Staff Psychologist (Workplace Violence Prevention Program)

Veterans Health Administration • Houston, TX

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist serves in the Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP), conducting comprehensive threat assessments of disruptive behavior generated by patients, families, visitors, or employees. The psychologist develops and implements risk mitigation strategies that are clinically, organizationally, culturally, ethically, and legally grounded, including in ambiguous and challenging situations. As a senior clinician, the psychologist serves as Chair or Co-Chair of the facility’s Disruptive Behavior Committee and routinely reports to executive leadership.

The position provides workplace-safety education, training, consultation, and support to patients, staff, and leadership. It collaborates with multidisciplinary facility stakeholders, including Police Service, Human Resources/Labor Management Relations, and Patient Experience, to promote positive engagement and a high-reliability culture of safety and reporting. The psychologist supervises trainees conducting threat assessment and mitigation and maintains competency to provide a full range of psycho-diagnostic and psychotherapeutic services.

The role participates in all aspects of the WVPP and may support research, program evaluation, quality improvement, academic appointments, and training of psychology and other healthcare trainees. It includes timely completion of required clinical charting and documentation. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the schedule may change to meet facility needs. Telework and virtual work are not available.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility and application requirements. Approved repayment may be up to $200,000, with the award amount and eligibility period (one to five years) determined after review of the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; alternatively, qualifying re-specialization or specified 1951–1978 doctoral degree pathways are accepted.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship, or an accepted alternative specified in the posting.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; eligible non-licensed applicants may qualify for a temporary graduate psychologist appointment under the stated conditions.
• At least two years of postdoctoral professional psychology experience, including at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level, obtained through employment or supervised postdoctoral training, with a full, current, unrestricted license for the qualifying experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to a full range of patient populations.
• Ability to provide professional advice and consultation related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
• Knowledge of clinical research literature.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Ability to meet VA employment conditions, including applicable drug testing, background/security investigation, onboarding, influenza vaccination, and a one- or two-year trial period.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in stressful situations.
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing evidence-based risk assessment.
• Experience adapting technology and computer-assisted programs to improve recovery outcomes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary hospital teams.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive threat assessments for disruptive behavior generated by patients, families, visitors, and employees.
• Formulate and implement clinically, organizationally, culturally, ethically, and legally grounded risk mitigation efforts.
• Serve as a senior clinician and Chair or Co-Chair of the facility’s Disruptive Behavior Committee, reporting routinely to executive leadership.
• Provide workplace-safety support, education, training, and consultation to patients, staff, leadership, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary staff and departments, including Police Service, Human Resources/Labor Management Relations, and Patient Experience, to promote positive engagement and a culture of safety and reporting.
• Supervise trainees conducting threat assessment and mitigation and psychology trainees at all levels.
• Maintain competency to provide psycho-diagnostic and psychotherapeutic services, including assessment and appropriate treatment techniques.
• Participate in all aspects of the Workplace Violence Prevention Program.
• Serve, when appropriate, as a consultant for trainees and staff in closely related healthcare disciplines and may train non-psychology trainees.
• Participate in research, program evaluation, and quality improvement initiatives; present relevant outcome data or research at professional meetings as appropriate.
• Complete required clinical charting and documentation in a timely manner.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered based on qualifications or VA 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 for prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days, subject to income and other eligibility requirements.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs can be carried into retirement.
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with a potential award of up to $200,000.

What This Job Offers

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