Staff Psychologist - Home Based Primary Care

Veterans Health Administration • Columbia, MO

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist is assigned to the BMNS Team within the Behavioral Health Service Line at the Truman VA, with primary workload responsibility for Home Based Primary Care (HBPC). The psychologist supports primary care providers in managing the overall health of enrolled patients by improving the recognition, treatment, and management of psychosocial and behavioral health conditions. The role provides consultation-based services to HBPC patients referred by the primary care team, including brief services delivered in veterans’ homes through an integrated care model. Direct care includes outpatient assessment and individual counseling, as well as other clinically indicated therapeutic interventions. The position may also include limited administrative, teaching and training, program development, and quality improvement responsibilities.

The psychologist serves as an integral member of the HBPC team and provides accessible, integrated biopsychosocial care. The incumbent works independently as a member of the Truman VA Medical Staff with full clinical privileges and is professionally responsible for clinical assessment findings, care decisions, and documentation. The position includes participation in team, service-line, facility, psychology, and medical staff meetings; compliance with peer review procedures; and possible participation in behavioral health or hospital committees and work groups. The incumbent keeps current with research through professional publications and conferences and may present findings or theories.

The position requires a doctoral degree in psychology meeting VA accreditation or other specified qualification pathways, completion of an appropriate professional psychology internship, and a full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology. A temporary graduate psychologist appointment may be available to otherwise eligible non-licensed applicants for up to two years under licensed supervision. For the GS-13 full performance level, applicants must have at least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, and demonstrate the required psychological treatment, consultation, and clinical research knowledge and abilities. Experience with geriatric patients and cognitive assessments is preferred.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in psychology from an eligible accredited program or another VA-accepted qualification pathway described in the announcement.
• Completion of a professional psychology internship meeting the applicable VA requirements, unless an announced exception applies.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; eligible non-licensed applicants may be considered for a temporary supervised graduate psychologist appointment of up to two years.
• For GS-13: at least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to the 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 written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Valid, unrestricted state driver’s license, safe driving record, and medical qualification to operate the required government-owned or leased vehicle safely.
• Ability to meet required pre-employment conditions, including background/security investigation, drug screening for testing-designated positions, and pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete required application and onboarding requirements and serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with geriatric patients.
• Experience with cognitive assessments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an integral member of the HBPC team, providing accessible, integrated biopsychosocial health care to patients assigned within the PACT.
• Assist primary care providers in managing the overall health of the enrolled population and improving recognition, treatment, and management of psychosocial and behavioral problems.
• Provide consultation-based services to HBPC patients referred by the primary care team, including services delivered in veterans’ homes using an integrated care model.
• Conduct outpatient assessments and individual counseling.
• Use appropriate therapeutic techniques to provide evidence-based and recovery-oriented treatment to veterans with complex mental health needs in outpatient and inpatient settings.
• Provide clinically indicated interventions, including cognitive assessment, education, individual and family psychotherapy, and group psychotherapy for patients, family members, and significant others.
• Consult with Truman VA professional staff and community providers on clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans.
• Assume professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation while functioning independently with full clinical privileges.
• Attend and actively participate in BMNS Team meetings and attend relevant service-line, facility, Psychology Service, and Medical Staff meetings.
• Comply with Psychology Service peer review procedures and participate in behavioral health or hospital committees and work groups as assigned.
• Remain current with research by attending professional conferences and reading professional publications; may present findings or theories at conferences or in publications.
• May perform limited administrative, teaching and training, program development, and quality improvement duties.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval, with an award of up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years.
• 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, comprising 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.
• Child care subsidy may be available after 60 days for eligible full-time employees with total family income below $144,000, covering up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to a monthly maximum of $416.66.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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