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. Basic Requirements: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. b. Education. (1) 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. For the purpose of meeting this requirement, the term "specialty area" refers to the specific specialty areas recognized by the accrediting body and not to specific job duties that might require special skills. Currently, APA accredits doctoral programs in the specialty areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, or combinations of two or more of those areas. PCSAS accredits doctoral programs in psychological clinical science. CPA accredits doctoral programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and school psychology. There are no job assignments in VHA that require the skills of a school psychologist; therefore, an applicant with a degree in the specialty area of school psychology is not eligible for appointment. Strictly for the purpose of determining eligibility for appointment as a psychologist in VHA, there is no distinction between the specialty areas (with the exception of school psychology). OR (2) 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 part of the 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 the applicant is retrained must be consistent with the assignment for which the applicant is to be employed. OR (3) Have a doctoral degree awarded between 1951 and 1978 from a regionally-accredited institution, with a dissertation primarily psychological in nature. AND (4) Internships (a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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 (d) 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 (e) 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. c. 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. (1) 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. (2) Loss of Credential. A psychologist who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. d. Board Certification and Loss of Credential (1) Board Certification. Persons hired to psychology positions in the VHA who completed an internship that was not accredited at the time the program was completed must be 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. The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirement for continuing education. (2) Loss of Credential. Once board certified, psychologist must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted board certification to remain qualified for employment. A psychologist who fails to maintain the required board certification must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation if qualified and if a placement opportunity exists. e. English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: (1) GS-11 Staff Psychologist (Entry Level) (a) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. (2) GS-12 Staff Psychologist (Developmental Level) (a) Experience. At least 1 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. (c) 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. (3) GS-13 Staff Psychologist (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience. At least 2 years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 level. (c) 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. ["The Manchester VA Medical Center is committed to integrated, comprehensive treatment of Veterans living with chronic pain and is actively recruiting a Pain Psychologist for our Integrated Pain Care Clinic to further enhance existing pain care services. This position will be approximately 50 percent telework and 50 percent face-to-face. Integrated Pain Care Clinic: The Psychologist in this position will be embedded within the Integrated Pain Care Clinic providing an array of coordinated pain management services. The primary job functions include oversight over our CARF-accredited Intensive Pain Rehabilitation program, provision of direct patient care in both individual and group modalities, and completion of comprehensive pre-surgical evaluations. The Psychologist participates as an active member and subject matter expert on the interdisciplinary pain team which provides comprehensive wrap-around specialty pain care services. Experience with evidence-based psychological treatments for ameliorating chronic pain and increasing functionality, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain, Acceptance- and Mindfulness-focused psychotherapies (MBSR; ACT), and Motivational Enhancement strategies is strongly preferred; however, we will consider providing training for a motivated candidate. Duties include, but not limited to: Provides a psychological assessment services for diagnoses mental disorders, with a focus on Veterans living with chronic pain. Provides education to staff, patients, family members, and significant others. Participates in pain education and coping/skills training for Veterans. Provides treatment for pain using the ACT for Pain or CBT for Pain Protocols. Provides consultation to staff and community providers concerning clinical assessment findings and appropriate treatment plans for patients. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for patients participating in ACT for Pain or CBT for Pain. Assists in coordination of patient's treatment and discharge planning. Supervises residents, medical students, interns, and practicum trainees. Serves on integrated team meetings and other local, regional, and national committees and teams as assigned. Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs to effectively coordinate services. Collaborating with the service line manager to ensure the adequacy of individual treatment plans, including notations of contraindications and precautions, developed with the participation of professional personnel. Work Schedule: Day Shift, Full-Time, 40 hours per week Compressed/Flexible: Four, ten hour days is preferred, but Monday-Friday schedule will be considered. Telework: Telework will be approved for approximately 50 percent of work week. VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position is authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Telework can be performed on a less than full-time basis anywhere other than a VA facility or using VA-leased space (example: home). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. This is a 50 percent telework position. Candidate will be required to be on site for at least 2 days per week. Functional Statement #: 608-F03669 (GS-11 Entry), 608-F03694 (GS-12 Developmental), 608-F00363 (GS-13 Full Performance) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Karen J. Chapman, Human Resources Assistant (Compensation), VISN 1 Compensation Center of Excellence, Veterans Health Administration - New England Healthcare System, Email: Karen.Chapman@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more ***NOTE: This is an open and continuous job opportunity announcement. Certificates are issued on an unannounced periodic basis based on requests from management. Applications will be evaluated and referred for selection as vacancies occur within the organization. This announcement may close at any time once all positions are filled.***"]

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