Staff Psychologist - Primary Care Mental Health Integration

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

The incumbent is a licensed psychologist assigned to the Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) as an embedded member of the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) team. OCMHI functions as the interface between Primary Care and Specialty Mental Health through an integrated, population-based model emphasizing timely access, same-day consultation, brief evidence-based interventions, and close collaboration with Primary Care Providers (PCPs). The incumbent serves as the behavioral health consultant withing Primary Care, providing assessment, diagnostic clarification, behavioral health interventions, consultation, and care coordination for Veterans presenting with common mental health and behavioral medicine concerns. The incumbent provides same-day access through warm hand-offs, brief functional assessments, risk assessment, measurement-based care, and time-limited evidence-based interventions. The incumbent collaborates closely with PCPs, nursing, pharmacy, social work, and other interdisciplinary team members to improve clinical outcomes, enhance patient engagement, and reduce barriers to specialty mental health services. Services emphasize depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, substance misuse, tobacco cessation, weight management, health behavior change, chronic disease self-management, and adjustment to medical illness. The incumbent also participates in program evaluation, quality improvement, education of staff regarding the PCMHI modes, and consultation across the health care system while maintaining productivity and documentation standards consistent with VA PCMHI expectations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 08:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc only, as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:10222F/10223F/10224F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact visn12hrerlr@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment evaluation 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. 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.

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/.