Summary
The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is hiring a Senior Psychologist to serve as the Service Chief for Psychology Service. This position is aligned under the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health (ACOS MH). Responsibilities are complex in scope, involving supervision and management of several
specialty mental health programs, as well as oversight of the practice of Psychology throughout the Medical Center and its Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
Clarification from the agency
Qualified applicants to this position will be referred and considered in the following order
1- Current, permanent employees of the Battle Creek VAMC/CBOCs // 2- Current, permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration // 3- Current, permanent Employees of Other Federal Agencies.
Duties
Major duties and responsibilities of this position include:
The incumbent has very broad, comprehensive responsibility for Supervision and Administrative oversight of several residential treatment
programs and specialty outpatient programs at the Battle Creek VAMC and the multidisciplinary staff that serve in them. These programs provide specialized professional mental health services that significantly impact the health care provided to veterans. The incumbent is also responsible
for ensuring the quality of services provided by psychologists throughout the Medical Center and its CBOCs via credentialing, privileging, and on-going and focused professional practice evaluation activities.
The specific responsibilities of the Chief of Psychology Service are to:
- Provide direct or indirect (through subordinate supervision) administrative and professional supervision of subordinates.
- Perform the overall administrative and personnel management functions relative to staff supervised.
- Observes and evaluates workers' performance.
- Resolve informal complaints and grievances.
- Develop work improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary.
- Provide advice and counsel to workers related to work and administrative matters Effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area.
- Manage time and leave.
- Assure that all staff within the service receive needed professional training
- Accountable for the effective functioning of groups of programs and treatment teams.
- Supervises and mentors the program managers and/or individual members.
- Be responsible for the acquisition, allocation, maintenance/monitoring, and evaluation, of human resources, equipment, and supplies.
- Coordinate the plans for ensuring Psychology Service's programs' success.
- Plan, organize, implement, and direct programs with respect to priorities, schedules, work activities, workload, and staff deployment.
- Formulate policies and procedures, set standards, and conduct administrative reviews to ensure optimum service to patients and coordination between program elements.
- Responsible for the implementation, review and update of policies and procedures in Psychology Service.
- Maintain records of work accomplishments and prepare clinical service workload, and Quality Assurance Reports as required. Develop, implement and monitor the accomplishment of the annual Psychology Service Quality Improvement (QI) Plan, monitors, and follow-up.
- Responsible for compliance with standards from outside agencies including the Joint Commission, CARF, OSHA, VISN, and VACO.
- Responsible for adherence to the affirmative action objectives of the organization and the goals of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).
- Ensure the Psychology Training Program meets all training standards.
- Have full responsibility for the professional practice of psychology, including services conducted by trainees, consultants and para-professional staff, and ensuring that all psychologists in the facility and its affiliated clinics meet the requirements.
- Responsible for credentialing, privileging, and on-going and focused professional practice evaluation activities of psychologists.
Clinical Responsibilities (10% of time).
- Provides a full range of psychodiagnostic services
- Performs psychological consultations and evaluations.
- Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions
Other Significant Responsibilities (10% of time)
- Serves as Chairperson of the Medical Center's Clinical Advisory Panel.
- Represents psychologists on the Medical Center Professional Standards Board.
- Participates in conferences/meetings with Medical Center Leadership.
- Oversees the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements within assigned program units using data-driven quality assurance processes.
- Oversees or is involved in the training of psychology trainees, interns, or post-doctoral fellows, as well as psychiatry residents and students from other health professions, as appropriate.
- Responsibilities include resource management and distribution, budget formulation and monitoring, assessing staffing levels and needs, space planning, and assessing equipment and technology needs.
- Serves as Acting Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health when requested.
- Mentors and facilitates an active program of clinical research by Psychology Staff and staff from other disciplines.
- Holds adjunct faculty appointment at affiliated university.
- Serves as internship and postdoctoral program site visitor for the American Psychological Association.
Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00a-4:30p
Telework: Ad-hoc or at supervisor's discretion
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
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
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 fulltime, 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.
Experience: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following:
At least four years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-14 level
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
- Ability to supervise and manage a large group of professional staff effectively.
- Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution and ability to work collaboratively with supervisors from other units.
- Ability to accurately apply the qualification standards, assesses the potential of current and prospective employees, and promotes their professional development.
- Ability to develop appropriate productivity standards for professional staff, often across multiple program lines.
- Knowledge of the goals and objectives of the medical center and VISN and ability to communicate these to subordinates.
References: Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18 Psychologist Qualification Standard.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-15.
Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary in nature in climate controlled environments. Exposure to patients experiencing Serious Mental Illness may be frequent or recurring.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application
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/.
Benefits
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 windowLearn 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.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- License
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
NOTE: an SF-50 MUST be included with your application. You may require more than one SF-50 to validate that you meet the Area of Consideration.
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
- License
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/01/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12285825.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
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