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: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Education: Master's or doctoral degree in one of the following:
  • Marriage and Family Therapy from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), OR
  • Marriage and Family Therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR
  • 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: Must hold full, current, and unrestricted Marriage and Family Therapy license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a state.

Grandfather Provision: An MFT employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (4/18/2018) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-11) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting all qualification requirements.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade.

GS-13 MFT (Program Manager) Requirements : In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-13 candidates must have successfully completed evidence-based training in family therapy and graduated from a COAMFTE accredited program OR have passed the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Board ( AMFTRB ) examination and have 5 years of post-licensed clinical experience in family systems theory/therapy that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressive professional competency and expertise (with at least 1 year equivalent to the GS-12 grade level that is directly related to this specific assignment). Additionally, candidates must demonstrate ALL the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. 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.
2. Ability to facilitate professional development of other MFTs across programs/or locations (i.e., Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC), outpatient clinics, etc.) and guide them in current practice guidelines.
3. Ability to collaborate with leaders of other disciplines within facilities, the community, Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN), and VA Central Office (VACO).
4. 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.
5. Ability to analyze organizational and operational problems and to develop and implement solutions that result in sound operation of the program.
6. Ability to clinically supervise in areas related to the provision of marital and family therapy services to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.

Additional Requirement: Position requires AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation. AAMFT Supervisor Candidates have two years from the date of placement to obtain the designation. Applicants must provide one of the following with application material:

• AAMFT Approved Supervisors: Proof of the AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation.
• AAMFT Supervisor Candidates: A written statement attesting that you are in the process of obtaining the designation. The written statement must indicate the date you started the process with AAMFT, the anticipated completion date of the designation, and the name and AAMFT identification number of the AAMFT Approved Supervisor.

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.