Staff Psychologist- Suicide Prevention Coordinator

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.

Program 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.

Duties

VA Careers – Psychologist:

• https://youtube.com/embed/77qHlLw9Xck Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Incumbent is assigned to the Mental Health Service Line engaged in administrative as well as direct and indirect clinical activities related to Suicide Prevention within the Veteran population.
• The clinical psychology program is designed to assist in patient care through psycho diagnostic testing and interviewing, individual and group psychotherapy, training, research, consultation, and other services.
• Assessment and Evaluation.
• Administers, scores, and interprets psychological assessment instruments.
• Obtains and evaluates personal, educational, and vocational histories, reviews records of other services for pertinent data, and prepares evaluative reports.
• Incumbent interviews and evaluates patients in order to analyze historical and dynamic factors pertaining to their illness with special concern for factors relating to diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment variables.
• Works with patients who present particularly difficult diagnostic, prognostic, or treatment problems.
• When assessing or providing patient care, the employee considers the age of the patient as it relates to the ability to understand directions, to provide objective self-assessment, or to respond to any other medical milieu appropriate to the overall treatment plan.
• This requires the knowledge of psychological characteristics of all age groups.
• Individual Psychotherapy.
• May plan, conduct, record, evaluate, and report on individual psychotherapy sessions.
• Individual psychotherapy refers to the professional process whereby the psychologist assists the patient in working through problems and formulating plans and ideas as distinct from those activities principally concerned with evaluating his/her potential and past history of training/experience.
• Specifically, incumbent assists patients by evaluating their assets and liabilities and in their attempts to understand themselves, to achieve better interpersonal relationships, and to adapt themselves more effectively to their environments. Group Psychotherapy.
• May plan, conduct, record, evaluate and report on group psychotherapy sessions, as well as facilitate patient education meetings, milieu and ward therapy programs in addition to the professional processes outlined above in paragraph 2.
• May conduct family therapy sessions. Consultation.
• May consult with other psychologists, consultants, professional staff, medical center management, or individuals and organizations in the community, usually relating to the status of or plans for patients, problems or procedures related to the operation of the Mental Health Partners Outpatient Clinic, and/or problems referred by other services.
• May serve persons other than patients, such as screening or counseling of personnel when they are referred. Research.
• May review professional literature for research planning, hypothesis development, instrumentation, data analysis, and scientific reports.
• May conduct research that is local, fact-finding, or basic and developmental.
• May also conduct research that involves direct or indirect service to patients or to the medical center. Training.
• May plan and personally participate in station-wide training programs and in the training of psychologists and other personnel.
• May serve on the Psychology Training Committee.
• Receives training from staff psychologists and other professional personnel including supervision, in-service training, and station workshops and seminars. ROLE-SPECIFIC TASKS A.
• Plans, organizes, and directs administrative and operational activities for the SPC program.
• Completes all activities required for a comprehensive suicide prevention program as outlined in guides, memos, or directives that pertain to the suicide prevention program functions. B.
• Demonstrates the ability to provide training, orientation, consultation, and guidance within clinical specialization of practice C.
• Administers information and analytical systems to evaluate and enhance the quality of service provided to patients. D.
• The SPC functions as a coordinator of care for Veterans at high risk for suicide. E.
• The incumbent must have a wide range of knowledge of VAMC healthcare services, VHA benefits, VHA Directives and Policies, VAMC personnel, and resources.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
• Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the “Required Documents” section of this announcement.
• Drivers License Requirement: Unrestricted drivers license is required.
• Must provide a clean driving record report from the DMV during onboarding.
• Physical Examination: A driver’s physical is required for this position As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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/.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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. 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 Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted ‘Resume’ document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the ‘Other’ document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please 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 (VA) License Recommended – Knowledge, Skills, and Ability (KSA) documentation – listed under qualifications in the announcement Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation Performance Appraisal Professional Certification
• Resume SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript