Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veterans Affairs Employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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DUTIES:

• Exercises independent judgment to administer and interpret art therapy assessments and applies clinical competencies to develop innovative assessment and interview approaches to effectively gather information for therapeutic treatment.
• Evaluates, analyzes, interprets, and reports assessment data based on functional domains (cognitive, sensory, social, affective, physical, and leisure).
• Compile pre-evaluation data, interpret medical record information, review therapy prescriptions, and conduct psychosocial and physical evaluations to develop and implement a treatment plan with measurable therapeutic goals and objectives, including scope, duration, and treatment in adherence with Joint Commission and program regulations.
• Interprets and administers art therapy prescriptions, schedules patients for treatment, and integrates art therapy activities with other treatments to achieve treatment goals.
• Develop psychosocial activities aimed at coping with frustration, stress, anger, and hostility, promoting the healthy use of leisure time, and improving social interaction skills. They follow all safety guidelines and mitigate risks in the provision of patient care.
• Conducts and documents timely art therapy assessments using professionally accepted procedures including structured interviews, direct observation, standardized testing, and medical reviews.
• Plans, implements, and evaluates a wide range of evidence-based art therapy interventions, utilizing appropriate modalities to address treatment needs.
• Designs art experiences using specific media and processes to provide safe boundaries for patients to explore and address difficult issues.
• Coordinates a wide range of activities with various staff, service organizations, volunteers, and community groups to develop appropriate activities that
• support Veteran care.
• Assists in providing patient coverage for absent staff members to ensure continuity and quality of care.
• Responsible for following scheduling guidelines, ensuring patients are informed of the place and time of each appointment, and ensuring workload is properly credited.
• Follows established procedures and policies for hazardous material handling/communication, equipment safety, infection control/universal fluid precautions, and other safety procedures developed for Recreation and Creative Arts Therapies.

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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:

Education:
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-
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 4b(2)(b), registration cannot be waived.

In addition to the Basic Requirements you must meet the following Grade Requirements:
GS-11 GRADE:
Experience:
Do you possess at least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level (GS-9) including: Gathering informal art-based assessment of patients' needs, aptitudes, interests, and abilities. Developing and implementing individualized art therapy treatment plans, to include the scope, duration, and frequency of treatment. Developing art therapy programs, interventions, and instructional programs. In addition to the experience, you must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

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 o fart 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, resume, 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.

Area of Consideration: Eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4. All other applicants.

NOTE: Veterans Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies.