Staff Psychologist (Primary Care Mental Health) - EDRP Authorized

Veterans Health Administration • San Antonio, TX

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist provides psychological services in a Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) setting at a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in northwest San Antonio, Texas. The position may be filled at GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13, with GS-13 identified as the full performance level. The GS-11 role is primarily supervised clinical work; GS-12 adds consultation and training with greater independence; and GS-13 independently provides the full range of clinical services and may perform academic, program-evaluation, administrative, and supervisory functions. The position works with primary care teams using a blended model and supports patients in receiving appropriate care through their primary care provider when clinically appropriate.

The role provides assessment, psychological evaluation, suicide assessment, and brief evidence-based interventions for emotional, behavioral, mood, and medical-condition-related concerns. Services may include individual and group therapy, psychological testing, consultation and training for primary care staff, and patient and family education. At the GS-13 level, the psychologist also contributes to program design, evaluation, quality improvement, administrative functions, and service representation on committees and task forces.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad-hoc telework may be available under agency policy; this is not a virtual position. The work is primarily sedentary, with some movement between work areas, walking or standing for meetings, and occasional lifting of light items under 15 pounds.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA appointment exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• A doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program consistent with the assignment; alternatively, qualifying doctoral and respecialization credentials or a qualifying 1951–1978 doctoral degree may meet the requirement.
• Completion of a qualifying professional psychology internship, with specified alternatives for certain VHA programs, board-certified applicants, and qualifying 1951–1978 doctoral graduates.
• A full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level psychology license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; eligible non-licensed applicants may receive a supervised temporary GS-11 or GS-12 graduate psychologist appointment for up to two years.
• GS-11: No experience beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-12: At least one year of professional psychologist experience equivalent to GS-11, plus the stated knowledge and abilities in psychological assessment and treatment, treatment planning, clinical procedures, and applicable research tasks.
• GS-13: At least two years of professional psychologist experience, including at least one year equivalent to GS-12, plus the ability to apply psychological treatments across patient populations, provide professional advice and consultation, and knowledge of clinical research literature.
• Meet applicable VA employment conditions, including background/security investigation, required onboarding and identification documentation, and seasonal influenza vaccination.
• Physical demands may include moving between work areas, walking or standing for meetings or conferences, and carrying or lifting items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• GS-12 and GS-13: Experience working on interdisciplinary teams or in a large medical center.
• GS-12 and GS-13: Experience working with veteran and diverse populations.
• GS-12 and GS-13: Experience or training in evidence-based psychotherapies.
• GS-13: Completion of an APA-accredited postdoctoral fellowship.
• GS-13: Administrative or process-improvement experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide diagnostic and evaluation services appropriate to primary care, including assessment of emotional and behavioral concerns and suicide risk.
• Use psychological testing, under supervision when required by grade or licensure status.
• Provide brief, evidence-based psychological interventions, including individual or group therapy as appropriate.
• Perform psychological evaluations for diagnostic clarification and treatment planning using interviews, records review, collateral contacts, and testing.
• Consult with primary care providers to support clinical decision-making and provider-patient relationships; serve as a resource to other personnel.
• Provide consultation and training to Primary Care Service Line staff on managing common mental and behavioral health disorders.
• Facilitate patient and family education suited to the setting and presenting concerns.
• Deliver interventions that allow patients to remain with their primary care provider when clinically appropriate.
• At the GS-13 level, provide clinical supervision to psychology interns, fellows, and practicum students.
• At the GS-13 level, assist with PCMHI program design, evaluation, and quality improvement, and carry out administrative and program-management duties.
• Comply with performance measures and CPRS documentation requirements.
• Represent Psychology Service on committees and serve on task forces related to Integrated Primary Care and Mental Health.
• At the GS-13 level, may serve as a first-line supervisor.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award amount up to $200,000 and 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, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Possible credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other conditions.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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