The Crisis Response Team (CRT) Psychologist is a member of a 24/7 interdisciplinary treatment team which provides crisis/mental health services to the ED, and consultation to Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP), Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, Acute Medicine, and Community Living Center (CLC), as needed during weekend, holiday, evening and night (WHEN) hours at the VA WCHCS. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. 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. 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.(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. English Language Proficiency. Psychologists must be proficient in spoken and written English Grade Determinations: Staff Psychologist, GS-13 (Full Performance, Level) (a) Experience. At least two years of experience as a professional psychologist, with at least one year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, professional psychological treatments to the full range of patient populations. 2. Ability to provide professional advice and consultation in areas related to professional psychology and behavioral health. 3. Knowledge of clinical research literature. (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. Preferred Experience: Has specialized and advanced knowledge and skill in conducting psychiatric emergency assessments, diagnoses, and treatment. Experience working with patients who have complex physical and psychiatric comorbidities and are in acute crisis Due to the nature of the CRT Staff Psychologist responsibilities, the psychology license must permit independent psychotherapy and diagnosis of mental health conditions and illnesses References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/103 PART II APPENDIX G18 ["The duties and responsibilities of the CRT Staff Psychologist include but are not limited to: Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and uses the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. Performs evaluations for wide array of Veterans representing diverse diagnostic entities. Evaluates Veterans in the ED for involuntary psychiatric holds and completes appropriate paperwork. Serves as a resource for VA WCHCS staff regarding the local laws and regulations regarding involuntary psychiatric holds. Provides treatment recommendations to the ED providers on appropriateness for inpatient psychiatric admission and/or ED discharge with referral(s) to outpatient services. Incumbent will fully assess suicide/homicide risk and protective factors to determine safety of the Veterans. Completes comprehensive suicide risk evaluations (CSRE), safety planning, and suicide behavior reports, as needed. Ensures adherence to facility and national risk management policies for assessment, management, consultation and documentation related to suicide/homicide risk. Ensures continuity of care for all Veterans presenting to the ED in mental health crisis by providing intervention and/or facilitating services with another provider(s). When Veterans call the VA in crisis, the incumbent assesses Veterans by phone and provides crisis counseling/intervention, including instructing the Veteran to present to the ED or follow-up with established providers. Contacts local law enforcement for wellness check as deemed necessary. Provides assessment, brief psychotherapeutic interventions, and treatment referrals for veterans presenting with substance use disorders. Provides education and referrals to veterans for community services, and coordinates these services, as necessary. Acts as a liaison between community and VA programs as needed. Makes appropriate referrals, as indicated, to reporting agencies such as Department of Family Services, Adult Protective Services, police, etc. Provides consultation to colleagues regarding emergent/urgent situations. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions to veterans on the Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit and SARRTP as part of after-hour behavioral health services, including individual, couples/family and group psychotherapy using empirically supported approaches (e.g., Motivational Interviewing, Behavioral Activation, CBT, DBT, ACT, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Problem Solving Therapy, Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy). Conducts daily treatment rounds on the inpatient unit during non-business hours (weekends and holidays). Documents psychological interventions and consultation activities in the Veteran's clinical record utilizing the electronic health record (EHR) and ensures an appropriate hand-off and documentation when transferring Veteran care. Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of Veteran care issues. Accountable for practice, including entering Veteran visits, appropriate clinical documentation, entering consults, and meeting productivity standards. Provides education to both Veterans and family members regarding relevant mental health concerns. Provides case management to Veterans who are high utilizers of the ED and Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit to ensure the right care at the right time. Complies with all Facility and Service Line documentation requirements, including timely completion of prescribed templates for documenting results of assessment, treatment, and risk evaluation contacts. Adheres to all Facility and Service Line policies and practices for delivering clinical care, including but not limited to suicide risk reduction practices, timeliness of care and access standards, professional conduct requirements, and EHR documentation conventions. May be assigned additional administrative duties to be completed during non-Veteran times to assist with data collection, reports, performance improvement projects, etc. Work Schedule: Variable shifts; Part time (approx 20 hrs/weekly-may be negotiable) or Full Time\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 55573-O\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Gina Hammer, the EDRP Coordinator at Gina.Hammer@va.gov for questions/assistance\nThis 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. Learn more\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): NOT Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]