Creative Art Therapist in this position provides comprehensive and complex therapeutic care through various art therapy programs that address physical limitations, communicative disorders, cognitive deficits, social, emotional and/or behavior reactions for adult veterans of all ages. The position will be within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) Recreation Therapy Section, VA Western Colorado Health Care System a level 3 complexity facility, in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Duties

Creative Art Therapist provides art therapy treatment interventions incorporating the four step process of assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient treatment services. Works under direct supervision by the Recreation Therapy Section Supervisor to perform work in a clinical environment. Knowledge of their respective discipline and works under guidance from the supervisor to establish treatment procedures that are adapted and applied for patients diagnoses. Provides direct patient care of inpatients and outpatients. Works with patients of all types of diagnoses. Provides care and rehabilitation to Veterans with a variety of disabilities, such as amputation, paralysis, neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, behavioral health, psychiatric diagnoses, dementia, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injuries, respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, legal blindness, and Veterans with multiple diagnoses. Encompasses a variety of different duties and responsibilities. Demonstrates an advanced competency, which qualifies him/her to perform patient evaluations and treatment procedures independently on patients with a variety of complex diagnoses and disabilities. Incumbent has skills in program development, administrative aspects, knowledge and ability in art therapy treatment services. Incumbent is responsible for developing, organizing, and administering creative arts therapy programs to provide therapeutic interventions to patients in the various programs: substance abuse/ health, Mental Health, Mental Health Intensive Case Management, Comprehensive Wellness Clinic, Home Based Primary Care, Community Living Center and others. Incumbent will work closely with community partners to promote Veterans continual participation in positive recreation activities after discharge. Responsible for the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival and the Local Veterans Creative Arts Festival. Clinical: Evaluates patients with formal and informal assessments, develops individualized art therapy treatment plans and interventions with knowledge of symptoms of diagnoses in the provision of art therapy based on current literature and best practices. Identifies potential risks, modifies treatment plans as needed, and develops adaptive interventions to facilitate a safe therapeutic environment. Ability to work with diverse and complex patient populations and develop appropriate art therapy programs and interventions, including typical and atypical materials. Develops and completes documentation of patient care including assessments, progress notes, encounters, consultations, care plans, and other reports with concise and clear clinical information as needed under the supervision of RT Supervisor. Serves as Art Therapy subject matter expert and representative on interdisciplinary teams and provides education to staff, students, patients, families and caregivers about the benefits of art therapy and treatment interventions and goals. Knowledge of the creative process and art media and their effect on the patients' cognitive, sensory, emotional, and physical states and understanding of the symbolic expression of the art product and process. Establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with professional boundaries that reflect a trusting, empathetic, and respectful interaction with all patients. Providing patients with skills they can continue independently or with community partners. Programs include but not limited to: community reintegration art outings, watercolor, acrylic, pastels, oils, creative writing, clay, drawing and other art related programs. Incumbent may need to recruit and supervise volunteers and or instructors to assist with programs. Promote and work with Veterans who are interested in competing in the Local Veterans Creative Arts Festival and assist Veterans with completing paperwork for National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. Responsibilities include scheduling area to have local show, recruiting volunteers, hanging artwork, purchasing supplies for arts festival, and working with the national CAF committee to input paperwork, art submissions, etc. for the national festival. Administration: 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 implement 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, Possible Weekends. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)). Education: Creative Arts Therapist (Art) 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, 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. Required Certification/Registration: Must possess a full, current, and unrestricted Registered Art Therapist (ATR) approved by the Art Therapy Credentials Board. Drivers License: Must possess a valid unrestricted state issues drivers license. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a recreation or creative arts therapist, on the effective date of this qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series, and grade held, including positive education, and registration and/or certification that are 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, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to, and including, the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level, or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees who were 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. (3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/registration/certification, that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) Recreation and creative arts therapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status 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 recreation or creative arts therapist. References: VA Handbook 5005/111 June 7, 2019 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 involves regular and recurring physical exertion such as prolonged walking or standing, twisting, bending, and moderately heavy lifting or moving of equipment/art supplies on a daily basis, at times may need to assist with positioning a Veteran. The work requires specific, common physical characteristics and abilities, such as above average agility and dexterity, as well as skill and ability in one or more art forms. Majority of the work will be inside in a temperature controlled environment. Most of the space that is utilized is shared and are expected to adapt to the situation.

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 VA Western Colorado Health Care System 2121 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 US
• Name: Aaron Lavoie
• Phone: 207-450-2817
• Email: [email protected]