Clinical Psychologist Center for Integrated Residential Care for Addictions (CIRCA)

Job description

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. Program 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.

Qualifications

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

The basic requirements for employment as a VHA psychologist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C.

7402

To qualify for appointment as a psychologist in VHA - all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship

Be a citizen of the United States

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 - 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 (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

c

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 Loss of Credential

A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure 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

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

English Language Proficiency

Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.

7403(f)

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

GRADE REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates

(1) Current Professional Psychology Practice

To be creditable - psychological work experience can be obtained through paid or non-paid employment providing psychological work or through participating in a supervised postdoctoral psychology training program (i.e. - fellowship or residency)

Psychological work experience must have occurred after the doctoral degree was obtained and must have required the use of knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics associated with current professional psychology practice

""Professional psychology practice"" includes but is not limited to the following psychology-oriented job duties: providing professional clinical services - conducting research - carrying out education and training activities - carrying out program evaluation activities - clinical consultation - supervision and administration

(2) Quality of Experience

Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties to be performed

Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding professional psychology experience at the next lower level.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional This position is located at the VA Boston Healthcare system Brockton Campus

The VA Boston Healthcare System (VABHS) is seeking to hire a full-time clinical psychologist for direct clinical care in the Center for Integrated Residential Care for Addictions (CIRCA) - a Substance Use Disorder Domiciliary Program (DOM SUD) The Psychologist supports activities required to meet accreditation and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) standards for mental health residential rehabilitation treatment programs (MH RRTP) and comply with national and local performance measures for residential and substance use care

This position is located within the Residential and Rehabilitation Services division of the Mental Health (MH) Service Line of VABHS

The position includes excellent opportunities to contribute to psychology and psychiatry training programs - engage in independent or collaborative research

The psychologist may be eligible for a faculty appointment at Boston University School of Medicine or Harvard Medical School

Duties include: CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES Direct Service Provision Conducts comprehensive assessments including an appropriate of patient characteristics - substance use - mental health - social history - and formulating diagnoses

- Conducts risk assessments as required for residential programs and develops Safety Plans as needed to ensure safety of veterans in CIRCA

- Develops individualized treatment plans and updates as required

- Provides a full range of evidence-based therapeutic interventions including group and individual psychotherapy focused on substance use and mental health co-morbidities

- Consults with referring providers about residential addiction services

- Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff to assist in treatment of patients with substance use disorders

- Contributes to MH clinical service activities (e.g. - urgent care - police evaluations) - as requested

Clinical administrative activities - Completes all clinical charting and documentation required for VA Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs in a timely manner

- Attends staff meetings to support CIRCA

- Keeps informed regarding treatment and outcome research development in the areas of substance use - mental health - and related fields

- Provides clinical service in an ethical manner - consistent with American Psychological Association and VA Boston Healthcare System ethical guidelines

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed: Not available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May Be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive

Contact - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior (work experience) or military service experience

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Ad-hocTelework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: F08676 - F08677 - F08678 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position

This position is covered by a special rate

The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's

Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)

The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)

In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held

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Worksite address

brockton, MA, 02411, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.