- Position Title
- Marriage and Family Therapist-Mental Health-Outpatient-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBSU-12149755-24-JMW Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Wednesday, October 11, 2023 to Monday, September 30, 2024
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
2.
Are you willing to accept the working conditions as indicated in the announcement?
3.
Are you willing to accept the conditions of employment as indicated in the announcement?
4.
In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Are you proficient in basic written and spoken English?
Veterans' Preference Documentation Reminder: In order to receive appropriate consideration, you should submit proper documentation if you are claiming eligibility for Veterans' Preference, which includes a copy of your DD-214 (member copy 4 or earlier version that shows character of service). Applicant's claiming 10-Point preference should also submit an SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference along with the required documentation listed on the form (such as verification of service-connected disability percentage).
5.
Driver's License: A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid state-issued Driver's License.
Do you possess a current and valid state-issued driver's license?
Do you possess a current and valid state-issued driver's license?
TRANSCRIPT REMINDER - If you are basing your qualifications on education (or a combination of education and experience) or if the position requires a college education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application.
6.
Are you a current permanent Federal employee from an agency other than Department of Veterans Affairs?
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50) or equivalent personnel action form.
Preferences
1.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
2.
Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
Resume Reminder- Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
- Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
- Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
- Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
- Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.
Accuracy of Application Reminder:
By submitting your application, you are certifying, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). The information you provide as part of your application may be investigated. You are also certifying, and acknowledging, that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in, or with your application, may affect your eligibility for appointment and/or continued employment. False or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).
By submitting your application, you are certifying, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). The information you provide as part of your application may be investigated. You are also certifying, and acknowledging, that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in, or with your application, may affect your eligibility for appointment and/or continued employment. False or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest as a Marriage and Family Therapist, MFT with the Veterans Health Administration. Please select the appropriate answer to each of the following questions based on your current level of education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position.
Note: Education must be verified by uploading copies of unofficial college transcripts with your resume. Experience and Knowledge, Skills & Abilities, KSAs, are verified by applicant's completing the duty section under each job history section in the resume.
Failure to upload your transcripts and/or adequately document your job experience and/or KSAs may result in disqualification of your application materials for this position.
Please read the job announcement carefully to ensure all pertinent data in included in your resume.
Note: Education must be verified by uploading copies of unofficial college transcripts with your resume. Experience and Knowledge, Skills & Abilities, KSAs, are verified by applicant's completing the duty section under each job history section in the resume.
Failure to upload your transcripts and/or adequately document your job experience and/or KSAs may result in disqualification of your application materials for this position.
Please read the job announcement carefully to ensure all pertinent data in included in your resume.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
1.
Education requirements:
Candidates must meet one of the following:
- (1) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in marriage & family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE OR
- (2) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in marriage & family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution OR
- (3) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology & Psychiatry that meets current VA qualification standards of that profession
Do you meet one of the three education options listed above?
Note: Failure to upload a copy of your unofficial college transcripts may result in disqualification of your application materials for these positions. *Unofficial transcripts must include your name, the school's entire name, must have the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, name of degree received.*
Candidates must meet one of the following:
- (1) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in marriage & family therapy from a program approved by COAMFTE OR
- (2) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in marriage & family therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution OR
- (3) Hold a master's or doctoral degree in a comparable mental health degree Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology & Psychiatry that meets current VA qualification standards of that profession
Do you meet one of the three education options listed above?
Note: Failure to upload a copy of your unofficial college transcripts may result in disqualification of your application materials for these positions. *Unofficial transcripts must include your name, the school's entire name, must have the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, name of degree received.*
2.
Licensure Candidates hired/reassigned to MFT positions in the GS-0182 series in VHA must hold a full, current & unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage & family therapy from a State.
Exception: The Secretary, or his/her designee, may waive licensure requirements for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of State prerequisites for licensure examinations not to exceed 3 years from employment start date on the condition that MFTs appointed on this basis provide care only under supervision of a fully licensed MFT w/ an AAMFT approved license. Non-licensed MFTs who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given an appointment as an MFT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3). This exception only applies at entry grade GS-9 levels. Candidate must be licensed for grades at/above full performance levels
(1) MFTs that aren't licensed when appointed must become licensed at independent Journey levels w/in 3 years of MFT appointment. Most States require 2 years of post-graduate MFT experience as a pre-requisite to taking licensure examination; VHA allow MFTs 1 additional year to pass licensure exam
(2) It's VHA policy that MFTs who don't have a license that allow independent practice must be clinically supervised by AAMFT approved licensed MFT at/above journey level who's a VA staff member & who's access to the electronic health record
Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, unlicensed MFTs must actively pursue meeting State prerequisites for licensure starting from appointment date. Upon appointment, Human Resource Officer provides unlicensed MFTs w/ written requirements for licensure, the date by which the license must be obtained & consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to obtain a license by the prescribed date results in removal from the GS-0182 MFT series & may result in employment termination
Loss of Licensure. Once licensed, MFTs must maintain a full, current/unrestricted license to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure results in removal from the GS-0182 MFT series & may result in employment termination
Do you hold a full, current & unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage & family therapy from a State or meet the Exception requirement if applying for a GS-9 position?
Note: Failure to upload a copy of your licensure to independently practice marriage & family therapy from a State may result in disqualification of your application materials for the GS-11 position.
Exception: The Secretary, or his/her designee, may waive licensure requirements for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of State prerequisites for licensure examinations not to exceed 3 years from employment start date on the condition that MFTs appointed on this basis provide care only under supervision of a fully licensed MFT w/ an AAMFT approved license. Non-licensed MFTs who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given an appointment as an MFT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3). This exception only applies at entry grade GS-9 levels. Candidate must be licensed for grades at/above full performance levels
(1) MFTs that aren't licensed when appointed must become licensed at independent Journey levels w/in 3 years of MFT appointment. Most States require 2 years of post-graduate MFT experience as a pre-requisite to taking licensure examination; VHA allow MFTs 1 additional year to pass licensure exam
(2) It's VHA policy that MFTs who don't have a license that allow independent practice must be clinically supervised by AAMFT approved licensed MFT at/above journey level who's a VA staff member & who's access to the electronic health record
Failure to Obtain License. In all cases, unlicensed MFTs must actively pursue meeting State prerequisites for licensure starting from appointment date. Upon appointment, Human Resource Officer provides unlicensed MFTs w/ written requirements for licensure, the date by which the license must be obtained & consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. Failure to obtain a license by the prescribed date results in removal from the GS-0182 MFT series & may result in employment termination
Loss of Licensure. Once licensed, MFTs must maintain a full, current/unrestricted license to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure results in removal from the GS-0182 MFT series & may result in employment termination
Do you hold a full, current & unrestricted MFT license to independently practice marriage & family therapy from a State or meet the Exception requirement if applying for a GS-9 position?
Note: Failure to upload a copy of your licensure to independently practice marriage & family therapy from a State may result in disqualification of your application materials for the GS-11 position.
3.
Grade determination requirements
GS-9
In addition to basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining a candidate's grade.
Experience, Education and Licensure. Entry level grade is used for non-licensed MFTs or for MFTs, master's or doctoral level, who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice, Journey level. Unlicensed MFTs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed above & are working towards completing their license prerequisites.
AND
In addition, candidates must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below:
1) Knowledge of human development throughout lifespan, interventions based on research & family systems theory/therapy, formal diagnostic criteria, risk assessment, evidence-based practice & assessment tools
2) Ability to assess, w/ supervision, the psychosocial functioning & needs of Veterans/family members
3) Knowledge to formulate, implement & re-evaluate treatment plans through continuous assessment identifying Veteran's challenges, strengths, readiness to change, external influences & current events surrounding origins/maintenance of presenting issues & interactional patterns w/in the client system
4) Ability to provide counseling &/or psychotherapy services, under supervision, to individuals, groups, couples/families in culturally competent manner that facilitates change through client system restructuring/reorganizing
5) Basic knowledge/understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes & regulations affecting professional practice of marriage/family therapy
6) Ability to draft documents, manage data, maintain accurate, timely & thorough clinical documentation & track quality improvements
Do you possess the GS-9 grade determination requirements listed above?
Note: Failure to adequately document the experience and KSAs in the work experience/job duties section under the positions you've previously held, may result in disqualification of your application materials for this position.
GS-9
In addition to basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining a candidate's grade.
