Staff Psychologist

Veterans Health Administration•Mather AFB, CA

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist serves in the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Program within the Mental Health Service of the VA Northern California Health Care System. The role is based in a Primary Care clinic and emphasizes integrating mental health services with primary care. The psychologist coordinates service delivery with Primary Care staff and other Mental Health providers as appropriate. The GS-13 role includes direct psychological care, consultation on difficult or complex cases, staff education, and participation in Psychology Training Programs, including training committee activities, didactics, and supervision of practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows. Protected time for training activities is established by OAA and the VANCHCS Supervision Manual. Some virtual care may be provided, but this is not a fully virtual position. The position provides diagnostic and evaluation services suited to primary care, including general psychological evaluations of emotional and behavioral concerns and focused cognitive screening. It provides psychological interventions consistent with the incumbent’s training and expertise, with an emphasis on brief, evidence-based interventions effective in primary care. The psychologist also provides patient and family education, consultation to primary care providers, care management for an assigned patient cohort when appropriate, and consultation to medical center staff on patient-care matters, including decision-making capacity. Required clinical charting and documentation must be completed. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and may change to meet agency needs. Flexible or compressed schedules are unavailable. Ad hoc telework is available under agency policy; the role is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives are authorized, and the position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program rules and approval. The position is permanent and full-time by default under the posting’s employment-type convention; it is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Requirements

Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; alternatively, qualifying doctoral education and respecialization or a qualifying doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978, as described in the posting.
Successful completion of a professional psychology internship meeting the specified accreditation, VHA program, board-certification, or historical program criteria.
Full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; limited temporary graduate psychologist appointments may be available to otherwise eligible unlicensed applicants at GS-11 or GS-12 under supervision, for no more than two years.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
For GS-13: at least 2 years of professional psychologist experience, including at least 1 year equivalent to GS-12.
For GS-13: knowledge of and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.
For GS-13: ability to provide professional advice and consultation in professional psychology and behavioral health.
For GS-13: knowledge of clinical research literature.
U.S. citizenship is required, subject to the stated exception under VA policy.
Must complete required background/security investigation, pre-employment drug screening if selected for a testing-designated position, pre-employment physical examination, and online onboarding requirements.
Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Must serve a 1- or 2-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
Must meet application and documentation requirements, including submitting transcripts when relying on education to qualify.

Responsibilities

Provide diagnostic and evaluation services appropriate to primary care, including psychological evaluations of emotional and behavioral problems and focused cognitive screening.
Provide psychological interventions consistent with training and expertise, emphasizing brief, evidence-based interventions effective in primary care settings.
Facilitate patient and family education about relevant mental and behavioral health issues.
Consult with primary care providers to support effective interventions that reduce health-risk behaviors and promote health-promoting behaviors, with emphasis on prevention-oriented care.
Support primary care provider decision-making, build on provider interventions, and improve provider-patient working relationships.
Provide clinical care management directly to an assigned cohort of patients when appropriate.
Consult with medical center staff on patient-care issues, including patient decision-making capacity regarding health care.
Complete required clinical charting and documentation.
Coordinate service delivery with Primary Care staff and other Mental Health providers as appropriate.
Provide direct psychological patient care and consultation on difficult or complex cases.
Educate staff and participate in Psychology Training Programs, including training committee activities and didactics.
Supervise practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows, with protected time established by OAA and the VANCHCS Supervision Manual.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential student loan reimbursement up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and approval.
Relocation incentives authorized.
Recruitment incentives authorized.
Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval.

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