Psychology Program Manager

Summary

Truman VA Medical Center is committed to Diversity and Inclusion. Together, we strive to create and maintain a working and learning environment that promotes professional growth and teamwork. We offer an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment where we celebrate our individual differences and unite as a team toward a common goal of providing outstanding service to our Nation's Veterans.

Learn more about this agency

Help

Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

03/21/2024 to 03/29/2024

• Salary

$144,354 - $187,662 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 14

• Help

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Columbia, MO 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent -

• Work schedule

Full-time -

• Service

Excepted

• Promotion potential

14

• Job family (Series)

0180 Psychology

• Supervisory status

Yes

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBSS-12360690-24-RCK

• Control number

782974600

Help

This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to Truman VA employees only.

Videos

Help

Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Assumes responsibility for managing ongoing operations of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Programs, including strategic implementation of the BHIP Collaborative Chronic Care Model (BHIP-CCM). Exercises wide latitude and independent judgment to ensure adherence to operational policies and procedures for the Service, as established by the Chief of Behavioral Health.

• Serves as primary supervisor, including the completion of mid- and end-of-year performance appraisal, for all BH staff associated with programs under his/her/their supervision to include Psychologists (GS 11/13), Social Workers (GS 11/12), and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (GS 11/12), and Peer Specialists (GS 6/9). Institutes disciplinary actions as appropriate and in accordance with the AFGE Master Agreement.

• Coordinates the recruitment and selection of staff associated with programs under his/her/their supervision.

• Participates, along with other BH leaders, in strategic planning to ensure provision of high-quality services and tailoring of services to respond to trends in the field and needs of Veterans served.

• Approves leave for all staff associated with programs under his/her responsibility to ensure continuity of care and uninterrupted provision of services.

• Establishes and maintains a recovery oriented and empirically-supported approach to care within and among all programs under his/her/their supervision; to include facilitation with program development and communication among program providers to support comprehensive, individualized, and continuity of care.

• Assists the Chief of Behavioral Health, Senior Psychologist Program Managers, Senior Psychologist, and Operations Manager in the execution of ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement projects to monitor and maximize the effectiveness of the clinical program.

• The incumbent will research, assemble, and compile data, evaluate the results against appropriate standards and recommend corrective action where indicated to the Chief of Behavioral Health or designee.

• Complies with national and local performance measures and standards, including those that support new and established patient access.

• Ensures sustained compliance with accreditation standards for programs accredited by The Joint Commission and/or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

• Provides a full range of psychological assessment services and diagnoses mental disorders, particularly for complex or unusually difficult patients who are referred for care.

• Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients.

• Provides comprehensive, evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, including individual and group psychotherapy.

• Functions independently as a member of the Truman VA Medical Staff, with full clinical privileges. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation.

• Promptly completes all relevant clinical reminders, including suicide risk screenings and subsequent assessments and safety plans, as clinically and administratively indicated.

• Provides clinical supervision and instruction for doctoral psychology interns, unlicensed graduate psychologists, and/or psychology practicum students.

• Complies with and implements all Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) documentation procedures and standards, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check-out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes).

• Attends regular Psychology Service staff meetings, Medical Staff meetings, and complies with Psychology Service peer review procedures.

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. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

Telework: Ad Hoc

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN15EDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Help

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.

• 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

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:

• 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.

• English Language Proficiency Requirement

• Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.

• Education Requirement

• You must 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. OR, have a doctoral degree in any area of psychology and, in addition, successfully completed a 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 you were retrained is consistent with the assignment you are am applying for; OR, have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature.

• Internship Requirement

• You must 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). NOTE: 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: Candidates must 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.

Grade Determinations

• GS14

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

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1.Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines.

2.Knowledge of and ability to utilize evidence based practices and clinical practice guidelines appropriately and ability to guide staff in using these tools.

3.Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.

4.Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives.

5.Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.

6.Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards.

7.Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.

(c) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Psychologist program managers have broad program management

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 FEBRUARY 7, 2018 PART IIAPPENDIX G18

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14.

Physical Requirements: This position is mostly sedentary and requires walking, kneeling, bending, standing, and light lifting. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

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 an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Read more

• Benefits

Help

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 window

Learn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.