Staff Psychologist- Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)

Veterans Health Administration • Gainesville, FL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist is administratively aligned with the Mental Health Service and assigned as a Collocated Collaborative Care (CCC) behavioral health consultant in Primary Care. Working collaboratively within the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), the psychologist promotes prevention, early identification, and treatment of mild to moderate behavioral health and health behavior concerns as part of routine primary care. The role provides brief, evidence-based interventions, education, and consultation to Veterans, Primary Care Providers, and other PACT members.

Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) visits are generally 30 minutes or less, limited to 1–6 visits, and structured so patients view meeting with a behavioral health provider as a routine primary care service. The psychologist integrates into a fast-paced primary care clinic and participates in team-based activities such as huddles, case reviews, consultation, and education. Direct services include brief, focused interventions, many delivered through in-person warm handoffs within PACT to support same-day access.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, either 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Telework is ad hoc; this is not a virtual position. Relocation or recruitment incentives are authorized for highly qualified candidates. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The full performance level is GS-13; selection may be at GS-11 through GS-13.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Doctoral degree in psychology meeting the specified accreditation and specialty requirements, or an eligible alternative doctoral degree and re-specialization pathway, or qualifying 1951–1978 doctoral degree.
• Successful completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship, subject to the stated exceptions.
• Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For GS-12: at least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, in addition to the basic requirements, and the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• For GS-13: at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, in addition to the basic requirements, and the specified knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Meet applicable pre-employment conditions, including drug screening for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, pre-employment physical examination, onboarding and identification requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, during which continued employment is evaluated.
• Demonstrate the required knowledge and abilities for the applicable grade, including psychological treatments and assessment, treatment planning, incorporating clinical procedures, consultation, and—where specified—research skills and knowledge of clinical research literature.

Nice To Haves

• Highly qualified candidates may be eligible for authorized relocation or recruitment incentives.
• Eligible applicants may receive EDRP student-loan reimbursement of up to $200,000, subject to application, eligibility, and program approval. Former EDRP participants are ineligible.

Responsibilities

• Promote prevention, early identification, and treatment of mild to moderate behavioral health and health behavior concerns in routine primary care.
• Provide brief, evidence-based interventions, education, and consultation to Veterans, Primary Care Providers, and allied PACT members.
• Collaborate with the Patient Aligned Care Team as a behavioral health consultant in Primary Care.
• Deliver brief, focused interventions, including in-person warm handoffs to support same-day access.
• Participate in team-based activities including huddles, case reviews, consultation, and education.
• Apply professional psychological treatments and assessment methods, and design and implement effective treatment strategies, as applicable to grade-level qualifications.
• For staff psychologists with specified research duties, conduct clinical research projects or perform basic research and scholarship tasks within an established research team.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student-loan payment reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval.
• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal employment or military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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