Staff Psychologist - Trauma Recovery Program (TRP)

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.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Staff Psychologist is assigned to the Mental Health Service Trauma Recovery Program (TRP) section in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Duties include but are not limited to: Assessing, evaluating, and follow-up care of veterans with Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and comorbid disorders using various evidenced based treatment modalities. Implementing Evidence Based Psychotherapy (EBP) as a primary intervention and using Measurement Based Care (MBC) to regularly assess treatment progress and outcomes. Performing clinical assessments, differential diagnosis, utilization of MBC, shared decision making for individualized treatment planning, as well as direct delivery of clinical services in individual, group, couples/family, and telehealth formats. Providing all services in accordance with relevant policies and VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines, with a strong emphasis on delivering EBPs for depression (ACT-D, CBT-D, IPT-D). Participating in the interdisciplinary team with regular collaboration. Consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. Incumbent assumes complete professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. Facilitating interdisciplinary treatment plan development, reviews, community meetings, daily individual, group, family therapy/programming as assigned, for TRP patient care services. Following TRP related policies and procedures, standard operating procedures compliant with The Joint Commission (TJC), Behavioral Health Standards. Participating in TRP team meetings, annual safety committees, practices documentation compliance, and other activities as required. Applying advanced professional psychological diagnostic methods and evidence-based intervention strategies to a full range of patient problems in the work setting. Providing advice and consultation to professionals representing a variety of disciplines. Providing direct clinical services to Veterans and their family members through the outpatient Trauma Recovery Program. Performing suicide risk assessments, suicide prevention safety planning, presenting and participating in multidisciplinary treatment team. Providing comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments; treatment planning; completion of consults for the service; evidence based individual and/or group psychotherapy; psychoeducation; admission/preadmission screening; and discharge/aftercare planning. Providing advanced level trauma/PTSD assessment utilizing a broad range of psychologically based instruments and structured interviews and generate psychological reports based on assessments when indicated. Providing education to patients, family members, and significant others. Promoting communication/interactions between medical team members, patients, and their families to facilitate the psychological treatment process. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Subject to change based on needs of the facility. 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 Jennifer.Isbell-Gross@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a 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 the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with 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) Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 01675F, 01676F, 01677F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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. 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

***Qualifications continued Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 11 to 13 Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. 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/.