Clinical Psychologist (GS-0180-13) - Ft Cavazos, TX

Fort Cavazos is located in the beautiful 'hill and lake' country of Central Texas between Killeen and Copperas Cove and is approximately 60 miles north of the capital city of Austin, 50 miles south of Waco, 160 miles south of Dallas, and 150 miles north of San Antonio.  Founded in 1942, this 340-sq.-mile military base is the Army's Premier Installation to train and deploy heavy forces.

A 214,968 acre installation, Fort Cavazos is now the largest active duty armored post in the U.S. Armed Forces and the only post in the United States capable of stationing and training two Armored Divisions.

The rolling, semi-arid terrain is ideal for multifaceted training and testing of military units and individuals.  Additionally, the Killeen community is a model of support for Army families. There are lots of resources and networks available to assist you.

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/

1.  Clinical Assessment:

Screens and interviews patients, and performs, and performs bio-psychological social evaluations, using expert knowledge of general and specific concepts, principles, procedures, and practices relating to psychological counseling; expert knowledge of the full range of psychological testing; expert knowledge of psychodynamics, psychopathology, and therapeutic techniques; ability to analyze clinical assessments of patients; skill in written communication; and skill in oral communication.  Monitors and evaluates completeness of patient intake.  Selects, approves, and documents treatment priorities through a treatment plan.  Reviews level of care for appropriateness.  Evaluates and approves referral sources.  Prepares and delivers briefings and presentations.  Conducts meetings, conferences, etc.  an approves use of community resources.  Provides reports and approves consults.

2.  Therapy, Case Staffing and Treatment:

Conducts therapy, monitors, approves, and documents all treatment planning, and provides advice for case staffing, using expert knowledge of general and specific concepts, principles, procedures, and practices relating to psychological counselling; expert knowledge of the full range of psychological testing; expert knowledge of psychological counseling; expert knowledge of the full range of psychological testing; expert knowledge of psychodynamics, psychopathology, and therapeutic techniques; ability to analyze clinical assessments of patients; skill in written communication; and skill in oral communication.  Reviews and approves the appropriate modality of each patient.  Develops treatment processes and procedures for orientation of patients.  Evaluates information/education processes.  Evaluates overall effectiveness of therapeutic efforts.  Institutes changes to increase effectiveness of therapeutic efforts.  Evaluates appropriateness of treatment plans and goals.  Develops treatment plans for the most severe cases.  Provides structure and procedures for organization of case staffing information.  Approves diagnoses.  Establishes policies for case staffing. Uses objective behavioral outcome measures to evaluate progress in treatment.  Participates with other professional staff in providing emergency mental health services on a scheduled, rotating, on-call basis to patients during normal duty hours to include screening patients for appropriateness of psychiatric hospitalizations.  Coordinates with a variety of agencies to assist with the multidisciplinary treatment of patients.  These contacts may include, but are not limited to social work, nursing, community counseling centers, the exceptional family member program, command and legal or other community agencies.  Will interact with military commanders and be able to provide extensive knowledge of soldiering and the deployment cycle.

3.  Administration:

Executes performance initiatives (PI) through revision of clinical standards and procedures; performs special actions and a variety of program administrative duties; and performs a wide variety of quality management/quality assurance (QM/QA) duties to meet Joint Commission on Accreditation of  Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requirements, using expert knowledge of the general and specific concepts, principles, procedure, and practices relating to psychological counseling; expert knowledge of psychodynamics, psychopathology, and therapeutic techniques; ability to analyze clinical assessments of patients; skill in written communication; and skill in oral communication.  Evaluates clinical records and monitors all test administration and scoring for quality assurance.  Evaluates environment of care.  Monitors all risk management issues and takes appropriate action.  Establishes and executes performance initiatives.  Establishes and monitors objective behavioral outcome measures.  Develops, approves, and executes the professional business plan.  Conducts program evaluation.  Consults with ancillary care providers.  Substantiates the results of crisis intervention.  Reviews data provided on reports of special actions.  Directs budget priorities; directs manpower surveys; and briefs reports to the command and higher headquarters.  Reviews statistical data to modify program goals.  Evaluate and approve educations packets.   

4.  Testing:

Oversees and interprets appropriate tests, using expert knowledge of general and specific concepts, principles, procedures, and practices relating to clinical psychology; expert knowledge of the full range of psychological testing; knowledge of psychodynamics, psychopathology, and therapeutic techniques; ability to analyze patient assessments; skill in written communication; and skill in oral communication.  Monitors, maintains, and secures test instrument inventory.  Approves selection of various tests.  Interprets carious complex test.  Provides consultation regarding testing and interpreting issues.  Evaluates test results for release.  Evaluates diagnostic summaries.

5.  Professional Development Activities:

Develops, implements, and evaluates professional development activities, using expert knowledge of general and specific concepts, principles, procedures, and practices relating to clinical psychology; expert knowledge of the full range of psychological testing; expert knowledge of psychodynamics, psychopathology, and therapeutic techniques; ability to analyze clinical assessments of patients; skill in written communication; and skill in oral communication.  Coordinates inter-departmental in-service training.  Evaluates scope of practice and modifies, as required.  Evaluates training opportunities.  Evaluates orientation activities.  Attends American Psychology Association or the National Association of Social Workers approved continuing education training.  Adheres to the applicable Code of Ethics.  Evaluates professional development activities. 

Performs other duties as assigned.