The Staff Music Therapist is assigned to the Recreation Therapy Department within Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) and provides Music Therapy at the Salisbury VA Medical Center which is a 1-B facility.

Duties

The Staff Music Therapist is assigned to the Recreation Therapy Department within Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) and provides Music Therapy at the Salisbury VA Medical Center which is a 1-B facility. Music Therapist provides music therapy treatment interventions incorporating the four-step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient treatment services. The incumbent must meet all criteria included in the qualification standards. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to a music therapist at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. Performs other directly related duties as assigned. Individuals assigned as GS - 11 Art Therapist are considered to be at the full performance level (FPL). Music Therapy provides therapeutic and self-directed programs for a variety of patient populations including Geriatrics and Extended Care, Chronic Psychiatry, Acute Psychiatry, Comprehensive Integrated Rehabilitation Medicine, Intermediate Medicine, Comprehensive Day Treatment Program, Partial Hospitalized Programs-Substance Abuse Program, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Mental Health clinic, Specialty Clinics, Residential Program (SARRTP) Homeless Veterans, Program, and the Community Based Out-Patient Clinics. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm, evenings, weekends and holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not eligible Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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. References: VA handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix GG60 The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is at the GS-11 level. 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 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 WG Bill Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center 1601 Brenner Avenue Salisbury, NC 28144 US
• Name: Hunter Akers
• Email: [email protected]