This position is located at the Captain James A Lovell Federal Healthcare Center in North Chicago, IL and its affiliated Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Mental Health Clinical Psychologists are doctors trained primarily in performing psychological evaluations to assess for character and/or psychopathology as well as providing psychotherapy for the treatment of mental health problems that may compromise the military mission readiness or Veteran's community re-integration.
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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: 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 re-specialization program meeting both of the following conditions: a) the re-specialization 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. AND Internship: 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. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following: GS-11: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12: 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: Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies. Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures. Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). 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: 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. AND To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current psychology practice: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to a full range of patient populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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.
Clinical Responsibilities expected at each grade level: At the GS 11 level, the following clinical activities are expected in the assignment: Ability to diagnoses mental and substance use disorders, conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments. Ability to treat mental and substance use disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Practice is under the close supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist. At the GS 12 level, the following clinical activities are expected in the assignment: Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. Performs evaluations for veterans, civilians, and active duty service members. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including, but not limited to, evidence-based brief individual outpatient approaches. If unlicensed, the individual must be supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist and the experience and supervision must meet the standards for psychology licensure At the GS 13 level, the following clinical activities are expected in the assignment: Provides a full range of psychological services, including psychological evaluations and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients. Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others. Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy. Provides consultation to professional staff within FHCC and to community providers, concerning clinical assessment and evaluation findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, Including prompt completion of clinical reminders. 6. Functions independently as a member of the FHCC Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges as a general psychologist. Assumes complete professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. Other enriching elements include, but are not limited to: Academic/ Training/ Teaching Provides clinical supervision to various discipline and levels of training, including psychiatric residents, psychology interns, psychology practicum students, medical students, physician assistant students, neuropsychiatric technicians, health technicians, SARP counselors certified and interns, fellows, nurses, and nursing assistants. Involved in Psychology Training Program and Training Committee. Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staffs of units to which assigned. Research/ Program Evaluation Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using data-driven quality assurance processes. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the FHCC as appropriate. If applicable, plans and oversees the completion of personal research programs designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches that are evidence-based. Administrative responsibilities (full performance level) Assists the program director and/or coordinator in the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers. Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team, established by the affiliated Mental Health Directorate. Assists the program director and/or coordinator in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0730-1600 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized