The Advanced Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) position is housed within the Mental Health Care Line at the James A Haley V AMC, which is the busiest and most complex facilities in the country. The Advanced MFT will have primary responsibility for the development of policies and procedures related to training, maintenance of the relationship between JAHVAMC and its academic affiliates in MFT, recruitment and selection of the trainees each year, and daily operations of the training program.

Duties

The Advanced MFT also acts as an MFT consultant on MFT practice matters throughout the facility and all 11 CBOC' s ( 1) to provide family systemic clinical supervision to MFT interns and unlicensed MFTs and provides clinical consultation to less experienced staff and (2) to develop behavioral health related training curriculum and conduct trainings for clinical staff in collaboration with the Supervisory MFT. The Advanced MFT participates in the recruitment, selection, and credentialing of future MFT candidates, assists in the development of functional statements and performance standards for MFTs throughout the organization, assists in the evaluation of the work of all MFT's through the creation and maintenance of FPPE/OPPE and Peer Review procedures, provides clinical supervision toward licensure as needed, and serves as an AAMFT Mentor Supervisor as needed. Some of the duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical responsibilities as defined in approved delineated clinical privileges including, but not necessarily limited to assessment, formulation of treatment plan and provision of counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, families and groups. Manages daily operations of MFT training program. Develops policies and procedures for MFT training program operation. Identifies developmental and training needs for MFT trainees, providing for and arranging for needed development and training. Leads process for interviewing candidates for MFT training program positions. Assures that trainees are trained and fully comply with the provisions of safety regulations. Maintains liaison with local, state, and national organizations related to MFT training program. Serves as an MFT consultant for all MFTs in MHCL. Provides clinical supervision for licensure of non-licensed MFTs. Assists in identifying developmental and training needs for MFTs, providing for and arranging for needed development and training. Coordinates services offered to Veterans and their families enrolled in the couples and family therapy services. Assist in the formulation, interpretation, and implementation of policies and procedures pertaining to quality mental health care, couples and family therapy services, in a mental health program to assure compliance with internal and external performance standards. Assist in the development of effective programs and treatment strategies for mental health program patients and their families. Assist in recruitment procedures and interviews to select personnel for mental health program. Assist in the evaluation of MFT program services in a systematic manner, including the collection, tabulation, and presentation of program statistics, trends, and outcome measures. Interfaces with other program directors, the Mental Health Care Line Executive Office, and VA personnel. Advises the Deputy Clinical Executive on relevant programmatic issues with recommendations for improvement in service delivery. Collaborates with other program directors and managers as a member of the Mental Health Leadership Advisory Council. Maintains effective working relationships with internal and external customer groups. Adheres to the requirements of the Master Agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Federation of Government Employees. Prepares and implements grant and contract proposals. These may be for Veteran or non­veteran populations. Maintains liaison with local, state, and national organizations related to content field of program ( e.g. behavioral health care, telemedicine). Attends VISN and VHA meetings as requested, either as consultant or member. Serves as the care line's representative regarding this program during external site visits or reviews (e.g. JCAHO, VISN, OIG) as requested. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: The primary tour of duty will be M-F 8am to 4:30pm. However, the selectee may also be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis, based on the needs of the service and patient care. Telework: May be available - as determined by agency policy. (possible 3 days per pay period) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Marriage and Family Therapist (Advanced) MH Care Line #71196F Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/02/2024. 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: (1) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE, OR (2) Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR (3) 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). All persons employed in VHA as a MFT on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education that is 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 to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, demoted, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. MFTs who are 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. Employees who are retained as a MFT 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 MFT. 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. Assignments requiring responsibility for providing clinical supervision must have an MMFT Approved Supervisor credential. References: VA Handbook 5005/101, Part II, Appendix G44 Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Light lifting (under 15 pounds), Walking (up to 2 hours), Hearing (aid permitted), emotional/mental stability.

Education

Candidates must meet one of the following:

1. Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE, OR
2. Hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR,
3. 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.

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 James A Haley Veterans Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33612 US
• Name: Christopher Cacciapaglia
• Phone: (407) 631-8494
• Email: [email protected]