Summary

Gerohealth psychology services in the Extended Care Service Line. Depending on need - services are expected to be divided between Homebased Primary Care and the Community Living Center and based out of the JB division.

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
• Education (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: (a) The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program
• and - (b) the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed
• NOTE: The applicant must provide an official transcript and/or certificate 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.] OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution - with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.] AND (4) Internships (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 (d) 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 (e) 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
• NOTE: Psychologists who meet the requirements of this revision and who were employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to the implementation of this standard are considered to have fully met the requirements of this qualification standard.] c
• 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
• (1) 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
• (2) Loss of Credential
• A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists
• d
• Board Certification and Loss of Credential (1) Board Certification
• Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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
• The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education
• (2) Loss of Credential
• Once board certified - psychologist must maintain a full - valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment
• A psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists
• 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: (1) Staff Psychologist - GS-11 (Entry Level) (a) Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements.

Duties

• Clinical (90%) Diagnose the most common types of mental health conditions seen in older adults - including differential diagnosis (e.g. - depression vs
• dementia - anxiety - appropriately taking into consideration effects of medical conditions or medications)
• Engage family and professional caregivers as collaterals - and consider social and care systems in the assessment process
• Interpret assessment data within the context of the home/inpatient CLC setting - making appropriate adaptations/qualifiers as appropriate
• Conduct brief cognitive tests (e.g. - MOCA - SLUMS - BOMC - DRS - RBANS) to assist in understanding cognitive strengths and weaknesses Evaluate risk - suicide (vs
• normative thoughts about death and dying in late life) - harm to others - elder abuse/neglect - driving - firearm safety
• Assess reasons for lack of adherence to team recommendations and/or behaviors interfering with communication with and/or care from the interprofessional team
• Conduct evaluations of capacity for independent living/health care/financial and medical decision-making
• Conduct various forms of time-limited - problem-focused psychotherapy with health-compromised veterans (e.g. - EBPs such as PST - BA - ACT - MI) Conduct interventions to support adjustment to disability - life transitions - loss
• Make intervention adaptations in the home/inpatient setting
• Determine how and when to include family/caregivers as care partners in the team care plan
• Work with caregivers/medical staff in prevention and management of distressed behaviors among individuals with dementia
• Assess for acuity of suicide risk - develop a safety plan - and respond to acute safety needs (e.g. - initiate process of inpatient MH hospitalization/close unit observation)
• Consult with team regarding treating patients with care-interfering behaviors (e.g. - offering constructive case conceptualization - using models like STAR -VA) Perform other related duties as assigned
• Administrative (5%) Assists the Program Director 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
• Assist the HBPC Program Director - Mental Health Service ACOS - and ACOS EC&RS in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program in MHS or EC&RS
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services
• Participates in Psychology Service meetings - Councils and Grand Rounds as appropriate
• Functions independently as a member of the VA St
• Louis Healthcare System Medical Staff - with full clinical privileges
• Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings - patient care decisions - and documentation
• Complies with national and local performance measures - including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients
• Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures - including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g. - entering diagnostic and procedure codes)
• Perform other related duties as assigned
• Teaching and Training (0-5% time) May provide direct clinical supervision and instruction for psychology residents - interns - and practicum students
• Provides provision supervision/consultation for new supervisors in their first year of supervision practice
• Teaches didactic & enrichment seminars for training program Provides training and instruction to external sites - agencies - etc
• Perform other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm (negotiable with supervisor) Compressed/Flexible: Negotiable Telework: Ad-Hoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized up to 10% with 2 year service agreement
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• This position is eligible for 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 your start date
• 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
• Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program
• Contact visn15edrp@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinators for questions/assistance
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized