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GENERAL DUTIES

The incumbent serves as a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the Mental Health Clinic with a primary emphasis on providing couples and family therapy to the Veteran population at the Fredericksburg Health Care Center ( FxHCC) located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Incumbent is licensed and the goal of LMFT services is to enhance relationships, improve interactions between Veterans, their spouses, and families, and to promote optimal service delivery through education related to effective communication and problem-solving, military culture, and various mental and physical health disorders and their potential impact on relationships.

Clinical Responsibilities: (90% time):

• The incumbent is an integral member of the Mental Health Clinic team and is responsible for providing clinical assessment, treatment planning, psychosocial interventions, and marriage and family evidence-based, evidence-informed, and promising psychotherapies in a culturally competent manner to Veterans and their families.
• Incumbent may also provide the same services for couples and families involved in the Caregiver Support Program and other programs as needed, as well as via telehealth.
• Services include the provision of high-quality comprehensive therapy, family advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers and/or agencies as needed by clientele.
• The GS-II level is the full performance level for LMFT. At this level, incumbent is licensed to independently practice marriage and family therapy and to provide mental health services within the ethics and guidelines of the professional standards set by AAMFT.
• He/she may be assigned to all program areas that provide mental health services, consulting with peers and supervisors as appropriate.
• An LMFT at this level may also be involved in program evaluation and/or research activities

• Adheres to operational policies and procedures established by the VA, supervisors and program.
• Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services.
• Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients.
• Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by Mental Health Service Line, supervisors, and Mental Health Clinic treatment team.

• May provide clinical supervision to assigned Mental Health trainees in couples and family therapy.
• Provides leadership guidance and consultation to staffs of units to which assigned.
• Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assist in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients.

• Participate in program monitors and outcome measurements within programs assigned using data-driven quality assurance processes.
• If assigned, participates in research programs, designed to provide information regarding program planning and relevant treatment approaches.
• Assists in preparation of RFPs and grant proposals, as assigned.

• Assures the needs and rights of patients and other customers are met while also supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates with customers (Veterans, active-duty service members, their representatives, DOD, community providers, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner, and handles conflicts and problems with patients and staff constructively and appropriately.
• Protects printed and electronic files and data from unauthorized release, loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion, and follows applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in the computer access agreement.
• Serves on Medical Center or Healthcare System, V ISN, and/or National VA committee or task forces as assigned.
• Represents Mental Health on teams and committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System as assigned.
• Represents the Medical Center or Healthcare System at professional/program community group/events and committees as assigned.
• 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.

Qualifications

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 VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g.).

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 3.j.

Grade Determinations:

Grade Determinations:GS-09 (Entry Level):

Experience: None beyond the basic requirements.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: In addition to meeting the KSAs for GS-9 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

1. Knowledge of human development throughout the lifespan, interventions based on research and family systems theory and therapy, formal diagnostic criteria, risk assessment, evidence-based practice and assessment tools.
2. Ability to assess, with supervision, the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members.
3. Knowledge to formulate, implement, and re-evaluate a treatment plan through continuous assessment identifying the Veteran's challenges, strengths, readiness to change, external influences and current events surrounding the origins and maintenance of the presenting issue, and interactional patterns within the client system.
4. Ability to provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services, under supervision, to individuals, groups, couples and families in a culturally competent manner that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing of the client system.
5. Basic knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of marriage and family therapy.
6. Ability to draft documents, manage data, maintain accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and track quality improvements.

GS-11 (Full Performance Level):

Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-master's degree experience in the field of marriage and family therapy work (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure in a State at the independent practice level
OR
In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or comparable degree in mental health that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) may be substituted for the required one year of marriage and family therapy experience in a clinical setting. AND the candidate must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
In addition to meeting the KSAs for GS-11 grade level, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:

1. Skill to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members.
2. Ability to provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, couples and families in a culturally competent manner that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing the client system.
3. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Veterans and their families, colleagues, and other professionals in collaboration throughout treatment regarding clinical, ethical and legal issues and concerns.
4. Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, regulations and VA policies affecting the practice of marriage and family therapy. This includes the ability to assist Veterans and their families in making informed decisions relevant to treatment to include limits of confidentiality.
5. Ability to provide orientation, training and consultation to new MFTs including clinical oversight of MFT graduate students, and/or provide clinical supervision to pre-licensure MFTs.
6. Skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and tracking quality improvements.

Preferred Experience: Experience working with Veterans or active duty military personnel is preferred.

References: VA Handbook 5005/101, Part II, Appendix G44, Marriage and Family Therapist Qualification Standard, April 18, 2018. Available in the Human Resources Office.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9-11.

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.