Summary
THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENT UNTIL 18Dec2026. This position is eligible for EDRP (Education Debt Reduction Program), a student loan reimbursement program. Must meet specific eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit an EDRP application within (4) months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (1-5 years) are determined by VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the application.
Duties
This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENT until December 18, 2026. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. VA offers a Comprehensive TOTAL REWARD$ package. This position is located at the at Pueblo VA Community Living Center within the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care | Veterans Affairs. This position serves as a staff Geropsychologist providing psychological services to the Eastern Colorado Health Care System. The primary assignments are to Home Based Primary Care Program (HBPC), Pueblo GeriPACT and the Pueblo Community Living Center (CLC). Duties include but are not limited to: Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions in brief episodes of care including: improving health behaviors, reducing MH issues, reducing substance use, care partner coaching, and adapting to physical and/or emotional transitions. Conducts assessment appropriate to individual patient with attention on the implications of assessment results -world function, cultural and familial ecosystem, and successful treatment/management of health problems with an emphasis on behavioral health factors associated with aging. Diagnose mental disorders. Conduct psychological and cognitive assessments. Performs evaluations for caregiver stress and need for coaching for Veterans . Provides psychoeducation to patients and care partners to support healthcare goals. Provides consultation to medical providers related to capacity assessments related to clinical treatments, naming a surrogate, and/or level of care capacity assessments for Veterans as indicated. Works closely with interdisciplinary teams to achieve patient's outcome goals. Provides consultation and education to ECHCS healthcare staff regarding geropsychology specific issues. Consults and coordinates care with community providers following HIPPA practices to support psychosocial recovery of the person served. Provides training and guidance to other mental health staff, as directed and based on areas of expertise. Participates in program development tasks, as assigned. Participates in planning of measurement, gathering and analysis of outcome data to guide program evaluation and development. Assumes responsibility for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation. Maintains ongoing scholarly and self-education activities. Participates in psychology peer review. Work Schedule: Full-time | Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm. 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 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) 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: Ad-hoc, as determined by agency. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 554-542220, 554-54223,554-542240 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Requirements
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 physical 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.
Education
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/.
How you will be evaluated
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. 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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.