Marriage and Family Therapist (Program Manager) - Vet Center Director

Description:

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Requirements:

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in both spoken and written English 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 Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), ~ OR~ (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.

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 DETERMINATION:
GS-13 Grade Determinations:
Experience, Education and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to that equivalent to the GS-12 grade level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. MFT Program Manager must have graduated from a COAMFTE approved program OR have passed the AMFTRB examination. MFT Program Manager must have five years of post- licensed clinical experience in family systems theory/therapy and must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise. MFT Program Manager must have an AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential.
~AND~
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition, the candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• Skill in assessing qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees to include staff performance evaluation and may include
• evaluations of lower level assignments and support staff.
• Ability to facilitate professional development of other MFTs across programs/or locations (i.e. CBOC, outpatient clinics, etc.) and guide them in current practice guidelines.
• Ability to collaborate with leaders of other disciplines within facilities, the community, VISN, and VACO.
• Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives, reporting requirements and the ability to devise ways to adapt work operations to new and changing programs, staffing and budget requirements. This includes knowledge of VA policy and procedures as well as fair, principled and decisive leadership practices.
• Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.
• Ability to clinically supervise in areas related to the provision of marital and family therapy services to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.

Preferred Experience:

• Knowledge and understanding of the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Knowledge of methods, principles, and theories sufficient to intervene and stabilize combat Veterans suffering from multiple diagnoses.
• Ability to conduct psycho-social assessments and implement treatment plans for combat Veterans and their families.
• Ability to establish and maintain referral networks through community outreach to provide services to Veterans.
• Experience in working with Veterans, especially combat Veterans.
• Experience in working with Veterans who were sexually traumatized/harassed while in the military.
• Experience in providing family counseling services to Veterans and their family.
• Experience working with combat Veterans and their families who have PTSD or readjustment issues and the ability to make independent judgments and recommendations about a number of serious and complex cases.
• Special knowledge and skill in the field of Veterans in community resource identification and development, in public speaking and basic principles of education, in staff recruitment and development, and in program design and management.
• Knowledge of VA and community resources available to Veterans and their family.
• Developing and managing a clinic's budget and program funds.
• Working knowledge of electronic records.
• Planning work to be accomplished by subordinates and sets guidelines for clinical, therapeutic and treatment priorities.
• Incumbent must have possession of supervisory and management skills.

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-13.

Physical Requirements: The work does not inherently include physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with a workplace accommodation.