KEY REQUIREMENTS



• U. S. Citizenship
• Subject to pre-employment examination
• English Language Proficiency required
• Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
• Background and-or Security Investigation required

Marriage and family Therapist provides readjustment counseling to eligible veterans and family members in the Vet Center programs (Greentree Location). Readjustment counseling includes individual and group counseling to veterans and family members over issues of Post traumatic Stress disorder and related psychological difficulties, marital and family issues, substance abuse, employment, military sexual trauma, homelessness, bereavement and other issues impacting upon a veteran's ability to successfully re-enter civilian society. These tasks are accomplished in collaboration with other members of the Vet Center or other interdisciplinary treatment teams both within the Department of Veteran Affairs or community agencies, and community/ government social services agencies.

Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:  

• U.S. citizenship.  
• Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (or approved comparable degree)
• License required to be appointed at Full Performance Level

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:

GS-9 is the entry level grade for the GS-101 Marriage and Family Therapist series and is used for licensed MFTs with less than one year of experience (post-master's degree) or for MFTs (master's or doctoral level) who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice level.   Unlicensed MFTs at the GS-9 level have completed the required education listed, and are working toward completion of prerequisites for licensure.  

In addition to the basic requirements, the GS-11 full performance level requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of post-master's degree experience in the field of health care marriage and family therapy work (VA or non-VA experience) or a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or comparable degree in mental health from an accredited training program may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional marriage and family therapy experience in a clinical setting with licensure in a state at the independent practice level.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

References : VA Handbook 5005 at http://www.va.gov/ohrm/joblistings/VAQualStds.doc 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:    Duties are sedentary in nature in an office setting.

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE:  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  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.

Veterans' Preference:

When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on their application or résumé. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference.  For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.   You may also be evaluated based upon the question responses you provide during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.

    5.   Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of marriage and family therapy.   This includes the ability to assist clients in making informed decisions relevant to treatment to include limits of confidentiality.

     6.   Ability to provide orientation, training and consultation to new MFTs including clinical oversight of MFT graduate students, and/or provide supervision to pre-licensure MFTs.

     7.   Skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and tracking quality improvements.

Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, thrift savings plan, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. In addition to traditional "dollars and cents" benefits, we offer a range of benefits to help balance work and life.  For more information please visit us at http://www.va.gov/JOBS/Job_Benefits/benefits.asp.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

OTHER INFORMATION:

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. 

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave:  Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.   VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service.  This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button at the right side of this screen to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

YOU MUST INCLUDE VA FORM 10-2850c IN YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS VACANCY.   You may upload the completed form to your USAJOBS or Application Manager account if you apply online.  Then you can use the uploaded form again and again when applying for future vacancies.  Please see this guide (http://www4.va.gov/OHRM/joblistings/uploading-and-using-documents-online.doc) for more information on uploading and re-using the form in your applications.  Other required forms and documents can also be saved in your account and used the same way.  Applicants are urged to apply online; this process is much easier and faster.

Note: To return to a previously Saved or Incomplete application, just reapply through your account in USAJOBS.  Check your account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login) to see the status of your application after applying, including any messages that may have been sent to you.

If you cannot apply online:

1. Click the following link to view and print the occupational questionnaire: View Occupational Questionnaire.
2. Print this 1203FX form to provide your response to the occupational questionnaire: http://www.opm.gov./forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf.
3. Fax the completed 1203FX form along with all supporting documents to (478)757-3144.  Your 1203FX form must be placed on top of all materials being faxed and will serve as a cover page for your fax transmission.
4. Keep a copy of your fax receipt in case verification is needed.

To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload:

1. Complete this cover page  http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using the following Vacancy ID: 833076.  You must use this fax cover sheet in order for your documents to be matched with your online application.
2. Fax your documents to (478)757-3144.

The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Tuesday, February 19, 2013.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. CV or Resume.
2. VA Form 10-2850c - Application for Associated Health Occupations (Available at  http://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf) (required).
3. Occupational Questionnaire
4. If prior military service, include all copies of your DD Forms 214 or proof of service (required).   Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must also complete and submit an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference (available at http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf).  
5. If currently employed in the VA system, include latest SF-50 - Notification of Personnel Action. (required).

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

After we receive your complete application package (including any required documents), your qualifications will be reviewed to decide if you meet the basic requirements.  You will be notified when this decision is made.