Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

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• Duties include but are not limited to:
• PCMHI Clinical Practice:
• Collaborates with PCPs and the interdisciplinary PACT to support high quality, effective, and coordinated service delivery at the patient and programmatic levels.
• Maintains daily open access slots and encourages same day warm handoffs within PACT.
• Uses Measurement Based Care in accordance with nationally recommended guidelines for PCMHI
• Conducts initial functional assessments that are focused on the main reason(s) for referral.
• Refers Veterans with more severe or complex needs to the appropriate general or specialty mental health program.
• Provides time-limited, brief, evidence-based, individual or group interventions for a broad range of mental health and health behavior concerns within the primary care setting.
• Ensures quality of care by successfully completing the national VA PCMHI Competency Training Program and associated ongoing education modules.
• Documentation Skills:
• Writes clear, concise notes that are optimized for collaboration within PACT based on the PCMHI functional assessment and follow-up visit guidelines
• Notes document important elements for team collaboration as appropriate. Notes are completed same day or within 24 hours.
• Consultation and Interdisciplinary Team-Based Skills:
• Engages in PACT huddles and meetings to cultivate collaborative team functioning and serve as a subject matter expert for behavioral health considerations
• Provides education to PACT on mental health and health behavior issues, as well as tips to promote effective patient communication, motivational enhancement, and behavior change
• Accepts and encourages same day warm handoffs. Routinely provides feedback to PCP and other PACT members same day as referral.
• Works collaboratively with other team members in PCMHI to ensure high quality, effective, Veteran-centered services at the patient and programmatic levels
• Administration:
• Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces, as endorsed by supervisors.
• Participates in Psychology privileging, educational and peer review activities, in accord with Psychology and medical center policies.
• Supports psychology administrative initiatives and performance improvement activities.
• Completes required clinical and administrative documentation in a timely manner and in accordance with governing regulations.
• Academic/Teaching/Training:
• Supervises psychology predoctoral interns, practicum students and post-doctoral fellows in accord with training program policies and accrediting agency requirements.
• Provides staff and student didactic training and consultation as requested in content areas of scholarly and/or clinical expertise.
• May supervise or train allied health providers in accord with facility and regulatory standards regarding such training.
• Participation in VA and regional or national scientific or professional meetings and/or actively contributes to local, state, and/or national professional organizations is encouraged
• Research/ Program Evaluation:
• May participate in program evaluation and/or research activities
  

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm

Duty Location: South Charlotte VA Health Care Center, 3506 W Tyvola Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28208

EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more



Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for a highly qualified applicant

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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 VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a trial period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  
  

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• 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
• 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
• 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;
• (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) Have 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) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature, fulfilling 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
• 
  
  Licensure: Must holda 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
• Exception. Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment as a "graduate psychologist" at the GS-11 or GS-12 grade for a period not to exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such a psychologist provide care only under the supervision of a psychologist who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j
  
  

Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Grade Determination

GS-11: Experience. Education and

Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-12: Experience. At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-11. Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments 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.
  
  

GS-13: Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. 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.

Licensure: GS-11/12 - Must obtain licensure at the doctoral level within two years of appointment.

GS-13 - Must currently possess a full, current, and unrestricted license at the doctoral level.



The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Education



Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.