Career Center

***This position is with the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service line of the Northampton VA Medical Center located at the Worcester Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Worcester, MA**** 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. 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 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. OR Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND Internships 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. Licensure. 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. English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grade Determinations: GS-13 (Full Performance, Level). Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Examples of experience at the GS-12 grade level include, but are not limited to: diagnosing mental disorders, conducting psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treating mental disorders through a variety of modalities, providing adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research. 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 the 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: Experience with Neuropsychiatric assessments, geriatric experience and experience working with an interdisciplinary team. References: VA Handbook 5005 Appendix G-18. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light lifting or carrying (under 15 pounds), straight pulling, straight pushing, reaching above shoulders, frequent keyboarding, standing, sitting, correctable near sighted and far sighted vision, correctable hearing. ["This position serves on the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) team stationed at the Worcester VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic within the VA Central Western Massachusetts (CWM) Healthcare System. VA CWM is a highly affiliated medical center with outpatient clinics throughout Massachusetts. The primary purpose of the position is to provide a range of, in most cases, in home psychological services to veterans served by the Home Based Primary Care team, including but not limited to individual and family psychotherapy, as well as psychological and neuropsychological assessment. The Psychologist provides routine mental health consultation to the interdisciplinary Home Based Primary Care teams for both the Worcester and Fitchburg.\nDuties include but are not limited to: - Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care to patients served by the CWM Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Team. - Performs evaluations for veterans with the range of psychiatric and neuropsychiatric disorders. - Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including family and individual psychotherapy, behavioral interventions, and other evidence-based treatments. - Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. - Completes Compensation and Pension examinations as assigned. - Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate. - May be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities as the opportunity and interest arises. - Independently provides psychological services at all levels of complexity and consults with peers and supervisors as appropriate. - Provides tele-mental health services, as needed. - May provide clinical supervision to psychology interns, and other clinicians specializing in individual and group-based treatment approaches to a full range of psychological problems, and in models and methods or consultation regarding such problems. - Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients. - May participate in the establishment and/or tracking of program monitors and other measures using data-driven quality assurance processes, as needed and requested. - When applicable, plans and oversees the completion of program improvement activities or programs designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches. - Participates in peer review activities for Psychologists. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 631-F04307\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]