and personally identifiable and protected health information.
• Participate in regularly scheduled program and clinic team meetings.
• Evaluate patients and determine disposition to VA treatment programs, community programs, and vocational placements; place clinical consults when indicated.
• Consult with staff regarding Veterans with complex vocational problems.
• Provide independent psychological services and consult with peers and supervisors as appropriate.
• Ensure coding follows OMHSP Mental Health Coding Guidelines and manage assessment records in accordance with VA records requirements.
• Place return-to-clinic requests in accordance with VA directives and scheduling guidelines.
• Obtain required PMDB training based on the workplace setting and annual Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment.
• Provide training and clinical supervision to graduate psychologists, psychology trainees, psychology technicians, psychiatry residents, and medical students.
• Participate in psychology training programs and training committees and provide leadership guidance and consultation to assigned unit staff.
• Participate in program evaluation, research, active program monitoring, and outcome measurement using data-driven quality assurance processes.
• Assist with other activities as assigned by OKC VA Health Care System management.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential award up to $200,000 for eligible participants, subject to program review and approval.
• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 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.
• Potential child care subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and program limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Potential annual leave accrual credit based on prior federal employment or military service, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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