Psychologist (Suicide Prevention Coordinator)
This announcement will remain open until filled and all applications received by 09/11/2020 will be reviewed as the first cutoff. Applications received after this date will be accepted until the vacancy is filled. Applicant(s) selected for this position may be eligible to apply for an award under the provision of the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP). Final decision on an EDRP award amount is contingent on the availability of EDRP funds. The West Palm Beach VAMC opened its doors June 26, 1995 and provides primary and secondary level health care to eligible veterans in a seven-county area along Florida's Treasure Coast. Comprehensive services include medical, surgical and psychiatric inpatient care and outpatient services in each specialty. In addition, extended care services offer community residential care, adult day health care, respite and hospice in addition to nursing home care. As a Licensed Provider for the Department of Veterans Affairs, you will practice independently in the provision of psychological services, engage in professional and scientific work which relates to behavior, capacities, personality, interests, emotions and mental disorders.consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. PLEASE NOTE:
Qualified clinical trainees, residents, fellows, interns, etc. are encouraged to apply; please follow the instructions in the How to Apply section. VA West Palm Beach Suicide Prevention Coordinators work with West Palm Beach VAMC behavioral health providers and community organizations to assist Veterans during times of crisis and ensure Veterans receive the health care and support they need. The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) functions as a coordinator for care of veterans at suicide risk and a consultant to the facility leadership, program managers, and staff concerning suicide prevention strategies for individual patients, for the facility and veteran community as a whole. Services include assessing veterans for high risk for suicide, diagnosing mental health and high-risk factors related to suicide and suicide prevention, and providing treatment options. The SPC tracks appointments and coordinates enhanced care as needed, educating providers, veterans, families, and members of the community about risk factors and warning signs for suicide. Clinical Duties:
Assist in the management of patients enrolled at the facility that are identified as high risk for suicide, including conducting risk assessments, drafting safety plans, initiating health and welfare checks, and reviewing high-risk status. Contacts veterans who are flagged high risk and are non-compliant with attendance to scheduled mental health and substance abuse appointments. Follow up on all calls made to the Suicide Prevention Hotline from veterans who receive care through the West Palm Beach VA.- Provides group and individual interventions to patients in support of suicide prevention efforts. Provides additional support to the Suicide Prevention Program by tracking trending and assisting with specific data reports, data collection and data analysis for performance improvement.Administrative duties:
- Assists in the design, development, and implementation of clinical activities within the MH&BS service, to include program development. Adheres to operational policies and procedures established for MH&BS and Psychologist Section. Assists with the execution of on-going program evaluations and data-driven quality improvements projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program.- Complies with CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check-out procedures(e.g.entering diagnostics and procedure codes). Major duties and responsibilities include:
Diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders Provide are individual, family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions Consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities Work Schedule:
Monday-Friday, 9:
00 am-5:
30 pm. Tour subject to change to meet agency needs and may be required to work after hours, weekends and holidays. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. 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 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 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.
Experience:
In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following:
GS-13 Level:
at least 2 addition years of experience, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level, as a professional psychologist that was obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post-doctoral psychology training program that demonstrates 1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and/or 2) a full, current and unrestricted license. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current psychology practice:
Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to a full range of patient populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed. Preferred
Experience:
2 years experience performing Clinical Psychologist duties is preferred. Prior experience working in a suicide prevention or similar program is highly desired. Reference:
VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements:
Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking 6-8 hours; Standing 6-8 hours; Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted); and mental and emotional stability required. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Qualified clinical trainees, residents, fellows, interns, etc. are encouraged to apply; please follow the instructions in the How to Apply section. VA West Palm Beach Suicide Prevention Coordinators work with West Palm Beach VAMC behavioral health providers and community organizations to assist Veterans during times of crisis and ensure Veterans receive the health care and support they need. The Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) functions as a coordinator for care of veterans at suicide risk and a consultant to the facility leadership, program managers, and staff concerning suicide prevention strategies for individual patients, for the facility and veteran community as a whole. Services include assessing veterans for high risk for suicide, diagnosing mental health and high-risk factors related to suicide and suicide prevention, and providing treatment options. The SPC tracks appointments and coordinates enhanced care as needed, educating providers, veterans, families, and members of the community about risk factors and warning signs for suicide. Clinical Duties:
Assist in the management of patients enrolled at the facility that are identified as high risk for suicide, including conducting risk assessments, drafting safety plans, initiating health and welfare checks, and reviewing high-risk status. Contacts veterans who are flagged high risk and are non-compliant with attendance to scheduled mental health and substance abuse appointments. Follow up on all calls made to the Suicide Prevention Hotline from veterans who receive care through the West Palm Beach VA.- Provides group and individual interventions to patients in support of suicide prevention efforts. Provides additional support to the Suicide Prevention Program by tracking trending and assisting with specific data reports, data collection and data analysis for performance improvement.Administrative duties:
- Assists in the design, development, and implementation of clinical activities within the MH&BS service, to include program development. Adheres to operational policies and procedures established for MH&BS and Psychologist Section. Assists with the execution of on-going program evaluations and data-driven quality improvements projects to monitor the effectiveness of the clinical program.- Complies with CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check-out procedures(e.g.entering diagnostics and procedure codes). Major duties and responsibilities include:
Diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, and provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders Provide are individual, family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions Consult with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Staff psychologists may be involved in program evaluation, teaching, training, and research activities Work Schedule:
Monday-Friday, 9:
00 am-5:
30 pm. Tour subject to change to meet agency needs and may be required to work after hours, weekends and holidays. Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required 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. 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 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 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.
Experience:
In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following:
GS-13 Level:
at least 2 addition years of experience, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level, as a professional psychologist that was obtained through employment as a psychologist or through participating in a supervised post-doctoral psychology training program that demonstrates 1) active professional practice that was paid/non-paid employment and/or 2) a full, current and unrestricted license. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with current psychology practice:
Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to a full range of patient populations. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. Knowledge of clinical research literature. Experience is only creditable if it is post-doctoral degree experience as a professional psychologist directly related to the duties performed. Preferred
Experience:
2 years experience performing Clinical Psychologist duties is preferred. Prior experience working in a suicide prevention or similar program is highly desired. Reference:
VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements:
Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking 6-8 hours; Standing 6-8 hours; Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted); and mental and emotional stability required. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.
- Department:
0180 Psychology - Salary Range:
$97,179 to $126,336 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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