Unique clinical Art Therapist position that functions in Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) program section of Patient Care Services Division. Direct patient care position responsible for performing the work of a creative arts therapist of art, which encompasses a variety of different duties/responsibilities. Collaborates with HBPC & MFH program staff, guides/directs patient treatment to assist the Veteran obtain optimal levels of functioning while maintaining independence in the community.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Administering and interpreting art therapy assessments and utilizing clinical knowledge to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit information Reviewing pre-evaluation data in the medical record upon admission or through consult conducting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting assessment data across functional domains (i.e., behavioral, cognitive, communicative, emotional/affective, physical, sensory, social). Planning, organizing and implementing developmentally and situationally, appropriate and evidence-based comprehensive art 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 Recommending and developing new treatment groups and programs (including co-treatment opportunities) for treating patients with complex medical, behavioral or mental health issues such as but not limited to dementia, parkinson, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) to develop or promote a variety of clinical outcomes such as improved coping with grief, loss, palliative care/terminal illness, behavior management, conflict resolution, self-expression or non-verbal communication of difficult subject matter Participating in other difficult work in co-treatment opportunities including neurological rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, mental health recovery programs, and palliative care related to the symptoms of a terminal illness Planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating public relations for the program to inform and educate others about art therapy in various settings including the complex interactions of the therapeutic process as well as the efficacy of art therapy in complex cases Implementing and modifying treatment plan and goals compatible to patient functional capacity as necessary to assure optimum outcome Performing documentation of patient care, including progress notes, daily attendance/encounters, and reports (monthly, safety, and others), as needed Working closely with other treatment team members and community health care professionals to support the patient's medical treatment plan Providing direct 1:1 treatment and services that require the exercise of mature professional judgment and the flexible use of a wide range of clinical skills Carrying full professional responsibility for cases presenting a wide range of psychosocial and medical issues with no limitations (within his/her scope of clinical privileges) as to the range of service to be performed Providing information and referral services to various community services, as appropriate. Investigates community resources and makes information about them available to other team-members Participating in program planning and the development of working relationships with community agencies and resources Maintaining accurate statistics and reports, as required, within specified deadlines Submitting data on patient contacts promptly and accurately to program office for monthly statistic Participating in research, education, evaluations and studies May supervise Art Therapy, students, interns, and trainees Work Schedule: Fulltime, Monday and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Telework: Ad-hoc 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 Bargaining Unit position

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 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. 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. Registration Creative Arts Therapy (Art). Must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registration with the ATR. If hired under paragraph 3b(2)(b), registration cannot be waived. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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: GS-09 Experience/Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-11 Experience:. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to identify current art resources in the community at the time of assessment, for discharge planning purposes. Ability to develop and implement quality improvement systems as related to internal and external regulatory requirements, including patient safety. Knowledge of diagnostic coding and symptoms of diagnoses in the provision of art therapy. Knowledge of the creative process and art media and their effect on the patients' cognitive, sensory, emotional, and physical states. Ability to demonstrate and educate stakeholders on the value of the creative process as a therapeutic tool. Ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with professional boundaries that reflect a trusting, empathetic, and respectful interaction. Skill in collaborating and maintaining liaison with an interdisciplinary team and educating the treatment team on theoretical framework of art therapy interventions. Preferred Experience: Minimum of two years experience in field of expertise Home care experience Experience with geriatric, chronically ill, high risk and/or Veteran population Experience with a Creative Arts Program to include development and implementation of policy and procedure References: VA Handbook 5005/111 Part II Appendix G60 Recreation and Creative Arts Therapist Qualification Standard GS-0638 Veterans Health Administration June 7, 2019. 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-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Accreditation Information: 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.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the accreditation website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Contacts

• Address El Paso VA Clinic 5001 North Piedras Street El Paso, TX 79930 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]