Psychologist-Substance Use Disorder-SUD-Therapist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Help

Duties

vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Psychology-Career-Flyer.pdf

Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

The full performance level of the Psychologist Substance Use Disorder, SUD, duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Is available for staff consultations related to substance use concerns pertaining to appropriate level of care, e.g. PCMHI, outpatient SUD treatment, or referral, etc. for residential treatment

Performs day-to-day operations w/ other PCMHI team members

Works closely w/ SUD & PCMHI Program Managers by defining overall objectives, priorities & deadlines related to position

Helps w/ unusual situations w/out clear precedents

Singly plans work, resolves problems, performs successive assignment steps & makes adjustments using accepted standard operating procedure or practices; fixes problems &/or deviations arising from established policies, regulatory & administrative guidelines, directives, instructions & accepted practices

Refers new or controversial issues to SUD Program Manager for direction &/or assistance

Supervisor reviews completed work for results achieved, technical soundness & conformance w/ applicable regulations, policies & requirements

Provides functional assessment, triage, brief intervention, education & consultative services regarding SUDs upon referral from primary care providers & allied PACT members

Conducts brief, focused functional assessments (30 minutes or less) to assess substance use concerns & triage/refer to specialty care as appropriate

Uses population-based practice management strategies & maintains competences in core domains: conducts brief, focused functional assessments (e.g., 30 minutes or less) to assess substance use concerns & triage/refer to specialty care as appropriate

Applies principals of population-based care (defines role & identifies problems rapidly)

Uses brief measurement-based assessments routinely (e.g., BAM-R, PHQ-9, PCL-5, AUDIT C, etc.)

Bases initial consultation appointments on PCMHI Functional Assessment model & develops recovery-oriented treatment goals based on functional outcomes

Maintains daily same day access slots

Regularly reviews schedule/grid & works to maintain next available "scheduled" appointment w/in 2 weeks

Provides brief, time-limited, evidence based mental & behavioral health interventions (e.g., 1-6 sessions) for substance use concerns for individual & group therapy formats

Engages in thoughtful level-of-care decision-making & efficiently triages to specialty mental health services

Assures compliance w/ Joint Commission standards

Complies w/ national & local performance measures

Complies w/ all documentation procedures, including timeliness standards according to policies

Performs complex care management & has consultation responsibilities

Participates in educational activities, completes unit based in-services, & mandatory educational activities in self-directed manner by deadlines

Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills & professional behavior to promote cooperation & teamwork

Practices good customer service & demonstrates VA I-CARE values

Participates in unit-based quality of care performance improvement activities, unit based performance improvement measures & results

Protects printed & electronic files containing sensitive data according to Privacy Act of 1974 provisions laws, federal regulations, VA statutes & policy Protects data from unauthorized release/loss; alteration/unauthorized deletion; follow applicable regulations & instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc.

Performs other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: 7:30-4:00pm or similar schedule, can discuss during interview

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Pay: Competitive salary & regular salary increases

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 annual leave days, 13 sick leave days, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection w/ birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees w/ total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to monthly maximum of $416.66

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) & federal 401K w/ up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: PD09448A

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Help

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
  
  

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship Must be US citizen Non-citizens only appointed when it's not possible to recruit qualified US citizens
• English Language Proficiency Must be proficient in spoken & written English
• Education Have doctoral degree in psychology from graduate program in psychology accredited by American Psychological Association, Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System or Canadian Psychological Association when program was completed Specialty in which applicant is retrained must be consistent w/ applicant's assigned employment area Term "specialty area" refers to specific specialty areas recognized by accrediting body & not to specific job duties that may require special skills Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or 2 or more combination specialty areas PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, & school psychology. VHA doesn't have any jobs that require a school psychologist skills so applicants w/ school psychology degrees aren't eligible for appointments. Strictly for purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas, w/ exception of school psychology
• OR
• Have doctoral degree in any area of psychology & successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of approved internship completed as part of re-specialization program), that meet following conditions: re-specialization program must be completed in APA or CPA accredited doctoral program; & specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent w/ applicant's assigned employment area
• OR
• Have doctoral degree awarded between 1951 & 1978 from regionally accredited institution, w/ dissertation primarily psychological in nature
• AND
• Internships Have successfully completed professional psychology internship training program accredited by APA or CPA at time program was completed & specialty which applicant is retrained must be consistent w/ applicant's assigned employment area
• OR
• New VHA psychology internship programs in process of applying for APA accreditation are acceptable to fulfill internship requirements, provided such programs were sanctioned by VHA Central Office Program Director for Psychology & VHA Office of Academic Affiliations when individual was intern
• OR
• VHA facilities that offered full-time, 1 year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151, pre-1979 are considered acceptable to fulfill internship requirement
• OR
• Applicants who completed internship not accredited by APA or CPA when program was completed can only be considered eligible for hire if they are currently board certified by American Board of Professional Psychology in specialty area consistent w/ applicant's assigned employment area
• NOTE Employee is required to maintain board certification once board certified
• OR
• Applicants who have doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from regionally accredited institution w/ a dissertation primarily psychological in nature may fulfill internship requirement by having equivalent of 1 year supervised internship experience in site specifically acceptable to candidate's doctoral program If internship experience isn't noted on applicant's official transcript, applicant must provide statement from doctoral program verifying equivalent of 1 year supervised internship experience was completed at site acceptable to doctoral program
• NOTE Psychologists who meet revision requirements & who were employed by Department of VA prior to implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met qualification standard requirements
  
  

Licensure Hold full, current & unrestricted license to practice psychology at doctoral level in State, Territory or Commonwealth of U S or District of Columbia.

Loss of Credential Psychologists who fail to maintain required licensure must be removed from occupation, which may result in employment termination Employees may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified & if opportunity placement exists at appointing officials' discretion

Board Certification Persons hired to psychology positions in VHA who completed internship not accredited at time program was completed must be board certified by American Board of Professional Psychology in specialty area consistent w/ applicant's assigned employment area Board certificate must be current & applicant must abide by certifying body's requirement for continuing education

Loss of Credential Once board certified, psychologist must maintain full, valid & unrestricted board certification to remain employment qualified Psychologists who fail to maintain required board certification must be removed from occupation, which may result in termination of employment Employees may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified & if opportunity placement exists at appointing officials' discretion.

Grade Determination requirements: Candidates must possess following grade determination requirements in addition to basic requirements

GS-13 Experience At least 2 years professional psychologist experience w/ at least 1 year equal to GS-12 grade

KSAs Candidates must demonstrate following KSAs plus experience

• Knowledge/ability apply professional psychological treatments to patient population ranges
• Ability provide professional advice/consult in psychology/behavioral health related areas
• Clinical research literature knowledge
  
  

Preferred Experience: Experience providing range of treatment services to patients w/ substance use & co-occurring disorders, is able to function is a fast-paced primary care environment, consult w/ 8-10 patients a day, experience using motivational interviewing skills & techniques & abstinence based interventions & harm reduction approaches to SUDs

Reference please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ for qualification standards information.

The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13.



Physical Requirements:

Lift/carry <15 lbs, use computer equipment, sit, walk, stand, bend, carry papers, books, laptop/other items, rapid mental/muscular coordination, climb/descend stairs & complete, pass & maintain Basic Life Support certification. Must possess and maintain valid state driver's license.

Education


IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts can be unofficial transcripts, but must include your name, the school's entire name, the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, and name of degree received.



Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Read more

• Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  
  

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.