Career Center

The incumbent is responsible for clinical casework and therapy for veterans being treated in the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP). This is a multi-discipline announcement and can be filled by either Social Worker, Psychologist or Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors or Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor. 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. Education. Candidates must meet one of the following: (1) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE, (2) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR, (3) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to MFT positions in the GS-0101 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State. Exception: The Secretary, or his/her designee, may waive the licensure requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of State prerequisites for licensure examinations for a period not to exceed three years from the date of employment on the condition that MFTs appointed on this basis provide care only under the supervision of a fully licensed MFT with an AAMFT approved license. Non-licensed MFTs who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given an appointment as an MFT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3). This exception only applies at the entry grade level (GS-9). For grades at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed. English Language Proficiency. MFTs must be proficient in spoken and written English. Preferred Experience: Independently licensed. Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-9 (a) Experience, Education and Licensure. The entry level grade is used for non-licensed MFTs or for MFTs (master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice (Journey) level. Unlicensed MFTs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed in paragraph 3b above, and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure. In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) in subparagraph (b) below. Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to meeting the KSAs for GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1. Knowledge of human development throughout the lifespan, interventions based on research and family systems theory and therapy, formal diagnostic criteria, risk assessment, evidence-based practice and assessment tools. 2. Ability to assess, with supervision, the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members. 3. Knowledge to formulate, implement, and re-evaluate a treatment plan through continuous assessment identifying the Veteran's challenges, strengths, readiness to change, external influences and current events surrounding the origins and maintenance of the presenting issue, and interactional patterns within the client system. 4. Ability to provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services, under supervision, to individuals, groups, couples and families in a culturally competent manner that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing of the client system. 5. Basic knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of marriage and family therapy. 6. Ability to draft documents, manage data, maintain accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and track quality improvements. Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-11 (a) Experience, Education and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-master's degree experience in the field of marriage and family therapy work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure in a State at the independent practice level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs in subparagraph (b) below. OR, In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or comparable degree in mental health that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) may be substituted for the required one year of marriage and family therapy experience in a clinical setting. AND the candidate must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level and they must demonstrate the following KSA. Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to meeting the KSAs for GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: 1. Skill to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members. 2. Ability to provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, couples and families in a culturally competent manner that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing the client system. 3. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Veterans and their families, colleagues, and other professionals in collaboration throughout treatment regarding clinical, ethical and legal issues and concerns. 4. Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, regulations and VA policies affecting the practice of marriage and family therapy. This includes the ability to assist Veterans and their families in making informed decisions relevant to treatment to include limits of confidentiality. 5. Ability to provide orientation, training and consultation to new MFTs including clinical oversight of MFT graduate students, and/or provide clinical supervision to pre-licensure MFTs. 6. Skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and tracking quality improvements. References: VAHANDBOOK 5005/101 Part II Appendix G44 The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 09 to 11. Preferred Experience Experience in working with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders Physical Requirements: Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. ["Screening/Assessment: The incumbent is responsible for the in-depth psychosocial assessment as part of the overall assessment of the patient. Identifies problems/needs form the assessment to be treated and develops the individual treatment plan. Is responsible for providing individual professional input and addressing the social aspect of the patient's situation. Counseling: Conducts therapeutic counseling in accordance with specific guidelines and handles crises at an advanced clinical counseling practice level, regularly without supervision. Serves as therapist/counselor with individuals and in group therapy sessions. Observes and documents behavior and reaction patterns of patients to be utilized by other staff professionals and /or the multidisciplinary treatment team, and final disposition for follow-up. Outpatient/Aftercare: The incumbent is responsible for independently developing, organizing, and implementing a wide variety of outpatient aftercare treatment for patients and their collateral's. The incumbent is independently responsible for developing and implement methods to motivate veterans to attend aftercare and /or participate in the outpatient program. Aftercare planning is coordinated with the multidisciplinary treatment team to provide continuity in the transition from residential treatment to the outpatient component (including CBOC). Consultations: The incumbent provides consultations to physicians and other professionals with the Healthcare System to assess the patient's appropriateness for admission into the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation component of treatment. Referral to Service Providers: Throughout the course of treatment the incumbent is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. The 9incumbent will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs. The LPMHC is responsible for educating the veteran and /or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. Coordination of non-institutional and institutional services: The incumbent will review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each veteran being referred for mental health services. Incumbent will educate the veteran, their families and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the veteran and family on the preferred option. Work Schedule: Full time Monday - Friday 0730-1600.\nTelework: No\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Title: Marriage and Family Therapist\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required."]