Marriage and Family Therapist- Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC)

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.

01Basic Requirements

Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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-0182 series in VHA must hold a full, current, and unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a State. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. MFTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

02Grade Determinations

Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-11 (Full Performance Level) 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 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. Assignments. MFTs at the full performance level are licensed to independently practice marriage and family therapy. MFTs can provide general mental health services to Veterans within the ethics and guidelines of the professional standards.

MFTs at this level formulate, implement, and re- evaluate treatment plans 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.

In the event that Advanced or Supervisory level assignments are not established/supportable, the incumbents at this level can be responsible for clinical supervision for licensing purposes only, provided they have an AAMFT approved supervisor credential.

03Preferred Experience

Those applicants with experience working in a PRRC program or providing group therapy and case management to individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

04Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

The PRRC Marriage and Family Therapist will work with the interdisciplinary team and provide evaluation/consultation, psychosocial assessments, and referrals to various community agencies and hospital services to patients enrolled in the PRRC. The PRRC Marriage and Family Therapist will meet with participants to assist them in identifying and developing their goals.

Duties include, but not limited to: Reviews all data, subjective and objective, to make a clinical assessment of the Veteran, their family, economic, community, and psychosocial support systems.

Clinical interview skills will be used to gather and document data that analyze and interpret relevant strengths and needs directly related to patient health, care planning, treatment, education, internal/external support and case management needs in order to identify viable treatment options and support the Veterans' discharge planning goals. Based on the psychosocial assessment, uses professional judgment and independent practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis.

Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the Veteran. Performs insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness and substance use. Makes professional decisions and recommendations for treatment. Treatment is aimed at helping Veterans find practical solutions to their psychosocial problems which may include substance use, psychiatric diagnosis, or other various concerns.

Assessments will reflect a skillful and comprehensive view of the Veteran's current state of functioning and support, as well as high risk factors, acuity, and need for services. This includes Suicide Risk Assessment as appropriate. The Marriage and Family Therapist is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans. The Marriage and Family Therapist is also skilled in communication techniques to de-escalate or bring comfort to Veterans in crisis.

Marriage and Family Therapist will have knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. Consults with other specialists in planning treatment for Veterans and with co-morbidities, and those who may be treated in other specialized programs.

Provides psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture.

Actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team which includes working with the Veteran/family in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team members to develop and implement a recovery plan. This also includes participation in interventions with the team as needed. The Marriage and Family Therapist provides consultation to VA staff regarding the psychosocial needs of the Veterans and the impact of their problems on their health and adherence to their recovery plan.

Demonstrates acceptance, interest, encouragement, and selective use of questioning, explanation, and guidance in working with veterans to help them explore their problems. Employ systemic therapy methods and techniques to maintain a therapeutic relationship that will help the veteran work toward the best way of dealing with his/her problems. Provides Veterans and their families with supportive counseling.

Has knowledge in the Recovery Model, the principles of holistic health, and the role of trauma in crisis and mental health exacerbation during brief counseling interventions.

The Marriage and Family Therapist will fulfill ethical responsibilities to Veterans, colleagues and VA in accordance with relevant discipline Code of Ethics, VHA Code of Ethics, and local Ethics policies, which includes but is not limited to compliance with all laws and regulations related to confidentiality and release of information and protecting Veterans' personal identifying information.

The incumbent will participate in coverage for social work services on the assigned unit/service, and when needed for other programs or teams both inpatient and outpatient as needed. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am to 4:30pm Telework: Available, Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 82751F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized