Clinical Psychologist

Overview

The incumbent will serve on the CLC team as a member of an interdisciplinary specialty team. The psychologist will consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. In addition to these primary responsibilities, the incumbent may provide consultation or program oversight, be involved in program evaluation, training, educational activities, and other duties as assigned.

• Psychological services are an integral part of the overall VHA health care program and are provided as part of health care service delivery
• Provide help to veterans and their families in resolving psychosocial, emotional, and cognitive problems associated with the stresses of illness
• Primary duties include psychological assessments, diagnostic evaluations, crisis interventions, psychotherapy, and case management services
• In the inpatient setting, assist in diagnostic assessments, psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, follow-up management, and coordination of care
• In the CBOC setting, consult with Primary Care staff regarding patient needs, provide telephone and Tele-mental Health consultation, and provide psychosocial assessment, diagnostic evaluations, crises interventions, brief psychotherapy, and care management services
• Participate in goal-setting and treatment service planning discussions as a member of Mental Health Service
• Serve on or chair task groups or administrative committees of the service or Medical Center as directed by the Chief, Mental Health Service or designee
• Participate in professional peer review of own work and that of other staff
• Maintain and upgrade professional knowledge and skills through continuing education activities and participate in at least one of the following activities as directed: teaching or supervising psychology trainees, designing and conducting research, evaluating treatment efforts, consulting with treatment programs or hospital services outside the primary duty assignment, and serving as a consultant to other agencies and community organizations
• Support the implementation of the Uniform Mental Health Service Handbook
• Provide a full range of psychotherapeutic interventions including individual therapy, group therapy, family counseling, and psycho educational classes
• Provide a full range of psychological assessment services to clarify needs and facilitate development of treatment plans
• Complete clinical charting and documentation required by the health care system
• Participate in peer review and clinical pertinence review to ensure the quality of psychology services
• Ensure appropriate referrals to specialty programs, including community resources
• Other duties as assigned

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:
  Must be a U.S. Citizen
• 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
• 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 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 school psychology is not…