Summary 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. Responsibilities A RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE The Marriage and Family Therapist (Program Coordinator) position is assigned as a member of the Family and Couple Enrichment Team (FACET) within the Mental Health Care Line at the James A. Haley VA Hospital. At this level, the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) will serve as the Program Coordinator directly planning, establishing, and implementing policies and procedures; developing individual or group goals and objectives; as well as monitoring, operating, evaluating, coordinating and overseeing the mental health interventions within the program. The incumbent will assure that the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist are aware of and adhere to all current directives of Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and meet current Joint Commission standards, State licensures standards, and VA-Office of Inspector General (OIG) expectations. The incumbent will also provide direct Veteran services within the Family and Couple Enrichment Team. The incumbent is an integral member of FACET and is responsible for providing screenings and evaluation, evidence-based family and couple therapies, group therapy, psychoeducation, psychosocial interventions, case management, treatment planning, consultation, crisis management, and administrative duties as assigned. Additional Duties may include, but are not limited to: Provides full range of evaluation and psychotherapeutic clinical services 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. Assists the FACET Program Manager with ongoing development or program missions, goals, objectives, timelines, target populations to be served and consult management criteria consistent with requirements from the VA Central Office (VACO). Maintains primary responsibility for management of the clinical consults which involves significant coordination and collaboration with other VA services who refer to our program as well as community agencies to refer when family members are not appropriate to be seen in FACET and are not eligible for individual VA care. .Facilitates liaisons with other health care programs in order to effectively coordinate services. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures and workload entry, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes). Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by supervisors and program treatment team, the MH&BSS ACOS (or designee), and Facility Director. Serves as a consultant to other medical center staff and trainees and assists in their formulation of the psychological characteristics and appropriate treatment expectations regarding their patients. Provides orientation, training, and consulting to new LMFTs including clinical oversight of MFT graduate students. Incumbent must either be a AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidate or AAMFT Approved Supervisor and be working towards ability to provide supervision to pre-licensure to MFTs. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: May be available determined by agency policy (Reg Teleworks 3+ days/pay period). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Marriage and Family Therapist, FS #71953F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized to a highly qualified applicant. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN8CCOE@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Requirements 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: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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 3j. 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. 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). All persons employed in VHA as a MFT on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education that is part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, demoted, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. MFTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees who are retained as a MFT under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a MFT. Grade Determinations: Marriage and Family Therapist, GS-12 (Program Coordinator) Education, Experience and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, completion of one year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. MFT program coordinators of family programs must be trained in family systems therapy/theory. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (b) below: While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, (KSA's), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training. Otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. The GS-12 (MFT - PC) KSA's for this subject position are: Ability to organize work, set priorities, meet multiple deadlines, delegate tasks and facilitate team building. Ability to manage and direct the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives. Ability to devise innovative ways to adapt work operations to new and changing programs, to develop staffing and budget requirements, and to translate management goals and objectives into well- coordinated and controlled work operations and ensure compliance with pertinent VHA policies. Ability to establish and monitor performance priorities according to standards and program evaluation criteria. Knowledge of family systems theory/therapy in coordination of family programs. Preferred Experience: AAMFT Approved Supervisor or an AAMFT Supervisor candidate. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit VA Handbook 5005/101, Part II, Appendix G44 https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, but it may require periods of mobility (e.g., walking, bending, or climbing) and employee may carry light items such as books, instruments, laptops and other similar materials. The work requires emotionally stability, working closely with others emotional stability, mental stability, and working alone. Requires the incumbent to possess or develop an understanding of needs of Veterans. Sensitivity to the special needs of all patients in reference to age, developmental requirements, and culturally related factors must be consistently achieved. Education Candidates must meet one of the following: Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE, OR Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR, 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. IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.