Pearl Harbor, HI - CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST (BEHAVIORAL HEALTH)

About the Position: This position is under Naval Health Clinic located at Pearl Harbor side of Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, which is on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii.

The Island of Oahu in Hawaii is often nicknamed (or translated as) "The Gathering Place". It is currently the most populated Hawaiian Island. The city of Honolulu is the largest city, state capital, and main deep water marine port for the State of Hawaii. As a jurisdictional unit, the entire island of Oahu is in Honolulu County, although as a place name, Honolulu occupies only a portion of the southeast end of the island. Well-known features found on Oahu include Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Hanauma, Kane’ohe Bay, Kailua Bay, North Shore, and the resort destination, Ko’Olina.

Oahu is also known for having the longest rain shower in history, which lasted for 200 consecutive days. Kāneʻohe Ranch reported 247 straight days with rain from August 27, 1993 to April 30, 1994. The average temperature in Oahu is around 70–85 °F (21–29 °C) and the island is the warmest in June through October. The weather during the winter is cooler, but still warm with an average temperature of 68–78 °F (20–26 °C).

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.

Responsibilities:

1. Serves as a Clinical Psychologist Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) for the Clinic and Behavioral Health System of Care (BHSOC) Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) program. Makes mental health diagnoses in accordance with the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) when differential diagnosis is required. Provides individual and group treatment, using various modalities as clinically indicated to include brief problem-focused interventions, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psychoeducational classes. Assesses acute mental health and behavioral medicine conditions in beneficiaries who present with such issues. Maintains appropriate documentation of patient care in accordance with current unit and hospital standard operating procedures (SOPs) and current DoD, DHA PCBH, Federal and state regulations. Maintains performance and conduct in accordance with current unit and hospital SOPs; current DoD, DHA, Federal and state regulations; and professional ethics.

Assesses and provides intervention for individuals with a wide range of chronic medical conditions, and behavioral health issues affecting medical conditions to include assessment and disposition of beneficiaries with acute and chronic risk. Provides treatment via targeted and efficient appointments for initial and follow-up visits. Performs PCBH biopsychosocial evaluations using expert knowledge of clinical and clinical health psychology. Conducts outpatient group classes, stress management, relaxation training, assertive/social skills training, smoking cessation training, substance abuse identification and brief related interventions appropriate for primary care, as well as evidenced-based interventions for mastery of behavioral health conditions (e.g. anxiety, depression, post traumatic symptoms etc.) and behavioral medicine conditions (e.g. insomnia, acute and chronic pain, diabetes, weight management etc.) as required. Participates in quality assurance activities. Provides psychological and clinical consultation to physicians, other professionals and paraprofessionals through established consultation channels. Provides feedback to Primary Care Managers (PCMs) regarding consultation findings and recommendations as directed by the current DHA PCBH Administrative Instruction.

Consults with primary care providers to select, approve, and document treatment priorities in SMART goal format. Serves as the authority on primary care psychology for the clinic. Educates clinic staff on the principles of primary care behavioral health via trainings and briefings. Conducts meetings and conferences to review the level of care for appropriateness of treatment in primary care and evaluate and approve referral sources. Establishes cooperative agreements among various providers and clinics throughout the Military Treatment Facility (MTF). Monitors, evaluates, and approves use of community resources. Provides reports and approves consults. Uses objective behavioral outcome measures to evaluate progress in treatment.

2. Provides evidenced-based individual treatment and psychoeducational classes for patients enrolled in primary care clinics. Provides expertise in human behavior as a primary care team member and provides consultation to primary care and specialty clinic providers regarding psychological treatment options to optimize health outcomes. Assists primary care providers with the treatment of patients with known high-risk factors such as suicide, history of trauma, and co-occurring substance use disorders. Conducts PCBH model treatment, monitors, approves, and documents all treatment goals. Reviews and approves the appropriate modality of treatment for each patient. Develops treatment processes and procedures for orientation of patients. Evaluates information/education processes. Institutes changes to increase effectiveness of treatment efforts. Evaluates appropriateness of treatment goals. Determines appropriate dispositions for severe cases. Provides structure and procedures for organization of case staffing information. Establishes policies for case consultation.

3. Executes performance initiatives (PI) through revision of clinical standards and procedures; and performs a variety of quality management/quality assurance (QM/QA) duties to meet the Joint Commission (TJC) requirements. Evaluates clinical records and monitors all objective instrument administration and scoring for quality assurance. Evaluates environment of care. Monitors all risk management issues and takes appropriate action. Establishes and executes performance initiatives. Works with primary care team to develop processes to increase same day “warm handoffs” of patients from the primary care provider to the BHC. Works to increase overall penetration into the enrolled clinic population by targeting common conditions with behavioral components that are amenable to BHC intervention. Performs daily activities to increase BHC clinical productivity (e.g. scrubbing PCM appointment lists, circulating in the clinic and consulting with staff, being vocal in morning huddles etc.). Establishes and monitors objective behavioral outcome measures. Evaluates and revises standard operating procedures. Conducts program evaluation. Consults with ancillary care providers. Substantiates the results of crisis intervention. Reviews data provided in reports of special actions. Reviews statistical data to modify program goals. Evaluates and approves educational materials for use by clinic staff and patients.

4. Provides consultation regarding interpretation and approval of outcome measures and screening instruments. Develops, implements, and evaluates professional development activities, coordinates inter and intra-departmental in-service training on PCBH related topics. Evaluates scope of practice and makes adjustments for increased adherence and efficacy as needed. Evaluates training opportunities, development activities, and orientation activities. 

Performs other duties as assigned.

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the requirements described below. 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

EDUCATION: Completion of all the requirements for the doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) directly related to full professional work in clinical psychology,

EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal Service which includes providing treatment using modalities that include but are not limited to cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychoeducational classes; Performing Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) biopsychosocial evaluations; Developing treatment processes and procedures; Conducting outpatient group classes to different age groups including children and adolescents and evaluating and approving educational materials for use by clinic staff and patients.

LICENSURE: Current, active, valid, and unrestricted clinical license to practice Psychology independently offered by a U.S. State, District of Columbia, Commonwealth, territory, or jurisdiction.

Education:

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional Information:

Recruitment or relocation incentives MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.

Advance in Hire MAY be authorized. This is only available for those candidates who are new to Federal Service.