Incumbent serves as a Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) Senior Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) at the GS-12 level. A GS-12 Senior LMFT in the RRTP program has advanced skills for working with veterans who experience chronic homelessness, substance abuse problems and persistent mental illness. This RRTP Program is within the Mental Health Service Line.
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: 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 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-12 (Advanced) Education, Experience and Licensure. Candidate must have successfully completed evidence based training in family therapy and must have graduated from a COAMFTE accredited program OR have passed the AMFTRE. Candidate must have at least five years of post-licensed clinical experience in delivery of family systems therapy including one-year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. This experience must demonstrate the use of an evidence based family therapy model while exhibiting progressive professional competency and expertise. Assignments requiring responsibility for providing clinical supervision must have an AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs listed below. Demonstrated KSAs: Ability to provide specialized consultation for complex cases involving individuals, families and/or couples utilizing evidenced-based family systems theory/therapy. Ability to provide crisis intervention which includes assessment, safety planning and complex treatment planning using independent clinical judgment utilizing family systems theory/therapy. Ability to provide family systems therapy, which seeks to address Veterans and their family members on an individual level and deals with interpersonal interactions. Ability to provide unlicensed MFT staff/trainees with systemic clinical supervision towards licensure from a family systems theory/therapy perspective. Assignments: :For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Advanced MFTs can be assigned as the sole licensed mental health provider in settings such as CBOCs or satellite outpatient clinics or have responsibility and oversight for a MFT training program established under VA/VHA training policy as well as provide systemic clinical supervision to those MFT interns. The Advanced MFT who has responsibility for the training program provides family systemic clinical supervision to unlicensed MFTs and provides clinical consultation to less experienced staff. Advanced MFTs develop behavioral health related training curriculum and conduct trainings for clinical staff. Advanced MFTs meet routinely with inter-professional team members and leadership to communicate about program and veteran and family issues for in depth problem solving Preferred Experience: Reviewing all consults/referrals for Veterans requesting mental health services, and providing specialized services for complex patients with service delivery to include intake evaluation, diagnostic assessments, psychotherapy and patient education. 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-12 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.
FUNCTIONS OF ASSIGNED DUTIES, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: Screening/Assessment: Independently engages in information gathering, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, evaluation and follow-up. Fully utilizes the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. Makes professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendation for treatment planning and implementation. Treatment Planning/Interventions: Independently utilizes a wide variety of individual, group, or family therapeutic interventions. Treatment approaches include but are not limited to cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, motivational enhancement therapy. Establishes goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced-based practices. Provides complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. Independently conducts psychosocial assessments and biopsychosocials. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Incumbent possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions Independently identifies high-risk patients. Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. Has working knowledge and experience in use 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. Participates as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive mental health, substance use and psychosocial treatments to Veterans within the RRTP program. Actively participates in treatment planning as well as discharge planning with the entire treatment team. The incumbent completes suicide and homicide risk screens and documents these assessments as required by policy. The Senior LMFT completes comprehensive assessments and collaborative safety plans when clinically indicated. Provides appropriate clinical follow up in consultation with the multidisciplinary team for managing high risk Veterans within the RRTP program needed to ensure the safety and welfare all Veterans. Remains up-to-date on suicide prevention training materials and clinical tools, and utilizes as appropriate in clinical practice. Provides evidence-based treatments to be provided to Veterans individually and in a group format with appropriate documentation and measurement of effectiveness and Veteran response using clinical judgement and standardized assessment instruments. Possesses knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case laws, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of counseling. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Serves on an interdisciplinary team with focus on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and relational functioning of individuals, groups and families and on the counseling approaches, strategies, and techniques that will best help patients function effectively. Demonstrates positive communication skills and behaviors that promote cooperation and teamwork with internal and external customers. He or she collaborates with other disciplines and caregivers, using group processes for decision making in interdisciplinary problem solving. Complies with all EHRM documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes). Maintains appropriate records and follow-up data on patients who are their responsibility. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. Complies with peer review procedures. Completes all mandatory web-based trainings by stipulated due dates. Participates as a member of VA SORCC committees as directed. Attends regular Interdisciplinary Team staff meetings, RRTP Service Meetings, and MH Service Line meetings. Performs collateral duties as assigned. Provides clinical supervision and instruction for LMFT staff and/or LMFT trainees. Assists in the ongoing improvement of LMFT professional practice through actively participating in Training meetings and committees as needed. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed Work Schedule: Possible, following probationary period Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized