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Summary This position is located in Mental Health Service, at the Charles George VAMC, in Asheville NC, under the direct clinical supervision of the Section Chief for the Psychologists' assigned unit. The Psychologist will provide mental health care for Veterans including psychological assessments, individual and group therapy as part of the treatment programming on the unit. Responsibilities The Clinical Psychologist is responsible for the provision and delivery of a full range of psychological services provided to veteran patients at the Medical Center. He/she performs the duties of a licensed clinical psychologist who is a full member of the medical staff with clinical privileges recommended by the Chief, Mental Health Service, the Professional Standards Board, Chief of Staff, and approved by the Medical Center Director. Duties include but not limited to: The provider performs professional work describing human behavior, determining the reasons for that behavior and predicting and/or modifying the behavior. He/she performs psychological assessment, evaluation and treatment of patients with problems of personality, emotional adjustment or mental illness. The Clinical Psychologist performs psychotherapy with patients, either through individual sessions or through group therapy sessions and uses therapeutic techniques. Through testing and clinical interviews and observation, the clinical psychologist assesses intelligence, behavior and personality variables. He/she assists Medical Staff in differential diagnosis of functional and organic disorders. The Clinical Psychologist provides care and/or services appropriate to the age of the patients being served. Assesses data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age-specific needs and to provide care needed as described in the services' policies and procedures. The provider promotes, supervises or provides individual and group psychotherapy; and may conduct psychotherapy in difficult, multifaceted cases. Performs other duties as assigned. Effectively uses the following clinical modalities as delineated in their privileges: Eclectic Supportive Behavior Modification, i.e., Behavioral Rehearsal, relaxation training, assertiveness training, systematic sensitization, day treatment, etc. Biofeedback Hypnosis Couples Family Sexual Dysfunction Evaluation and Disposition In addition, the Clinical Psychologist is accountable and responsible for possessing the knowledge and skills to: Communicate and interact appropriately and courteously with all internal and external customers. Maintain confidentiality of electronic, written, and/or verbal patient/employee information. Demonstrate working practice that include adherence to practice standards and the safe use and operation of equipment. Have knowledge of Windows XP, CPRS, VISTA, and MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint). 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. 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. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM Telework: Ad-hoc; at discretion of Supervisor Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates. EDRP Authorized: Contact Onnie "David" Green at onnie.green@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required This announcement will remain open, unless a selections are made before the closing date. The first certificate of qualified applicants will be issued on February 22, 2024, or when 3 or more applications have been submitted. Applications will be reviewed and referred to the hiring manager every 2 weeks, or when 3 or applications have been submitted. It is recommended that you submit your application as early as you can to ensure that your application is considered. Once all selections have been made, this posting will be terminated. Veterans Health Administration employees will be given first consideration, during selections process, and are required to submit a most recent (non award) SF 50. 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. 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: 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 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). 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 the 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; OR a past, current, or upcoming graduate of VHA Health Trainee Program. 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). OR, 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. GRADE DETERMINATIONS: Minimum Qualifications for GS-11 (Entry Level): Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment: Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research. They may be assigned to any program area. Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist. Minimum Qualifications for GS-12 (Developmental Level): Experience: At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Minimum Qualifications for GS-13 (Full Performance Level): In additional to meeting the basic requirements, you must also have: Experience: At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Preferred Experience: Group and individual psychotherapy experience with a broad variety of presenting problems such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and life stressors, ability to work within a team environment to support a shared panel of Veterans collaboratively and flexibly. Recent experience with psychodiagnostics assessment strongly preferred. References: VA Handbook 5005/103 Part II Appendix G18 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-GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 lbs.; Light carrying, under 15 lbs.; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking, Standing; Both legs required; Hearing (aid permitted). Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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. 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.