Summary

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

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Duties

The Palo Alto VA Health Care System invites applications for the position of Supervisory Psychologist/Assistant Chief of Psychology for Specialty Mental Health (SMH). The incumbent assumes professional, technical, and administrative responsibilities for all psychology activities within SMH Programs, including the PTSD Clinical Team (PCT), Addiction Consultation and Treatment (ACT), and Women's Health. The incumbent manages the day-to-day functioning and oversees program evaluation. In conjunction with the Chief of Psychology the incumbent plans, organizes, and directs administrative, operational, and personnel activities for SMH psychology staff. The incumbent develops, implements, and evaluates protocols to establish appropriate and effective delivery of services and uses information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of services provided to patients. They develop processes to track performance including assessing quality and productivity. The incumbent works closely with the Chief of Psychology to review performance measures and improve performance. The incumbent must have a broad knowledge of VA, Joint Commission, VA Uniform Mental Health Handbook implementation, OIG and mental health program regulations, standards, policies and procedures in order to give advice on clinical and administrative issues.

Major duties include but not limited to:
• Psychologist Assistant Chiefs serve as full assistant to a Service Chief, share the full scope of delegated managerial responsibilities, and serve as the Acting Service Chief in the absence of the Service Chief.
• Encourages professional development, creates an environment of learning, and serves as a mentor to assigned staff.
• Responsible for the supervision, administrative management, and direction of the program staff and services assigned to them.
• Assures compliance with accrediting agency and regulatory requirements.
• Monitors staff performance and develops, in conjunction with other program leadership, processes to ensure efficient and effective service deliver.
• Resolving staff conflicts which might interfere with the delivery of services.
• Identifies continuing education and training needs.
• Coordinates hiring activities which can include, developing position descriptions and functional statements, recommending appointments, advancements, or disciplinary actions when appropriate.
• Responsible for professional and administrative management of an assigned area including professional and administrative management of an assigned area and personnel actions for assigned staff.
• Works with the Service Chief and others to make selections, assign personnel, and serve as a mentor to help employees develop their full potential.
• May be involved in the development and initiation of new treatment programs, policies and procedures affecting the service and other elements of the healthcare system.
• Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care.
• Treats mental disorders through a variety of modalities and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders. Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions.
• Provides clinical supervision to Psychology trainees including practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows. Provides training and supervision as needed to other disciplines including medicine, psychiatry, nursing, social work, addiction treatment, and recreational therapy.
• Supports the Psychology Service training program as needed by serving on committees, presenting at seminars and other activities.
• Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological and psychosocial rehabilitation/recovery characteristics and appropriate treatment and recovery expectations regarding the persons in recovery with whom they work.
• Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system, as appropriate.
• Assists chief of psychology with ongoing measurement of program evaluation and preparation of reports to meet CARF, Joint-Commission, and VA National SCI compliance.
• Assists with the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using data-driven quality assurance processes as need.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

Telework: Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Requirements

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 probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

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) 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. OR
• (2) Have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully complete a respecialization program (including documentation of an approved internship completed as part of the respecialization program) meeting both of the following conditions: (a) the respecialization 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 respecialization program, which includes completion of an APA or CPA internship. OR
• (3)Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.
• Internship: (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 (pre-1979) 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.
• 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.
• 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.
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:GS-14 Psychologist Assistant Chief

Experience: At least three years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-13 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 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

Physical Requirements: Hearing (aid permitted) is required. Physical Demands of the work are generally minor.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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Palo Alto VA Medical Center

3801 Miranda Avenue

Palo Alto, CA 94304

US
Palo Alto CA USA

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