The psychologist in this position provides psychology program oversight and coordination throughout the VA Black Hills Health Care System. In this role, incumbent serves as a senior clinician, subject matter expert, full assistant and advisor to the Associate Chief of Staff Mental Health. 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 (pre1979) 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.] 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. 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grade Determinations: GS-14 Psychologist (Assistant Chief) (a) Experience. At least 3 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meets multiple deadlines. Ability to supervise and manage subordinate employees effectively. Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution. Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 The full performance level of this vacancy is 14. ["Has broad management responsibilities, which include the operation and management of psychological services and related administrative functions. Has direct supervisory responsibility over psychologists at sites throughout the health care system. Encourages professional development and creates an environment of learning. Develops functional statements and position descriptions. Makes personnel selections in their assigned areas. Maintains interdepartmental relations with other services aimed at meeting veteran and medical center goals. Provides oversight of the professional practice of psychology. Ensures that psychology interns, unlicensed psychologists, and psychology practicum students meet the requirements of relevant qualification. Develops, implements, and monitors programs, policies, and procedures regarding psychotherapies and psychosocial interventions. Develops, implements, and manages systems for assessing and monitoring clinical outcomes. Guides all psychology staff in application of evidenced based practice, clinical practices guidelines, and current psychological research to their clinical work. Serves as first-line supervisor to 11.0 psychologists within the MHSL and Substance Use outpatient and IOP program staff. Collaborates with Associate Chiefs within Primary Care and Extended Care as a psychology content expert to complete Focused Professional Practice Evaluations/Ongoing Professional Practice. Provides clinical and administrative supervision to psychologists in Outpatient Mental Health, Primary Care Mental Health Integration, Pain Clinic, Neuropsychology, Acute Inpatient, PTSD Clinical Team, Addiction Services, Compensated Work Therapy (CWT)/Transitional Residence (TR) Programs, Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics. Has direct administrative and professional supervisory responsibility of the Director of Clinical Training (TD) for the APA accredited Doctoral Internship Program in Health Service Psychology at VA BHHCS. Oversees the determination of resources needed to maintain and/or expand the program, the clinical rotations, and the qualified supervising psychologists needed for primary clinical experiences within the internship program. Develops and implements a Psychology professional practice review system including assessment of the competency of each Psychology staff, development of functional statements for Psychology staff; provides input into performance appraisals of Psychology staff; and mediates professional and service line conflicts around Psychology professional roles, continuity of care, and quality of care, including referral of veterans across service or care lines. Provides consultation to Psychology staff, program managers and other facility staff on Psychology practice issues. Ensures compliance with regulatory standards applicable to Psychology practice including APA, Joint Commission and CARF. Chairs the Disruptive Behavior Committee, completes reports in the Disruptive Behavior Reporting System (DBRS), and manages the behavioral flags within the medical record system. Represents psychology on the Executive Council of Medical Staff, interacts with HR in all matters of psychology hiring and disciplinary action. Screens, interviews, and serves as selecting official for new psychologists and assists with hiring of other interdisciplinary program staff. The Psychologist Assistant Chief serves in a leadership capacity as a model of practice for psychologists, trainees, and other counseling and addiction staff, demonstrating the application of psychological knowledge to clinical practice, and a sensitivity to and knowledge about the influence on the services provided of ethnic, cultural, and individual differences. Consistent with the expectation of all doctoral level psychologists, the Psychologist Assistant Chief is a full member of the medical staff, and meets all the requirements consistent with functioning as a licensed independent practitioner (LIP) within this medical center. The incumbent is competent to function in any of the following areas and provides specialized clinical services within mental health inpatient unit. Actively contributes as faculty member for VA BHHCS's APA-accredited Clinical Psychology Internship Program. Provides training and clinical consultation to psychiatry residents and trainees of other disciplines. Provides training to medical, clinical, and administrative staff through the facility regarding psychological assessment and delivery of psychotherapy and psychosocial services. Develops, coordinates, and monitors clinical training of all facility psychologists. Work Schedule: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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