The Family Integrative Recovery and Systems Therapy (FIRST) Program provides counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, couples, and families in a culturally competent manner that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing of the client system. The FIRST Program receives referrals through Mental Health programs, as well as referrals throughout Orlando VAHCS to provide treatment and consultation related to Marriage and Family Therapy.

Duties

The selected Advanced Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) will serve as an advanced member of the Family Integrative Recovery and Systems Therapy (FIRST) program. In addition, they will also serve as an MFT consultant on MFT practice matters throughout the Orlando VA Healthcare System and will provide family systemic clinical supervision to MFT interns and unlicensed MFTs and provides clinical consultation to less experienced staff and to develop behavioral health related training curriculum and conduct trainings for clinical staff in collaboration with the FIRST Program Coordinator. The Advanced MFT provides clinical supervision to unlicensed MFT staff as needed, and serves as an LMFT Mentor Supervisor as needed. Some of the duties include, but are not limited to; Provides counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, and families in collaboration with multidisciplinary mental health staff to serve veterans within the mental health clinic as needed and assigned. Utilizes Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (EBP) to provide skilled and timely clinical care to Veterans with a higher complexity of Mental Health for at least 25% of their bookable time. EBPs could include, but are not limited to, Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy (IBCT) and/or Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CBCT-PTSD). Provides group counseling services from a systemic approach in collaboration with multidisciplinary mental health staff for all veterans seeking mental health treatment. Consults with medical center staff on a wide variety of patient care issues. Willingly accepts additional and special assignments that are necessary to meet program goals or Veteran needs. Completes all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system in a timely and accurate manner, as appropriate. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for Veterans with psychological and psychiatric problems-patients receiving services within the program. Assumes complete professional responsibility for his/her clinical assessment findings, patient care decisions, and documentation. Fulfills ethical responsibilities to Veterans, colleagues, and VA in accordance with relevant discipline Code of Ethics, VHA Code of Ethics, and local Ethics policies, which includes but is not limited to compliance with all laws and regulations related to confidentiality. Will be sensitive to ethnic and cultural diversity and age-specific challenges of specialty populations and adjust interventions and treatment plans as appropriate. Incumbent will attend all appropriate staff meetings (interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, Mental Health staff meetings, other committees as appropriate) and perform other duties as required. Will coordinate with community providers who are providing services to Veterans referred for community care to identify current treatment needs and provide assistance/facilitate referrals if needed. Provides ongoing assessment of suicide risk using C-SSRS, Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE), and risk stratification. Utilizes MBC measures to asses relationship and parenting needs/presenting issues. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: The primary tour of duty will be M-F 8am to 4:30pm. However, the selectee may also be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis, based on the needs of the service and patient care. Telework: May be available for highly qualified candidates. (partially on-site and partially telework) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Marriage and Family Therapist (Advanced) Family integrative Recovery & Systems Therapy (FIRST) Program Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/31/2023. 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: 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, OR (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-0101 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 3j. 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 (Advanced) Education, Experience and Licensure: Candidate must have successfully completed evidence based training in family therapy and must have graduated from a COAMFTE accredited program OR have passed the AMFTRE. Candidate must have at least five years of post-licensed clinical experience in delivery of family systems therapy including one-year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. This experience must demonstrate the use of an evidence based family therapy model while exhibiting progressive professional competency and expertise. Assignments requiring responsibility for providing clinical supervision must have an AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs listed below. References: VA Handbook 5005/101, Part II, Appendix G44 Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Light lifting (under 15 pounds), Walking (up to 2 hours), Hearing (aid permitted), emotional/mental stability.

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 my COAMFTE;
• Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution;
• 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Orlando VA Medical Center 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827 US
• Name: Christopher Cacciapaglia
• Phone: (407) 432-5810
• Email: [email protected]