This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

Incumbent is assigned to Mental Health Service Line, providing Access services and functions as a member of a multidisciplinary team. Services are carried out in full accordance with specific program goals and broad objectives of the VA health care system. Access Care is the main entry way to mental health services, providing walk-in and phone triage, intake, outreach, orientation, post-hospitalization discharge follow-up, and high risk case management services to Veterans who are self- or provider referred to the Mental Health Service. Critical triage functions include crisis evaluation and intervention, disposition of patients to the appropriate level of care, and acting as liaison for the inpatient, outpatient, primary care and community agencies involved in the provision of care for the Veteran population. Duties for the position include but are not limited to: Works with Veterans, their families and interdisciplinary team members in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of treatment needs related to Veterans that present in crisis with psychiatric disorders, with particular regard to addressing situations related to risk of harm to self, others or grave disability. Develops individual safety plans. Incumbent will perform voluntary/involuntary admissions as needed. Responsible for reviewing all consults/referrals for Veterans requesting mental health services. Determines the urgency of the request and Veteran state, arranging for evaluation appointment, ensuring that the consults are responded to in a timely manner. Independently provides specialized services for complex patients with service delivery to include intake evaluation, diagnostic assessments, psychotherapy and patient education. Best practices, practice guidelines and evidence-based treatment protocols are utilized to the extent feasible in all therapeutic interventions. Develops person centered, culturally sensitive treatment plans to address the complex mental health needs of patients, with measurable goals outlined. Attends regularly scheduled treatment team meetings to ensure efficiency and continuity of service delivery. Ensures timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or healthcare system as appropriate. Uses diagnostic knowledge of the patient's need(s) to make referrals to a variety of VA and non-VA resources in support of the treatment objective of the patient. Collaborates with community, health, welfare, and service agencies. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. Completes assigned Performance Improvement activities at the program, service line and medical center level. Participates as required and requested in orientation, training and staff development programs involving Mental Health and VANCHCS. Assumes responsibility and shows initiative for own learning and professional development, demonstrating the ability to teach and mentor staff and students in the special area of practice and provide supervision for licensure or specialty certification. Submits statistical information as required. Other duties as assigned. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and may be posted up to September 30, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be April 9, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st and 15th of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Work Schedule: Full Time; Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Tour of duty subject to change to meet the needs of the Agency Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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: 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: Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE, Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR, 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). 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs listed below. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: The candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below: Ability to provide specialized consultation for complex cases involving individuals, families and/or couples utilizing evidenced-based family systems theory/therapy. Ability to provide crisis intervention which includes assessment, safety planning and complex treatment planning using independent clinical judgment utilizing family systems theory/therapy. Ability to provide family systems therapy, which seeks to address Veterans and their family members on an individual level and deals with interpersonal interactions. Ability to provide unlicensed MFT staff/trainees with systemic clinical supervision towards licensure from a family systems theory/therapy perspective. References: VA Handbook 5005/101, Part II, Appendix G44, Marriage and Family Therapist Qualification Standard, GS-0182, Veteran Health Administration, Dated April 18, 2018. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-12. Physical Requirements: Hearing (aid permitted) required.

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/.

Contacts

• Address VA Northern California Health Care System 10535 Hospital Way Mather, CA 95655 US
• Name: Allison Hoffman
• Phone: 304-350-2062
• Email: [email protected]