Staff Psychologist-Mental Health

Summary

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.

Duties

• This position will be located at Gainesville Honor Center at 1604 SE 3rd Avenue Gainesville, FL 32641. VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Psychologists are Licensed Independent Providers who engage in professional and scientific work which relates to behavior, capacities, personality, interests, emotions and mental disorders. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. At this level, psychologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. They may be assigned to any VHA program and setting, such as inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, Compensation and Pension, Vet Centers, and the VHA National Center for Organization Development. Psychologists diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions. Psychologists consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities. Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: A. Clinical Responsibilities (80% of time) 1. Applies a wide range of professional psychological treatments and assessment methods to a variety of patient populations. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions for Veterans and other eligible patients through a variety of modalities including evidence-based practices and adjunctive interventions including but not necessarily limited to individual and group psychotherapy, family therapy, consultation, rehabilitation, and psycho-education. Diagnoses mental disorders, and conducts psychological and/or cognitive function assessments and neuropsychological screenings. 2. Designs and implements effective treatment strategies. 3. Incorporates new clinical procedures when appropriate. 4. Provides professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. 5. Participates in evaluation of peers as part of the FPPE and OPPE review process. 6. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. B. Other Responsibilities (20% of time) 1. May provide regular supervision to trainees and unlicensed staff if approved by their supervisor, service chief and (for trainees) the Psychology Training Director or Associate Training Director. 2. May participate in the psychology training program, psychology diversity committee, or other special interest committee or work group. 3. May participate, as requested, in administrative investigations boards. 4. May serve as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients. 5. May conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties). 6. May 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. 7. May serves as the subject matter expert in evidence-based practices. 8. May participate in continuous performance-improvement efforts, PDCA and system redesign committees. 9. May serve on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces as assigned. 10. May represent Psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center, Healthcare System as assigned. 11. May represent the program, medical center, or healthcare system in the community as assigned. 12. May present outcome data and research results at VA and regional or national scientific professional meetings with appropriate approval. 13. May assist in preparation of RFP's and grant proposals, as assigned. 14. May participate in clinical or leadership training. 15. May engage in other activities if approved by supervisor and service chief. Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm Monday through Friday Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55744F EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHAV08NFLCCOE@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

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

Basic education requirements for all grade levels - must have ONE of the following: 1) 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. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). OR 2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a re-specialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the re-specialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and, the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.OR3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate with application documenting the completion of the re-specialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship. Psychologists who have successfully completed a re-specialization program as described above and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the educational requirements of these qualification standards. 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/.