This position is a Temporary position, not to exceed 9/30/2026, which can be terminated or made permanent at any time based on funding or the needs of the agency.

Duties

The Music Therapist is assigned to the Whole Health Department at the St. Cloud VA Health Care System. The Music Therapist provides music therapy services under the supervision of the Whole Health Department in collaboration with all clinical service lines (Rehabilitation and Extended Care, Primary Specialty Medicine, Mental Health, and Surgery Specialty Center). The music therapist will provide a full scope of music therapy interventions dependent on population and clinical need. In addition, the Music Therapist will provide the following mandated CIH modalities for the St. Cloud VA Healthcare System (Directive 1137: Provision for Complimentary Integrative Health): Guided Imagery and Meditation, through a music therapy approach and scope of practice open to all enrolled Veterans. Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Clinical (80% of Duties): Ability to perform a varied repertoire of popular, folk, and traditional songs appropriate for use in a clinical setting using at least two of the following: keyboard, voice, guitar, percussion, or other musical instruments suitable to a clinical setting. Knowledge of the roles and meaning of music in various cultures and subcultures. How culture influences identity formation, concepts of health and pathology, and understanding of the role of music therapy and how music therapy is practiced. Ability to design, develop, or adapt unique music therapy methods for assessment, treatment, or palliation and evaluation procedures for complex clinical cases, through a broad range of specialized music therapy services for various and emerging patient populations. Ability to apply effective use of professional skill, objectivity, and insight to respond constructively to both positive and negative reactions, establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with professional boundaries to reflect trusting, empathetic, and respectful interactions. Ability to use music therapy interventions to provide opportunities to work through treatment issues, including emotional disturbances, by establishing a safe environment for the patient to understand the symbolic expression of their musical product, process, and experience as it relates to recovery and wellness. Ability to apply current research literature and co-facilitate treatment with professionals from other disciplines, the uses of the creative arts therapies and recreation therapy, as well as understanding emerging models and trends in music therapy and. Have full understanding of music therapy processes and procedures, and require only general supervision to provide music therapy, direct patient-centered care. Exercise judgment, administer and interprets music therapy assessments, and use clinical knowledge to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit information. Review pre-evaluation data in the medical record upon admission or through consult. Conduct, analyze, interpret, and report assessment data across functional domains (i.e., behavioral, cognitive, communicative, emotional/affective, physical, sensory, and social) as well as musical knowledge, skills, and abilities. Plan, organize, implement developmentally and situationally appropriate evidence-based comprehensive music therapy interventions for persons diagnosed with chronic or life-threatening conditions, as well as their families and in collaboration with an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary team. Duties may include but are not limited to the use of music guided imagery/meditation, music listening, singing, playing, creating, and improvising to understand musical behaviors as a means of self-expression, communication, and adaptive behavior; for neurological or physical rehabilitation; pain management; increased independence; exploring self-concept; improved coping skills; interpersonal relationships and social skills; group cohesion; or general wellbeing/self-care. Recommend new treatment groups and programs (including co-treatment opportunities) for treating patients with complex medical or mental health issues including, but not limited to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to promote a variety of clinical outcomes. Administrative (20% of duties) -Adheres to Medical Center policies and procedures. Utilizes Automated Data Processing (ADP) system in accordance with established procedures. Adheres to Medical Center ADP Security policy. Develops and implements quality improvement systems as related to internal and external regulatory requirements, including patient safety. Collaborates and maintains effective communication with all patients, caregivers, interdisciplinary teams, medical center staff and community partners. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English, as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education: The following education requirements apply to and creative arts therapist (music). A bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, in music therapy, or in music with an emphasis in music therapy. The degree must be approved by the National Association for Schools of Music and/or the American Music Therapy Association. OR, A bachelor's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, and must be a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). If hired under this education, the certification cannot be waived Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. The private organization must deem such education at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Certification: Creative Arts Therapy (Music): Applicants must be a MT-BC approved by the CBMT. If hired under paragraph 3b(5)(b), certification cannot be waived. Exception: Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registration and/or certification, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate creative arts therapist, under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B), for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registration and/or certification during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated. The exception only applies to positions at the GS-7 and GS-9 level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level, the candidate must be registered and/or certified. 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 (Music), GS-7: Experience/Education: None beyond the basic requirements Creative Arts Therapist (Music), GS-9: Experience/Education: At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level (GS-7), or a master's degree in creative arts therapy (music) may be substituted for the required one year of professional creative arts therapist (music) experience. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to perform a varied repertoire of popular, folk, and traditional songs appropriate for use in a clinical setting using at least two of the following: keyboard, voice, guitar, percussion or other musical instruments suitable to a clinical setting. Knowledge of the roles and meaning of music in various cultures and subcultures. Knowledge to design, develop, or adapt unique music therapy methods for assessment, treatment, or palliation and evaluation procedures. Skill to apply objectivity and insight to respond constructively to both positive and negative reactions while maintaining a safe environment for the patient and therapist. Creative Arts Therapist (Music), GS-11: Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level (GS-9). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of the roles and meaning of music in various cultures and subcultures, how culture influences identity formation, concepts of health and pathology, and understanding of the role of music therapy and how music therapy is practiced. Knowledge of current methods of music therapy assessment, treatment, and evaluation related to human growth and development, musical development, diagnostic classifications, etiology, symptomatology, and prognosis in formulating complex treatment plans, including the contraindications of music therapy for individuals and groups. Ability to design, develop, or adapt unique music therapy methods for assessment, treatment or palliation, and evaluation procedures for complex clinical cases, through a broad range of specialized music therapy services for various and emerging patient populations. Ability to use music therapy interventions to provide opportunities to work through treatment issues, including emotional disturbances, by establishing a safe environment for the patient to understand the symbolic expression of their musical product, process, and experience as it relates to recovery and wellness. Ability to apply effective use of professional skill, objectivity, and insight to respond constructively to both positive and negative reactions, establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with professional boundaries to reflect trusting, empathetic, and respectful interactions. Ability to apply current research literature and co-facilitate treatment with professionals from other disciplines, the uses of the creative arts therapies and recreation therapy, as well as understanding emerging models and trends in music therapy. Preferred Experience: Experience as a Music Therapist. Experience in: Mental Health, Skilled Nursing, Long-term care, Older Adults and/or Hospice. References: VA handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix GG60The 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-7 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 St Cloud VA Medical Center 4801 Veterans Drive St Cloud, MN 56303 US
• Name: Kira Kuhn
• Phone: 3193380581 X636737
• Email: [email protected]