Staff Psychologist (Centralized Eligibility & Appeal Team)

The Caregiver Support Program (CSP) is one of the VHA's most rapidly growing service areas, as a result of infrastructure modernization, programming innovation, and expansion of the population-served by the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) under the MISSION Act. The incumbent serves as the Psychologist for this VISN-level inter-professional group of clinical reviewers, the CSP Centralized Eligibility & Appeal Team (CEAT).
VA Careers - Psychologist: https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
This position is located in the catchment area of VISN 6 (within 50 miles of one of the VISN 6 VA facilities). Pay will be determined based on the employee's location. This is not a remote position; the candidate selected must already reside or relocate to a VISN6 catchment area.
Assigned to the VISN, within the Caregiver Support Program (CSP). Although stationed at the VISN-with primary role of CSP clinical eligibility reviewer-may have clinical privileges and credentialing at a VA Medical Center (VAMC). The incumbent may have up to 10% of their time dedicated to a combination of direct clinical care, academic teaching/training, research, and/or program evaluation at a VAMC. This work would be separate from caregiver support. The duties for the incumbent, must be at least 90% administrative and related to the CEAT. The other duties will be determined by the incumbent and their VISN leadership.
Each individual CEAT team member will review the Veteran's medical record summary, most recent History & Physical, findings of recent testing at the facility, caregiver assessment and care team input. The team member will present their respective findings to the inter-professional team. The team will meet and render a multi-disciplinary decision regarding clinical eligibility, based on all eligibility requirements. If deemed eligible, the team will also determine the appropriate level of caregiving required (tier level). Each team will document the findings and determination and communicate the decision with the referring facility or region.
Duties include but are not limited to:
Administrative Responsibilities:
* Reviews dispositions of PCAFC initial eligibility decisions; reassessments; and appeal decisions for clinical eligibility determinations, within 45 days of receipt from facilities and other CSP VISN CEAT. This is done from a psychological perspective.
* Analyzes mental health data obtained from VHA electronic health record and collateral records for use in determining PCAFC clinical eligibility and documents findings in approved CSP PCAFC templated notes.
* Works with inter-professional team members at Regional, VISN, and facility levels to ensure PCAFC eligibility determinations are delivered objectively with strong, consistent inter-rater agreement and with documentation and communication of outcomes in a direct and coordinated manner.
* Utilizes knowledge of PCAFC clinical eligibility to coordinate with other regional CEATs the transfer of appeals for inter-VISN evaluation.
* Conducts Peer Reviews from a psychological standpoint, which may occur at the regional level, to aid in achieving consistency nationally.
* Collaborates with and contributes knowledge to a community of practice across VISN's and Regions with CSP CSCs and CEAT members.
Facility Responsibilities:
* Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services, including the use of psychological testing for non-CSP PCAFC applicants.
* Performs psychological evaluations for individuals with mental health and medical disorders for purposes of diagnostic clarification and treatment planning recommendations.
* Provide comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy.
* Provides education to patients, family members, significant others, and community members.
* Functions as a member of the assigned mental health or specialty mental health care team. The incumbent assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.
* Provides clinical supervision and instruction for psychology interns and post-doctoral residents.
* May serve as Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, or Consultant on projects approved by appropriate IRBs.
* Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, VISN, and/or National VA committees or task forces.
* Represents Psychology on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized.
Telework: ADHOC May be authorized (Employees who Telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term basis, and have completed the required telework training and telework agreement).
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000