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:
Citizenship: Citizen of the United States.
Education:. Creative Arts Therapist (Art)
A master's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy approved by the American Art Therapy Association on or before June 30, 2016. If the degree is received after June 30, 2016, a master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy, must be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Art Therapy Education: a committee of the Commission on Accreditation on Allied Health Education Program.
OR,
A master's degree in a related field, plus graduate coursework and supervised field experience in art therapy. Acceptable related fields include: Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, Psychology, Addictions Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, and Psychiatry, AND must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registration as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) approved by the Art Therapy Credentials Board. If hired under this education, the registration cannot be waived.
Registration: Must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registration with the ATR.
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:
Creative Arts Therapist (Art), GS-9
Experience/Education. None beyond the basic requirements
.
Assignment. Employees at this level serve in an entry level position as creative
arts therapist (art). Employees have knowledge of their respective discipline and
work with direct supervision and guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff.
Established treatment procedures are substantially adapted and applied for
patients who are acutely ill. Therapists at this level may be given general
assignments in a program area
Creative Arts Therapist (Art), GS-11
Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level (GS-9).
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the KSAs below:
- Ability to identify current art resources in the community at the time of assessment, for discharge planning purposes.
- Ability to develop and implement quality improvement systems as related to internal and external regulatory requirements, including patient safety.
- Knowledge of diagnostic coding and symptoms of diagnoses in the provision of art therapy.
- Knowledge of the creative process and art media and their effect on the patients' cognitive, sensory, emotional, and physical states.
- Ability to demonstrate and educate stakeholders on the value of the creative process as a therapeutic tool.
- Ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with professional boundaries that reflect a trusting, empathetic, and respectful interaction.
- Skill in collaborating and maintaining liaison with an interdisciplinary team and educating the treatment team on theoretical framework of art therapy interventions.
Assignment. Employees at this level serve as a creative arts therapist (art) at the full performance level. They provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for complex patients only. They gather informal art-based assessment of patients' needs, aptitudes, interests, and abilities. The therapist also develops and implements individualized art therapy treatment plans, to include the scope, duration, and frequency of treatment. Treatment goals may include, but are not limited to: emotional regulation, resolving traumatic memories, active meditation, building empathy and a sense of self-worth, and identifying potential risks and the need for adaptive interventions to facilitate improved well-being. Duties may include, but are not limited to developing art therapy programs, interventions, and instructional programs, including typical and atypical materials and resources that are appropriate to the needs, skills, and aptitudes of the patient. The therapist supports engagement in, and reflection of, the art process and product, through an art therapy framework where the engagement develops specific skills attained through art making that may include increased independence, focus to task, sense of self-worth, improved coping skills, self-care, and social skills. They provide a safe environment for patients to understand the symbolic expression of their art product, process, and their experience with the materials as it relates to their recovery and wellness.
References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is
GS-11.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of
GS-9 to
GS-11.
Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Heavy carrying, 45 pounds and over; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Straight pulling (2 hours); Pushing (3 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (3 hours); Standing (3 hours); Repeated bending (1 hours); Climbing, use of legs and arms; Both legs required; Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted); Mental and Emotional stability.