The Creative Arts Therapist (Art) is assigned to the Rehabilitation Care Line at the Cincinnati VA Medical VA Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Creative Arts Therapist (Art) provides treatment interventions incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient treatment services. The Creative Arts Therapist (Art) plans and implements a diverse range of Creative Arts Therapy treatment.

Duties

The major duties of the Creative Arts Therapist (Art) position will include: Clinical Skills: (1) Evaluates, establishes goals based on evaluation findings, and develops treatment interventions. (2) Implements and modifies as necessary treatment plan and goals as needed throughout course of treatment to ensure optimum outcomes. (3) The Creative Arts Therapist (Art) is expected to perform documentation of patient care including assessments, progress notes, encounters, consultations, care plans, and other reports as needed. (4) Uses Creative Arts therapy expertise for direct service delivery to patients. Acts as a subject matter expert to staff, students, and healthcare professionals in the area of art therapy programs. (5) Creative Arts Therapist (Art) designs, develops, or adapts unique therapy methods for assessment, treatment, or palliation and evaluation procedures, receiving guidance from supervisory staff for complex patients only. (6) Serves as Creative Arts Therapy representative on interdisciplinary teams as assigned or needed. (7) In consultation with patients, their families, and caregivers, Creative Arts Therapist (Art) shall educate as required regarding treatment interventions and goals, in addition to any consideration involving adaptations to better ensure optimal treatment outcomes and on the value of the creative process as a therapeutic tool. (8) Creative Arts Therapist (Art) has the ability to identify current creative art resources in the community at the time of assessment, for discharge planning purpose. (9) Demonstrates ability and competency in treating patients that range in age from young adult to geriatric who may experience complex medical or mental health issues. (10) Creative Arts Therapist (Art) will demonstrate ability to utilize VVC for treatment purposes. (11) Creative Arts Therapist (Art) independently interprets provider referrals and consults; and apply all health and safety regulations to minimize risks in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. Administrative Functions: (1) Adheres with Medical Center policies. Utilizes VA systems in accordance with established procedures. Adheres to Medical Center Security policy. (2) Participates in the evaluation of art therapy equipment and supplies, which affect their service delivery. (3) Participates in the selection and purchasing of art therapy equipment and needed supplies. (4) Fosters and maintains a safe treatment area. (5) Promotes effective communication with all patients, caregivers, treatment team members, Medical Center staff and community partners. (6) Therapist plans, organizes, implements, and evaluates public relations for the program to inform and educate others about creative arts therapy, professional boundaries that reflect a trusting, empathetic, and respectful interaction in various settings, including the complex interactions of the therapeutic process, as well as the efficacy of art therapy in complex cases. (7) Maintains communication and working relationship with Service Organizations. (8) Demonstrates competency in the use of Microsoft Office applications, virtual network, paging/phone system, and the use of tele-health equipment and Secure Messaging system for patient care. Communication Skills: (1) The Creative Arts Therapist (Art) demonstrates the teaching skills required to provide education to patients, family members, caregivers, and coworkers. (2) Communicates effectively with other internal and external health care providers the theoretical framework of art therapy interventions. (3) Performs competent written documentation of initial assessments, progress notes, and discharge summaries. (4) Participates in interdisciplinary care planning conferences. Work Schedule: 40 hours a week, generally first shift; Creative Arts Therapists work weekends and some evening hours to enable a full spectrum of activities for our Veterans. Compressed/Flexible:Not available. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: GS-11: 91980-0; GS-9: 91979-0. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

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 requirements apply to the creative arts therapist (Art): (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: Creative Arts Therapy (Art). Must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registration with the ATR. If hired under paragraph 3b(2)(b), (in the Education section above) registration cannot be waived. Please note: Non-registered applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registration, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate creative arts therapist, under the authority of 38 USC 7405 (c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registration during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated. The exception only applies to the position at the GS-9 grade level. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f). 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). Grade Determinations: Creative Arts Therapist (Art) GS-9: (a) Experience/Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) 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. Creative Arts Therapist (Art), GS-11: (a) Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i. Ability to identify current art resources in the community at the time of assessment, for discharge planning purposes. ii. Ability to develop and implement quality improvement systems as related to internal and external regulatory requirements, including patient safety. iii. Knowledge of diagnostic coding and symptoms of diagnoses in the provision of art therapy. iv. Knowledge of the creative process and art media and their effect on the patients' cognitive, sensory, emotional, and physical states. v. Ability to demonstrate and educate stakeholders on the value of the creative process as a therapeutic tool. vi. Ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with professional boundaries that reflect a trusting, empathetic, and respectful interaction. vii. Skill in collaborating and maintaining liaison with an interdisciplinary team and educating the treatment team on theoretical framework of art therapy interventions. References: VA Handbook 5005/111, Part II, Appendix G60. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time; frequent bending, reaching, stooping, lifting and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus; lifting and repositioning patients; pushing or pulling heavy objects, including Veterans in wheelchairs, gurneys; leading or directing physical activities/exercise. The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above average agility and dexterity to perform intricate therapy procedures, as well as skill and ability in the therapist's respective discipline.

Education

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Cincinnati VA Medical Center 3200 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45220 US
• Name: Amanda Flores
• Email: [email protected]