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. Learn more 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. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA psychologist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. § 7402. To qualify for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. 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, 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. 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 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. 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Preferred Experience: Experience with empirically-based treatment of trauma & SUD. Interest/experience in supervision & training, Experience with research and/or program evaluation GRADE REQUIREMENTS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. (1) Current Professional Psychology Practice. To be creditable, psychological work experience can be obtained through paid or non-paid employment providing psychological work or through participating in a supervised postdoctoral psychology training program (i.e., fellowship or residency). Psychological work experience must have occurred after the doctoral degree was obtained and must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with current professional psychology practice. "Professional psychology practice" includes but is not limited to the following psychology-oriented job duties: providing professional clinical services, conducting research, carrying out education and training activities, carrying out program evaluation activities, clinical consultation, supervision and administration. (2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding professional psychology experience at the next lower level. ["Duties:\nThis position is located in the Mental Health Service at the Manchester VA Health Care System, Manchester, New Hampshire. The position will be assigned to split time working in the Community Living Center (nursing home) and Geropsychology clinics. The duties and responsibilities are to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers, colleagues, and supervisors as appropriate. Clinical Responsibilities (100% of time) The employee conducts biopsychosocial assessments and formulates and implements short term treatment plans for individuals and families from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. i. The Psychologist conducts biopsychosocial, diagnostic, and comprehensive mental health assessments.\nii. The Psychologist formulates and implements treatment plans for individuals, couple, families and groups that represent various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds.\niii. The Psychologist implements clinically indicated treatment modalities for a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals. Best practices, practice guidelines, and evidence-based treatment protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions.\niv. The Psychologist utilizes supportive, problem solving, crisis intervention, and risk reduction techniques, as needed.\nv. The Psychologist will ensure productivity is maintained at the established level for the program to which the Psychologist is assigned.\nvi. The Psychologist with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of applicable clinical reminders for all patients. The Psychologist provides education and referral for resources and benefits and post-intervention follow-up.\nvii. The Psychologist provides education and referrals to Veterans for community services and arranges for coordination of these services as necessary. They act as liaison between community and VA programs, providing care coordination assistance to community organizations, as needed.\nviii. The Psychologist provides services to Veterans in person and through the use of telehealth technology: VA Video Connect (VVC) and Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT).\nix. The Psychologist may evaluate Veterans in Urgent Care for involuntary psychiatric commitment and completes appropriate paperwork for involuntary psychiatric commitment when necessary.\nx. The Psychologist provides treatment recommendations regarding level of care needed for a Veteran.\nxi. The Psychologist will fully assess suicide/homicide risk factors using standardized and validated suicide risk measures, identify protective factors, and clearly interpret the safety and recommended level of care for the Veteran. The Psychologist completes Suicide Behavior/Overdose Reports in accordance with policy. The Psychologist collaborates with the Suicide Prevention program for Veterans assessed to be at increased risk for suicide.\nxii. The Psychologist provides assessment and treatment referrals for Veterans presenting with substance abuse and/or dual diagnosis. The appropriate screening, interventions, and referrals are provided and facilitated in conjunction with Urgent Care.\nxii. The Psychologist provides assessment and treatment referrals for Veterans presenting with substance abuse and/or dual diagnosis. The appropriate screening, interventions, and referrals are provided and facilitated in conjunction with Urgent Care.\nxiii. The Psychologist is responsible to ensure continuity of care for all Veterans presenting in mental health crisis, by providing intervention or facilitating services with another provider. The Psychologist will be responsible for follow-up care management to ensure that Veterans discharged home from Urgent Care are engaged in care as indicated in the short-term treatment plan.\nxiv. The Psychologist documents psychological interventions and activities in Veteran's clinical record utilizing the electronic medical chart (CPRS) and ensures an appropriate hand-off and documentation when transferring Veteran care. The Psychologist will track clinical contacts to ensure continuity of care for Veterans seen for crisis care.\nxv. Timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate.\nxvi. Licensed Psychologists participate in the mandatory MH on-call rotation.\nxvii. Completes other clinical and administrative duties, as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 608-F03665\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Kurt.Mackey@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance"]