Job Title:Psychologist
Department:Department Of Veterans Affairs
Agency:Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Job Announcement Number:RQ-11-KG-546532
SALARY RANGE: |
$57,408.00 to
$106,369.00 / Per Year |
OPEN PERIOD: |
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 to Thursday, October 11, 2012 |
SERIES & GRADE: |
GS-0180-11/13 |
POSITION INFORMATION: |
Full Time - Permanent |
PROMOTION POTENTIAL:13 |
DUTY LOCATIONS: |
1 vacancy(s) - North Little Rock, ARView Map
|
WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED: |
United States Citizens |
JOB SUMMARY:
Final salary determination is made by professional standards board recommendation, HR Technical review and Medical Center Director approval.
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 546532 (Include on all documents)
Duty Location/Campus: Mental Health Service,(RRTP), North Little Rock Campus, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.
Tour of Duty: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (Potential for some evenings and weekend daytime.)
The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System is seeking a Psychologist for the PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Program (RRTP) in Mental Health Service. Incumbent will report directly to the Chief of the RRTP Program in Mental Health Service and hold a full-time VA appointment.
This position is opened until filled, applicants will be reviewed every 30 days.
Area of Consideration:
The initial area of consideration is this Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS). Management retains the right to select any appropriate recruitment methods such as current Federal employees serving on a career or career-conditional appointment, Reinstatement eligibles, those eligible for a non-competitive appointment under a Special Appointing Authority such as those for disabled veterans, those eligible for Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) under the Veterans’ Employment Opportunities Act of 1998,veterans eligible for a VEOA appointment, severely disabled individuals, Interchange Agreements with other Agencies, etc. Candidates from other sources may be considered only after consideration has been given the best qualified candidates from this CAVHS. Current permanent Veterans Canteen Service employees may apply for consideration under this announcement.
Our Mission: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to veterans?
Every job at the VA impacts the Veterans that we serve. You can be part of that team, helping to make sure that our Veterans receive the top-quality care they deserve.
VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities.
For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
- Non-citizens may be appointed when there are no qualified U.S. citizens.
- Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
- Subject to a background/suitability investigation.
DUTIES:
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· The psychologist for whom this position applies serves as a psychologist within the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP). The MH RRTP is an interdisciplinary residential program with an emphasis on improving the quality of life for Veterans with behavioral issues. The most common diagnoses in the MHRRTP are PTSD, SUD and homelessness.
· The psychologist provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients.
· The psychologist will use a variety of assessment instruments and skills to determine appropriate diagnoses and to specify treatment modalities.
· The psychologist will provide the full range of comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions including, time-limited individual, long-term individual, family, group psychotherapy, and crisis management. Certification in prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, and acceptance commitment therapy preferred.
· The psychologist will maintain high standards through the review and judicious application of evidence based practices, practice guidelines, and best practices methodology; assisting with compliance with all policy and accreditation standards.
· Provides education to patients, family members, and significant others.
· The psychologist is responsible for: Developing, implementing, and documenting the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients, including prompt completion of notes.
· Consults with RRTP and medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues as needed.
· The psychologist will participate with the treatment team in fulfilling the requirements for accreditation and performance improvement efforts.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
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BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
U.S. Citizenship.
· Doctoral degree in psychology from a graduate program in psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The specialty area of the degree must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed.
· Successful completion of a professional psychology internship training program that has been accredited by APA. Exceptions: (1) 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 Central Office of Academic Affiliations at the time that the individual was an intern and (2) VHA facilities who offered full one-year pre-doctoral internships prior to PL 96-151 (pre-1979) are considered to be acceptable in fulfillment of the internship requirement.
· Licensure. Hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice psychology at the doctoral level in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (e.g., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. Exception. The Secretary may waive the requirement of licensure for an individual psychologist for a period not to exceed 2 years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is so licensed. Non-licensed psychologists who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate psychologist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a) (1) (D). Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This may result in termination of employment.
· Current psychology interns, post doctoral fellows and recent graduates, who meet all other qualifying mandates, are welcome to apply. All unlicensed psychologists will work under appropriate supervision and are required to be licensed within two years of start of employment as noted above.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS:
GS-11 IS THE ENTRY LEVEL for the GS-180 Psychologist series and is used for unlicensed psychologists with less than 1 one year of post-graduate experience. Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological and/or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. They practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR GS-12 LEVEL: This level requires at least 1 year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level. Individuals assigned as GS-12 psychologists may be in the process of obtaining licensure at the independent practice level. If unlicensed, the individual must be supervised by a licensed psychologist and the experience and supervision must meet the standards for psychology licensure, but with less need for consultation than at the GS-11 grade level. They may be assigned to any program area. Candidate must demonstrate:
· Knowledge of, and ability to apply, a wide range of professional psychological theories and assessment methods to a variety of patient populations.
