Staff Psychologist (Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program - BHIP)

Quick Facts

• Role: Staff Psychologist (BHIP)

• Team: Mental Health Division – Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm

• EDRP: Eligible to apply for the Education Debt Reduction Program (student loan repayment). Submit your application within 4 months of appointment. Award amount up to $200,000 with an eligibility period of 1–5 years, determined by VHA after review.

Description

The Staff Psychologist provides functional assessments, diagnostic services, evidence-based psychotherapy, and psychoeducation for Veterans in the VAPORHCS Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program. The role focuses on consultation with health care providers, integrated and coordinated care, development and documentation of mental health treatment plans in primary care, and adherence to risk assessment, timeliness, professional conduct, and documentation standards. Depending on grade, the psychologist also supports clinical supervision, teaching, leadership activities, and research/program evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct functional assessments and diagnostic services

• Use contemporary interview and psychometric assessment methods

• Provide patient and family education on mental disorders and best-practice treatments

• Deliver evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions (as appropriate: individual, family, and group) and psychoeducation

• Consult with health care providers on assessment findings and treatment plans to support coordinated, collaborative, integrated care

• Develop, implement, and document mental health treatment plans for primary care patients

• Follow facility/service line policies including risk assessment and reduction (suicide and violence), timeliness/access standards, and professional conduct requirements; document using CPRS conventions

• Meet minimal clinical workload expectations

• Provide supervision of trainees; assume independent professional responsibility for clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation

• Provide teaching/training and supervision for psychology trainees and other medical trainees (as assigned); participate in training oversight committees; maintain required faculty appointment responsibilities (as assigned)

• Participate in research and/or program evaluation (as assigned)

• Serve on medical center committees/workgroups/task forces and contribute to leadership and professional organizations (as assigned)

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• English proficiency (written and spoken)

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Complete required pre-employment steps (including physical evaluation and testing where applicable)

• Selective Service registration (for eligible males)

• Doctoral degree in psychology from an APA/PCSAS/CPA-accredited program (or meet VA alternate doctoral + re-specialization/internship requirements)

• Completed an APA/CPA-accredited professional psychology internship (or meet VA-approved alternatives)

• Full, current, unrestricted doctoral-level license to practice psychology (or eligibility for a temporary supervised appointment as a “graduate psychologist”)

• Maintain required licensure throughout employment

• Complete EDRP application within 4 months of appointment if applying

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases (higher step possible based on qualifications)

• Paid time off: 37–50 days annually (annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays)

• Paid parental leave after 12 months (up to 12 weeks)

• Child care subsidy after 60 days for eligible employees (up to 25% of eligible costs, subject to monthly maximum)

• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% VA contributions

• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options

• EDRP: Potential student loan repayment up to $200,000 (eligibility and award determined by VHA)