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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Psychologist (PTSD Coordinator) Near Detroit, MI

Qualifications:

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship - Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
• Education Requirement - You must have a doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) at the time the program was completed. The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR, have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully completed a respecialization program meeting both of the following conditions: a) the respecialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and b) the specialty in which you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are am applying for; OR, have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.
• Internship Requirement - You must have successfully completed a professional psychology internship training program that was accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed and that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed; OR, New VHA psychology internship programs that are in the process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement, provided that such programs were sanctioned by the VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology and the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern; OR, VHA facilities that offered full-time, one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement; OR, Applicants who completed an internship that was not accredited by APA or CPA at the time the program was completed may be considered eligible for hire only if they are currently board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in a specialty area that is consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. (NOTE: Once board certified, the employee is required to maintain board certification). NOTE: Applicants who have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill this internship requirement by having the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience in a site specifically acceptable to the candidate's doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicant's official transcript, the applicant must provide a statement from the doctoral program verifying that the equivalent of a one-year supervised internship experience was completed in a site acceptable to the doctoral program.
• Licensure: Candidates must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Exception: Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a 'graduate psychologist' at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (c)(2)(B) for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.
• Experience: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following:
  • GS-11 Level: no additional experience beyond the basic requirement
  • GS-12 Level: at least 1 full year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the GS-11 level, and are able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
    1. Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations.
    2. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies.
    3. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures.
    4. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties).
    5. Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team, including research participant relations, research documentation, data acquisition, maintenance, and collaboration.
  • GS-13 Level: at least 2 addition years of experience, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level, as a professional psychologist that was obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post-doctoral psychology training program that demonstrates 1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and/or 2) a full, current and unrestricted license. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current psychology practice:
    1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to a full range of patient populations.
    2. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health.
    3. Knowledge of clinical research literature.

*Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed.

Preferred Experience: Extensive knowledge of PTSD, diagnosis, treatment, evidence based practices, knowledge of consult process

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Ability to physically access various treatment settings within the facility. Ability to use computers frequently/continuously throughout the day for data input and communication. Ability to use phone. Position is primarily sedentary, and incumbent must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time. May require light lifting and carrying (under 15 pounds) and climbing stairs as needed. Ability to walk up and down steps. Ability to navigate unfamiliar surroundings. Valid driver's license is a requirement as incumbent is required to provide

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the daily administration and management of the PTSD Team, ensuring efficient operation of the organization unit including but not limited to the timely and appropriate accepting and dispositioning of referrals/consults and that care is provided by the PTSD Team in a manner consistent with guidelines
• Oversees established PTSD quality identifies and develops action plans to improve access to and delivery of care
• Monitors and helps to ensure national and VISN-level policies related to PTSD screening and treatment to ensure they are implemented at the facility and associated CBOCs
• Serves as a point of contact, source of information, and problem solver for PTSD-related issues at the facility and associated CBOCs.
• Serves as POC for Veterans and other individuals with questions about PTSD-related services at the facility and associated CBOCs.
• Addresses systems issues that may create barriers to Veterans and eligible individuals entering care and act as an advocate for Veterans and eligible individuals in their interactions with relevant VHA clinics and offices.
• Assists in ensuring systems are in place to prevent Veterans and eligible individuals from encountering difficulties in obtaining reimbursement, filling prescribed medications, or receiving appropriate care.
• Communicates with national, VISN, facility-level leadership, and other stakeholders. Communicates regularly with the VISN-level PTSD POC and other PTSD Coordinators in the VISN, as well as local mental health and national PTSD leadership to remain knowledgeable about policies and trends related to PTSD.
• Responds to requests for information about local PTSD programming from VA Central Office's Office of Mental Health Services.
• As assigned, prepares reports and statistics for facility, VISN and national use.
• As assigned, engages in community education and outreach regarding VA PTSD services.
• Performs specialized PTSD assessments and diagnoses complex presentations of PTSD, incorporating complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment
• Provides a full range of specialized, evidence-based interventions and treatment modalities, including but not limited to Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, used in treating Veterans with complex PTSD, including those with comorbid SUD, utilizing VA based guidance and guidelines in the treatment of PTSD and PTSD with comorbid SUD through individual, group, couples, and family counseling and psychotherapy
• Provides advanced level case management interventions for the treatment of Veterans with complex PTSD, often with comorbid substance use disorders and mental health disorders
• Provides specialized psychosocial and psychotherapeutic consultation regarding PTSD to staff outside of the PTSD Specialty Team
• Responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center, including entering data into the EBP database
• Consults, collaborates, and coordinates with other staff who provide care to Veteran
• Completes comprehensive Veteran-centered, recovery-focused treatment plans and updates as appropriate/required
• Completes clinical reminders
• As assigned, provides clinical supervision of trainees from various disciplines rotating through or assigned to the PTSD Specialty Team
• As assigned, provides clinical supervision to less advanced psychologists
• As assigned, serves as a consultant to one or more Vet Center(s), including but not limited to the Vet Centers located in Detroit, Pontiac, Dearborn, and Macomb.
• Serves on Medical Center/Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces, as assigned by the Supervisor or the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health.
• Involvement in training program didactics for trainees of various disciplines and levels, as assigned
• Other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday (to include one late day within the week - 10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible:May be available based on program/service needs
Telework: May be available based on program/service needs
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 92046
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for Highly Qualified Candidates
EDRP Authorized: Yes
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary