Staff Psychologist (Disruptive Behavior Program Coordinator) Job in Aurora, CO

Vacancy No. CBSU-12679464-25-DAP Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $84,670.00 to $156,884.00 Grade 11 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 2/24/2025 Close Date 3/5/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Aurora, CO


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. 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.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This position is open to All US Citizens. If you are a current federal employee, please apply to vacancy CBSU-12679465-25-DAP. This position is also open to Social Workers and Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors. Public Social Worker: CBSU-12669663-25-DAP Internal Social Worker: CBSU-12679469-25-DAP Public LPMHC: CBSU-12669661-25-DAP Internal LPMHC: CBSU-12307677-24-DAP

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to:
Disruptive Behavior committee (DBC)

  • Attends DBC new chair intensive training within 90 days of hire or earliest scheduled training offered by Central office.
  • Completes required DBC TMS trainings within 30 days of hire.
  • Attends bi-annual DBC all chair conference conducted by Central office as provided and spacing allows.
  • Participates in monthly DBC Community of Practice and Violence Risk Assessment conference calls provided by Central Office -WVPP.
  • Coordinating and managing an interdisciplinary team. Team members include Chief of Police or designee, Patient Advocates, Patient Safety Personnel, Physicians, Pharmacists, Nursing, Mental Health Professionals, Regional Counsel (Ad-Hoc), Labor partners, and other clinical and non-clinical personnel and executives.
  • Providing oversight and coordination of health care system-wide efforts to prevent, reduce, manage, triage and respond to incidents of threatening, violent, or otherwise safety-compromising behaviors perpetrated by patients, visitors, and other non-employee beneficiaries of the VHA.
  • Responsible for overseeing and coordinating day to day business of the DBC.
  • Works with Administrative support and/or Program Specialist to produce agenda with timely follow-up to all decisions.
  • Responsible for the implementation, education, training, and updates for ECHCS Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior and Workplace Violence Prevention or other related ECHCS policies or standard operating procedures for the implementation of VHA Directive 1160.08 and other laws, policies and guidance.
  • Responsible for the management of computer-based flagging systems through VISTA and CPRS managing Behavioral Patient Record Flags to include, flag entry and flag review every 2 years maximum or upon status change. The incumbent will identify and review flags of new ECHCS patients and will notifying/coordinate with other site DBC points of contact when transferring flags to other VHA sites communicating any risk relevant data to that site.
  • Follows procedures including timely response to Order of Behavioral Restriction request for reviews.
  • Responsible for all VISN and Central office requests for information about disruptive behavior training or any data about disruptive behavior incidents.
  • Interface with ECHCS police, Office of Inspector general (OIG) and coordinate care programs to manage patients with disruptive behavior.
  • Work closely with the Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) manager to ensure all local and national policies and directives are being met.
  • Responsible for the education, training, implementation of local and national policies pertaining to disruptive behavior.
  • Working knowledge of how system roles, responsibilities and reporting structures influence these sensitive communications.
  • Works closely with the ACOS, MHS, the Chief of Staff, other executive leadership, and service line leadership to ensure the DBC operates within local and national best practices.
Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB)
  • Supports the PMDB Coordinator in education of PMDB based on WBRA results.
  • Obtains and maintains PMDB Certified Trainer status.
  • Provides PMDB classes for ECHCS employees on a recurrent and ongoing basis with frequency determined based on need and availability but no less than once a month.
Employee Threat Assessment Team (ETAT)
  • Serves on the ETAT requested by the Medical Center Director.
  • Complete ETAT training within 30 days of hire.
  • Attend additional ETAT trainings as available and provided by national program office.
  • Coordinate with WVPP Manager to assess, triage, and manage ETAT cases as needed.
  • Interviews at the request of WVPP Manager as needed.
  • Operates with the highest degree of adherence to confidentiality and a thorough understanding of need-to-know communications in consult with the WVPP Manager, HR, and legal counsel.
Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment (WBRA)
  • Assist in leading and coordinating the annual Workplace Behavioral Risk Assessment based on data collection and analysis of DBRS through the year.
Clinical Teaching/Training
  • Provides clinical supervision to pre-doctoral external practicum students in clinical/counseling psychology, doctoral-level interns in clinical/counseling psychology, and post-doctoral fellows in clinical psychology.
  • Supports activities of the ECHCS Psychology Training Programs and provides/participates in relevant educational seminars, meetings, subcommittees, and workgroups.
  • Provides training and guidance to other health professions trainees health staff.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: Not Available
Functional Statement #: 554-58942-A
EDRP Authorized: Contact Anthony Salas, anthony.salas3@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
  • Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
  • 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:
  • Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States.
  • English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed.
  • Education. Candidates must have an 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 apart 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. And
    • Internships
      • 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 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. 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.
GS-11
  • Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
  • Assignment. Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and may conduct research. They may be assigned to any program area. Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed psychologist.
GS-12
  • Experience. At least one year of experience as a professional psychologist equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Psychologists who are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist but with less intense supervision than at the GS-11 grade level.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's:
    • Knowledge of and ability to apply a wide range of professional psychological treatments or assessment methods to a variety of patient populations.
    • Ability to design and implement effective treatment strategies.
    • Ability to incorporate new clinical procedures.
    • Ability to conduct research activities, such as designing and implementing clinical research projects (staff psychologists with specified research job duties).
    • Ability to perform basic research tasks of scholarship and research execution within the context of an established research team, including research participant relations, research documentation, data acquisition, maintenance, and collaboration.
  • Assignment. Staff psychologists at this level diagnose mental disorders, conduct psychological or neuropsychological assessments, treat mental disorders through a variety of modalities, provide adjunctive interventions for treatment of medical disorders, and many conduct research. They may be assigned to any program area.
GS-13
  • Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
    • 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.
  • Assignment. This is the full performance level for staff psychologists. At this level, psychologists are licensed to practice independently in the provision of psychological services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate. They may be assigned to any VHA program and setting, such as inpatient or outpatient medicine, primary care, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, Compensation and Pension, Vet Centers, and the VHA National Center for Organization Development. Psychologists 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. Among the modalities provided are individual , family, and group psychotherapies and other interventions such as behavioral health and community interventions. Psychologists 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.
Preferred Experience: Preferred experience in behavioral threat assessment and management, providing treatment for Veterans who have experienced homelessness, substance use disorder and severe and persistent mental illness as well as Axis II disorders. Experience working with law enforcement as well as justice involved Veterans also preferred. Experience navigating complex care coordination in multifaceted systems as well as policy development, and data tracking analysis, reporting, and management.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G18

Physical Requirements. Physical demands of the work are generally minor, as the position requires sitting, standing, and walking. Some travel is required as the incumbent is required to conducted monthly active outreach in the community which may require traveling long distances. Work, divided between office and clinical settings, is primarily sedentary. May require prolonged standing, moderate walking, and manual dexterity. Requires carrying light items, such as books, files, or laptop computer.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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.

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, résumé, 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.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes

  • Resume
  • Transcript


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.
  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (Schedule A)
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • License
  • Other Supporting Documents
  • PCS Orders
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • 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.

How to Apply

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 03/05/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12679464.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

Agency contact information

VISN 19 HR Contact Center
Address
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
1700 N Wheeling St
Aurora, CO 80045
US

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.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.