· Ability to develop coherent treatment strategies.
· Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR GS-13 LEVEL: This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. At this level psychologists are licensed at the doctoral level to practice independently in the provision of psychological services consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. They are assigned to any VHA program and setting. At least 1 additional year of experience as a psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level is required. In addition the candidate must demonstrate:
· Knowledge of, and ability to apply, advanced professional psychological theories and techniques 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.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G18, PSYCHOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, dated March 17, 2006 and OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions. VA Handbook 5005 is available in the local Human Resources Office and OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/IORs/gs0100/0180.htm.
APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. *** 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. ***
( X ) PROFICIENCY/PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL REQUIREMENT:
( X ) BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Must receive favorable adjudication
( X ) PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
( X ) CREDENTIALING:
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: The VA has established a Drug-Free Federal Workplace Policy. 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 the VA for a period of six months. This policy extends to random testing for the use of illegal drugs by employees who occupy testing designated positions defined as sensitive in Section 7(d) of Executive Order 12564.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: Proficiency in the English language is required for direct patient care positions. (P.L. 95-201)
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions will affect your rating or consideration for employment
Veterans' Preference:
Veterans' preference does not apply to Merit Promotion; however, if you are a Veteran applying under a special hiring authority for veterans, you must submit evidence of eligibility, such as: a copy of your DD-214(s) (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); Standard Form 15 (Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference version dated December 2004), if applicable; and the proof requested on the form, such as a Civil Service Preference letter stating your percentage of disability, if applicable.
DD Form 214: Veterans can now request a copy of their DD-214 online at the following National Personnel Records Center website, http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/index.html. This site also provides instructions and addresses for requesting service records, medical records, proof of military service, correcting records, and replacing medals or awards. Veterans may also request a copy of their DD-214 by calling 800-827-1000 or TDD# 800-829-4833.
For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetsinfo.asp.
BENEFITS:
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Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life. For more information please visit us at http://www4.va.gov/jobs/job_benefits/benefits.asp.
OTHER INFORMATION:
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 90 or more before any veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp#ctap.
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
PBI Interviews: Any interviews that may be conducted will utilize the Performance Based Interviewing process (PBIs). For more information on the performance based interview process, see www.va.gov/pbi.
Filling Additional Vacancies: If additional vacancies for this position occur within 90 days, this announcement may be used without reannouncement.
HOW TO APPLY:
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To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package as described in the "How to Apply" section.
In addition to the Application Package you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire.
The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Thursday, October 11, 2012.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
Follow the prompts to complete the Occupational Questionnaire.
Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
Note: To return to a previously Saved or Incomplete application you may use the following link: https://applicationmanager.gov/. After applying, return to Application Manager or your member account in USAJOBS to see the status of your application, including any messages that may have been sent to you.
If you cannot apply online:
1. Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire View Occupational Questionnaire
2. Print this 1203FX form to provide your response to the occupational questionnaire
http://www.opm.gov./forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf
3. Fax the completed 1203FX form along with any supporting documents to (478)-757-3144. Your 1203FX must serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.
To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload:
1. Complete this cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using the following Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 546532
2. Fax your documents to (478)-757-3144.
3. Make sure you keep your confirmation of documents faxed/received.
The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Thursday, October 11, 2012.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
Note: To return to a previously Saved or Incomplete application you may use the following link: https://applicationmanager.gov/. After applying, return to Application Manager or your member account in USAJOBS to see the status of your application, including any messages that may have been sent to you.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
1. Your Curriculum Vitae, (CV)
2. A complete Occupational Questionnaire
3. Additional Required Documents (see REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section below):
All of the following documents are required for ALL APPLICANTS:
· VA Form 10-2850, Application for Physicians, Dentists, Podiatrists, Optometrists and Chiropractors. http://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850-fill.pdf
· OF 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, required and must be submitted. http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/OF0306.pdf
· Resume.
· SF-50 with current grade, salary and position title (if currently employed in the VA system or former Federal Employee), is required.
· Proficiency/Performance Appraisal, most recently rated, (if current Federal Employee).
· Responses to the questionnaire.
· Veterans' Preference documentation.
· Veterans must provide a legible copy of DD 214(s) showing all dates of service as well as character of service (honorable, general, etc). NOTE: More than one DD-214 may be needed to show all dates of service. Your veterans preference will be based on the documents you submit.
· SF 15, complete and signed, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf.
· VA award letter of disability indicating certification of entitlement.
Use this checklist to make sure you've submitted everything, you will not be contacted for additional information.
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:
After your completed application package has been received by USA Staffing, your qualifications will be reviewed. We will also review your application to make sure that your resume supports the answers given in the questionnaire. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, you may be disqualified. Based on this review you may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified electronically of your application status.