Staff Psychologist-Inpatient

The Mental Health CARE Unit consists of (2) twenty-bed inpatient psychiatric wings. The MH CARE Unit provides patient-centered treatment planning nursing and psychiatric care as well as strengths-based and recovery-oriented psychosocial interventions for Veterans in acute crisis. The selected Staff Psychologist will provide a full range of therapeutic recovery-oriented evidence-based interventions on the MH CARE units and services on the medical units. on medical/surgical units. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:. Some of the duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic and treatment planning services including clinical interviewing psychological assessments/screenings cognitive screenings capacity evaluations and recovery-oriented planning on the inpatient psychiatric units and/or the medical units.
• Provides ongoing psychotherapeutic services to Veterans remaining on inpatient units as needed or directed.
• Performs intake assessments and diagnostic evaluations for a full range of mental disorders and related health issues using the most appropriate psychological techniques in providing quality care.
• Consults with mental health and other Medical Center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues to address needs and coordinate care as clinically indicated.
• Participates in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings.
• Consults with the interdisciplinary team and provides treatment recommendations.
• Independently provides psychological services at all levels of complexity and consults with peers and supervisors as appropriate.
• Promotes involvement of family/social support systems for patients when appropriate as a means and vehicle for sustaining recovery.
• Provides recovery-oriented group services on a regular basis. The recovery group will be available for other staff to attend for training purposes in strengths-based and patient-centered principles.
• Advocates for patients ensuring the care patients receive is patient-centered and recovery-oriented.
• May be assigned or detailed to any program area based on clinical resource need and may be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities.
• Represents psychology on decision-making committees at the program and service level.
• Participates in recovery-oriented and evidence-based practices trainings and inpatient service related meetings/trainings as needed.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 08:00am - 04:30pm (the selectee may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on the needs of the service and patient care)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 80509F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized - As determined by Facility/Agency
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

• 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.
• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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
  • 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: The re-specialization program must be completed in an APA or a CPA accredited doctoral program; and the specialty in which the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR
  • Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.
• Internship
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 candidates doctoral program. If the internship experience is not noted on the applicants 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.
  • 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 under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (c)(2)(B) 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: 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

Staff Psychologist GS-13 (Full Performance Level)

• Experience: At least two (2) years of experience as a professional psychologist with at least one (1) year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.

While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledges Skills Abilities and Other Characteristics (KSAOs) you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. These are the KSAs for this subject position:

Staff Psychologist GS-13 (Full Performance Level)

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

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Experience: Inpatient Hospital Setting experience preferably within psychiatric units and medical floors in consult liaison services.

Physical Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing lifting carrying sitting stooping bending pulling and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.