Staff Psychologist (DOM-SUD)

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: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Domiciliary Substance Use Disorder (DOM-SUD) Staff Psychologist serves as a core member of the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. The psychologist delivers a full range of psychological services assessment, diagnosis, evidence-based psychotherapy, and interdisciplinary consultation to Veterans with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. This role supports both residential and outpatient SUD programs, contributes to program development and evaluation, and provides guidance to multidisciplinary teams to ensure high-quality, integrated behavioral health care. Major duties and responsibilities of the position: Clinical (90%) Conduct comprehensive psychological assessments addressing mental health, substance use, cognitive functioning, risk factors (suicidal/homicidal/violence), and psychosocial needs in both residential and outpatient settings. Diagnose mental disorders and develop individualized treatment plans for co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions. Provide evidence-based psychotherapies (individual, group, couples, and family) with a focus on time-limited, recovery-oriented care. Screen Veterans for admission into residential SUD programs, determine psychological stability, and identify urgent mental health needs. Deliver psychoeducation to individuals, families, and groups on SUD, mental health, preventive strategies, and treatment adherence. Monitor treatment progress, maintain contact with community supports and families, and participate in discharge planning and provider hand-offs. Provide consultation to interdisciplinary team members managing complex cases involving substance use and co-occurring disorders. Administrative Participate in Mental Health Service administrative activities, including committees, peer review, and quality improvement initiatives. Assist in developing and refining clinical programming for Veterans served by the DOM-SUD Program. Support ongoing program evaluation and data-driven quality improvement efforts. Ensure compliance with national and local performance measures, documentation standards, and VA operational policy. Teaching & Training Provide clinical instruction and supervision to psychology trainees, addiction fellows, psychiatry residents, medical students, and other interprofessional learners. Research & Evaluation Engage in program evaluation activities and participate in approved research efforts contributing to improved SUD treatment outcomes. Other Responsibilities Participate in ad-hoc service opportunities and special projects supporting Medical Center priorities. Work Schedule: Sunday-Thursday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases, When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available (Ad-hoc only) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in both spoken and written English. Education: Must possess one of the following: 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 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: 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 Directo