Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities FUNCTIONS: a. Triage incoming BHIP referrals and self-assign MHTC for up to 1000 Veterans per BHIP team. Conducts the duties of this role, including a 25%/75% bookable/indirect split for dedicated asynchronous care time for: proactive patient monitoring and proactive population coverage utilizing the BHIP Care Coordination (CC) Dashboard, assisting with transitions of care from varying levels of care (inpatient, residential, emergency department, specialty clinic, PCMHI, etc.), high risk care coordination, reminder follow-ups, adjusting plans of care, and non-bookable patient contact (telephone calls, on-demand VVC visits, etc.). Effectively communicates with and utilizes community agencies to facilitate treatment, discharge planning, and continuity of care. Acts as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. Addresses advance directives, guardianships, organ donations, and applications for home care and extended care services in accordance with the standards of their work area. b. Engage in information gathering, problem identification, DSM-5 diagnostic assessment, biopsychosocial assessment, and using measurement based care. Fully utilizes the current DSM-5 in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical intervention using professional counseling practices. Triages Veterans amongst BHIP team members for ongoing care (psychiatric medication management, psychotherapy, etc.). c. Provide individual and group counseling, wellness/prevention education, and facilitate patient/family support groups as appropriate. Utilizes a wide variety of evidence-based, time-limited interventions. Treatment approaches include but are not limited to cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy. d. Participate in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. Makes professional evaluations, decisions, and recommendations for treatment planning and implementation. Establishes goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient utilizing advanced counseling skills, including evidenced-based practices. e. Provide case management to Veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care. Provides complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress. f. Document interventions and activities in patient's clinical record and ensure appropriate hand-off when transferring of patient care. Documentation is of the highest quality, representative of BHIP and clinical social work standards of care. g. Participate in coordination of care and discharge planning (FLOW) with other disciplines within and outside of BHIP. and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. Additionally, the BHIP social work case manager will assist Veterans with re-entry into BHIP after discharging from RRTP or other inpatient programming. h. Provide open access/same day access to Veterans seeking care within BHIP. Academic/Teaching/Training (up to 15% of time, depending on supervision role and involvement as requested by the Training Director; to be negotiated between chief of discipline, supervisor, and Training Director) Provides primary clinical supervision for unlicensed staff and/or students, which may include back-up clinical supervision in other rotations, as directed by Training Director. May provide group supervision to an Intern cohort, on an as-needed basis, as determined by the Training Director. Provides up-to-date, education for trainees, other clinicians, and facility staff, to ensure information is presented based on empirical science and is culturally and ethically driven. This includes Internship training, but also may include in-service and/or invited grand round presentations to the medical center staff in areas directly related to the mission of the Mental Health Service Line. Is involved in the development and on-going improvement of the Training Programs and actively participates in relevant meetings related to the training mission (e.g., Training Committee). Attends regular meetings pertinent to Training, as directed by Training Director, Direct Supervisor, Chief of Outpatient Behavioral Health, and/or MH ACOS. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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-0182 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) (a) 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 AAMFT Approved Supervisor credential. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs listed below. (b) Demonstrated KSAs: 1. Ability to provide specialized consultation for complex cases involving individuals, families and/or couples utilizing evidenced-based family systems theory/therapy. 2. Ability to provide crisis intervention which includes assessment, safety planning and complex treatment planning using independent clinical judgment utilizing family systems theory/therapy. 3. Ability to provide family systems therapy, which seeks to address Veterans and their family members on an individual level and deals with interpersonal interactions. 4. Ability to provide unlicensed MFT staff/trainees with systemic clinical supervision towards licensure from a family systems theory/therapy perspective. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. 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/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