Experience, Education and Licensure. Entry level grade is used for non-licensed MFTs or for MFTs, master's or doctoral level, who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice, Journey level. Unlicensed MFTs at the GS-9 grade level have completed the required education listed above & are working towards completing their license prerequisites.
AND
In addition, candidates must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below:
1) Knowledge of human development throughout lifespan, interventions based on research & family systems theory/therapy, formal diagnostic criteria, risk assessment, evidence-based practice & assessment tools
2) Ability to assess, w/ supervision, the psychosocial functioning & needs of Veterans/family members
3) Knowledge to formulate, implement & re-evaluate treatment plans through continuous assessment identifying Veteran's challenges, strengths, readiness to change, external influences & current events surrounding origins/maintenance of presenting issues & interactional patterns w/in the client system
4) Ability to provide counseling &/or psychotherapy services, under supervision, to individuals, groups, couples/families in culturally competent manner that facilitates change through client system restructuring/reorganizing
5) Basic knowledge/understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes & regulations affecting professional practice of marriage/family therapy
6) Ability to draft documents, manage data, maintain accurate, timely & thorough clinical documentation & track quality improvements
Do you possess the GS-9 grade determination requirements listed above?
Note: Failure to adequately document the experience and KSAs in the work experience/job duties section under the positions you've previously held, may result in disqualification of your application materials for this position.
4.
GS-11
Experience, Education and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-master's degree experience in the field of marriage and family therapy work, VA or non-VA experience and licensure in a State at the independent practice level.
AND
In addition, candidates must demonstrate KSAs below:
OR
In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in marriage & family therapy or comparable degree in mental health that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology & Psychiatry, may be substituted for the required one year of marriage & family therapy experience in a clinical setting.
AND
Candidates must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level
AND
Must demonstrate the following KSAs.
1) Skill to independently assess psychosocial functioning & Veterans & family member
2) Ability to provide counseling &/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, couples & families in a culturally competent manner that facilitates change through restructuring/reorganizing client system
3) Ability to establish/maintain effective working relationships w/ Veterans/their families, colleagues & other professionals in collaboration throughout treatment regarding clinical, ethical & legal issues/concerns
4) Knowledge/understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, regulations/VA policies affecting marriage and family therapy practice: including ability to assist Veterans/families to make informed decisions relevant to treatment to include confidentiality limits
5) Ability to provide orientation, training/consultation to new MFTs including clinical oversight of MFT graduate students &/or provide clinical supervision to pre-licensure MFTs
6) Skill using computer software applications to draft documents, manage data, maintain accurate, timely & thorough clinical documentation & track quality improvement
Do you possess the GS-11 grade determination requirements listed above?
Note: Failure to adequately document the experience and KSAs in the work experience/job duties section under the positions you've previously held, may result in disqualification of your application materials for this position.
Experience, Education and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-master's degree experience in the field of marriage and family therapy work, VA or non-VA experience and licensure in a State at the independent practice level.
AND
In addition, candidates must demonstrate KSAs below:
OR
In addition to the basic requirements, a doctoral degree in marriage & family therapy or comparable degree in mental health that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology & Psychiatry, may be substituted for the required one year of marriage & family therapy experience in a clinical setting.
AND
Candidates must be licensed to practice at the independent practice level
AND
Must demonstrate the following KSAs.
1) Skill to independently assess psychosocial functioning & Veterans & family member
2) Ability to provide counseling &/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, couples & families in a culturally competent manner that facilitates change through restructuring/reorganizing client system
3) Ability to establish/maintain effective working relationships w/ Veterans/their families, colleagues & other professionals in collaboration throughout treatment regarding clinical, ethical & legal issues/concerns
4) Knowledge/understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, regulations/VA policies affecting marriage and family therapy practice: including ability to assist Veterans/families to make informed decisions relevant to treatment to include confidentiality limits
5) Ability to provide orientation, training/consultation to new MFTs including clinical oversight of MFT graduate students &/or provide clinical supervision to pre-licensure MFTs
6) Skill using computer software applications to draft documents, manage data, maintain accurate, timely & thorough clinical documentation & track quality improvement
Do you possess the GS-11 grade determination requirements listed above?
Note: Failure to adequately document the experience and KSAs in the work experience/job duties section under the positions you've previously held, may result in disqualification of your application materials for this position.