Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent employees of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and to current, former and future health professional trainees of the VHA. Applicants that are external, from another federal agency and members of the public should apply to CBTC-11689821-22-JML.

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The Creative Arts Therapist (Art) will provide coverage of the services as assigned throughout the medical center and coordinated off-site locations in the Acute Care, Outpatient, and Extended Care Settings as needed. He/she works effectively with patients, families, care partners and treatment team members.The incumbent performs specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness incorporating complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric observations within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The Creative Arts Therapist (Art) carries full responsibility for cases, presenting a wide range of social, emotional and environmental problems and will provide services according to the assessment of the Veteran's needs. The incumbent will provide case-appropriate professional Art Therapy services for Veterans and families/significant others in compliance with VA, VISN, station, and Creative Arts and Recreation Therapy/PMRS Service policies and memorandums. Other duties include but are not limited to:

• Conducts, analyzes, interprets, and reports assessment data upon functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and participatory). Incorporating the four-step process of; assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of services delivered.
• Constructs appropriate and evidence-based Art Therapy interventions for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Polytrauma (TBI), Substance Use Disorder/Addictions, Serious Mental Illness, Hospice/Palliative Care.
• Provide individual, group, and family treatment, which may be done through a clinic classroom, or on the unit setting to treat stress/anxiety and maladaptive behaviors, recover basic motor functioning, reasoning abilities, and build confidence.
• Exercises resourcefulness in providing individualized, unique effective methods and procedures when implementing Art Therapy interventions including but not limited to; assistive technology; cognitive behavioral skills; health promotion and wellness.
• Develops and implements methods for measuring effectiveness of Art Therapy practice and services in specialty areas, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services.
• Documents assessments, goals, patient/family education, progress, and change in treatment or patient condition in medical records accurately.
• Compiles daily, weekly, or monthly statistics for ongoing reporting.
• Prepares in-services to educate pertinent staff and providers on creative arts therapy services.
• Assists during emergency situations including initiating and/or assisting with CPR.
• Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Helps resolves patient issues/complaints at the lowest level and refers unresolved grievances and complaints to appropriate sources.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills in interpersonal relations, especially the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers.
• Maintains clinic areas, equipment and supplies in a clean and organized manner to promote quality treatment in a safe and functionally appropriate environment.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

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: The following education requirement is required for appointment as a Creative Arts Therapist (Art). Applicants must possess one education combinations listed below:
  • a) A master's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy approved by the American Art Therapy Association on or before June 30, 2016. If the degree is received after June 30, 2016, a master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy, must be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Art Therapy Education: a committee of the Commission on Accreditation on Allied Health Education Program.OR
  • b.) A master's degree in a related field, plus graduate coursework and supervised field experience in art therapy. Acceptable related fields include: Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, Psychology, Addictions Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, and Psychiatry, AND must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registration as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) approved by the Art Therapy Credentials Board. If hired under this education, the registration cannot be waived.
• Registration: Must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registration with the ATR. If hired under paragraph b. above, registration cannot be waived.
  • Exception: Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registration and/or certification, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate recreation or creative arts therapist, under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registration and/or certification during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated.This exception only applies to the GS-9 grade level. For the GS-11 grade level, persons hired or reassigned to creative arts therapist positions in the GS-0638 series in VHA must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registration as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) with the Art Therapy Credentialing Board.
  • Loss of Registration. Once licensed or certified, creative arts therapists must maintain a full, current, and unrestricted registration as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) with the Art Therapy Credentialing Board and be licensed with the state in which he/she practices, if required by the state. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0638 creative arts therapist series and may result in termination of employment.
• English Language Proficiency. Creative Arts Therapist must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

• Assignment. Employees at this level serve in an entry level position as creative arts therapist (art). Employees have knowledge of their respective discipline and work with direct supervision and guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff. Established treatment procedures are substantially adapted and applied for patients who are acutely ill. Therapists at this level may be given general assignments in a program area.

1. Ability to identify current art resources in the community at the time of assessment, for discharge planning purposes.
2. Ability to develop and implement quality improvement systems as related to internal and external regulatory requirements, including patient safety.
3. Knowledge of diagnostic coding and symptoms of diagnoses in the provision of art therapy.
4. Knowledge of the creative process and art media and their effect on the patients' cognitive, sensory, emotional, and physical states.
5. Ability to demonstrate and educate stakeholders on the value of the creative process as a therapeutic tool.
6. Ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with professional boundaries that reflect a trusting, empathetic, and respectful interaction.
7. Skill in collaborating and maintaining liaison with an interdisciplinary team and educating the treatment team on theoretical framework of art therapy interventions.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.