Staff Psychologist Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)

Veterans Health Administration•Memphis, TN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Psychologist provides Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) services to Veterans referred by Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) for mental and behavioral health services. The role provides assessment and treatment in primary care, diagnoses mental disorders, and supports Veterans with complex or difficult presentations, including mental health needs associated with medical conditions and substance use disorders. The psychologist supports same-day mental health access, crisis intervention, and care by telephone, in person, and telehealth. The role includes deciding when Veterans should be enrolled in Behavioral Health Laboratory (BHL) telephone services or receive other PCMHI dispositions, such as brief therapy or referral management. The psychologist provides patient and family education and evidence-based psychotherapy, including individual, family, and group interventions. The position consults with PACT staff, VA Medical Center at Memphis and Community-Based Outpatient Clinic care providers, VISN 9 BHL and PCMHI, and community providers. It develops, implements, and documents patient care, treatment plans, crisis interventions, and suicide risk assessments in CPRS, while maintaining communication with PACT teams and VISN 9 BHL. The psychologist may supervise and instruct trainees, help develop clinical programs for primary care clinics, participate in program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement, and coordinate services with other VA programs. Additional duties may be assigned. This is a full-performance-level Staff Psychologist position at GS-13. The psychologist is licensed to practice independently, provides psychological services, diagnoses and treats mental disorders, conducts assessments, offers adjunctive interventions for medical disorders, consults with medical center staff, and may participate in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research.

Requirements

Hold a full, current, and unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
Be proficient in spoken and written English.
Have a doctoral degree in psychology from an APA-, PCSAS-, or CPA-accredited graduate program, with a specialty consistent with the assignment; alternatively, meet one of the specified doctoral-degree and re-specialization or grandfathering pathways.
Have successfully completed an eligible professional psychology internship consistent with the assignment, or meet one of the stated alternatives for internship eligibility.
Have at least 2 additional years of professional psychologist experience, including at least 1 year equivalent to GS-12; qualifying experience may include paid or unpaid employment or supervised postdoctoral psychology training and must demonstrate active professional practice and/or a full, current, unrestricted license.
Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations.
Demonstrate ability to provide professional advice and consultation related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
Demonstrate knowledge of clinical research literature.
Be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
Satisfy applicable pre-employment screening, background/security investigation, onboarding, identification, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
Meet the required Selective Service registration requirement if applicable.
Serve a 1- or 2-year trial period.

Responsibilities

Provide PCMHI services to Veterans referred by PACT for mental and behavioral health services.
Assess and treat mental health needs in primary care, including complex or unusually difficult cases and mental health concerns associated with medical conditions or substance use disorders.
Support same-day mental health access and provide crisis intervention in person, by telephone, and through telehealth as needed.
Determine whether Veterans should be enrolled in BHL telephone services or receive other PCMHI dispositions, such as brief therapy or referral management.
Educate patients, family members, and significant others about mental and behavioral health concerns.
Provide evidence-based individual, family, and group psychotherapy, including interventions such as Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Consult with PACT staff, VA medical center and CBOC care providers, VISN 9 BHL and PCMHI, and community providers regarding clinical findings and treatment plans.
Develop, implement, and document patient care, treatment plans, crisis interventions, and suicide risk assessments in CPRS.
Communicate with PACT teams and VISN 9 BHL through meetings and telephone communications.
Provide clinical supervision and instruction to PCMHI trainees, as needed.
Assist PACT and PCMHI providers with designing, developing, and implementing clinical programs for Primary Care Clinics.
Assist with ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects.
Coordinate services with other VA care programs, including the Homeless Program, Veterans Justice Outreach, and specialty mental health.
Adhere to PACT operational policies and procedures established by the Chief of Primary Care and/or Ambulatory Care Director.
Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential award amounts up to $200,000, subject to eligibility and program approval.
Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, in connection with a birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income, child eligibility, and program limits.
Traditional federal pension, with 5-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 may be carried into retirement.
Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
Relocation assistance may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service experience, subject to approval.