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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. 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. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Knowledge of providing virtual/telehealth and in-person services and be a SME for behavioral pain medicine/rehabilitation for patients with chronic pain. Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist, 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 creditable experience include but not limited to: 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; modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions; consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues; may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. 2. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. 3. Knowledge of clinical research literature. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). References: VA Handbook 5005/103, Part II Appendix G18, Psychologist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The work requires light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder level, use of hands and fingers, ability for rapid mental/muscular coordination simultaneously, ability to distinguish basic colors, and hearing (aid permitted). Environmental factors include working closely with others. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). ["If you are a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency or HPT, you should apply under CBST-11522352-22-ER. The position requires specialized knowledge and expertise in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of chronic pain disorders and related issues, including the identification and treatment of mental health disorders within the context of chronic medical illness. The psychologist may provide diagnostic interviews, assessments, psychotherapy, biofeedback, and treatment coordination for adult Veterans with a range of mental health and/or medical issues who are referred for pain management. Responsibilities will include evaluating and treating Veterans with chronic pain and consulting and teaching within a multidisciplinary pain program. In addition, they may complete psychological and other outcome assessments.\nServices may be provided in person or by telehealth. Additional responsibilities include multidisciplinary consultation and participation in the psychology practicum students and interns (i.e., teaching seminars and supervising practicum students and interns. AdHoc telework may be available for a highly qualified candidate. Clinical Responsibilities\n1. Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult Veterans with co-morbid mental and physical health problems.\n2. Provides education to Veterans, family members, and significant others within the Pain Team.\n3. Consults with VHSO Primary Care, Mental Health Service, and other professional and medical center staff concerning clinical assessment, appropriate treatment plans, behavioral plans, and discharge plans for Veterans.\n4. Provides consultation to other affiliated health care providers about treatment plans for Veterans, to ensure care is coordinated, collaborative and integrated within the overall care plan.\n5. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including individual, couple/family, group psychotherapy and psycho-educational groups, as well as specialized interventions such as Biofeedback and CBT for chronic pain. Uses evidence-based interventions. Presents informed reports and educates interdisciplinary teams on the use of evidence-based intervention techniques.\n6. Provides behavioral medicine interventions to manage pain, disability, address sleep problems, facilitate weight loss, promote tobacco cessation and enhance medical compliance.\n7. Has the ability to use interpersonal and communication skills in dealing with a wide variety of people in gaining their support.\n8. Presents with current skills, or willingness to learn and administer Biofeedback within the context of pain treatment.\n9. May be involved in program development, evaluation and/or research activities.\n10. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for Veterans served by Primary Care. Administrative responsibilities:\n1. May assist the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS), Mental Health Service and Lead Psychologist with the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment providers.\n2. Adheres to operational policies and procedures for Mental Health Service and the VA Medical Center.\n3. Assists the ACOS of Mental Health Service and Lead Psychologist with ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor the effectiveness of mental health programs.\n4. Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs within the Medical Center and at other VA Medical Centers to effectively coordinate services.\n5. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of Clinical Reminders in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) for all patients.\n6. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic, procedure, and Service Connection/Special Authority codes).\n7. Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Lead Psychologist, the ACOS, Mental Health Service, the VHSO Chief of Staff, and the Medical Center Director.\n8. Attends regular Mental Health Service, works with the interdisciplinary Pain Team and participates in Pain Team Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm CST\nCompressed/Flexible: Available\nTelework: Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 564-00447-F\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact jennifer.isbell-gross@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]