Creative Arts Therapist (Music)

Clinical:

• Administers Music Therapy and Recreation assessments and develops individualized treatment plans and interventions with an in-depth knowledge of symptoms of diagnoses in the provision of music therapy based on current literature and best practices.
• Provides assessment in areas of physical cognitive spiritual and emotional needs for residents and Veterans with diagnosis of TBI Parkinson Stroke Mood Disorders PTSD Diabetes COPD Heart Disease Cancer and other medical conditions associated with age related disabilities within the CLC and facility as requested. Provides assessment and music therapy interventions for Veterans with Dementia and Alzheimers Disease. Provides support for family caregivers and includes them where appropriate in provision of services to their families.
• Serves as an interdisciplinary team member in the treatment of complex clinical cases and demonstrates an ability to design develop or adapt unique music therapy methods as needed.
• Evaluates establishes outcome goals based on assessment findings and develops treatment intervention plans. Implements and modifies as necessary treatment plan and goals as needed throughout course of treatment to ensure optimum outcomes.
• Serves as Creative Arts Therapy subject matter expert and representative on interdisciplinary teams and provides education to staff students patients families and caregivers about the benefits of treatment interventions and goals.
• Provides consultation with patients their families and caregivers regarding treatment interventions and goals and provides education regarding adaptations needed to better ensure optimal treatment outcomes.
• Demonstrates ability and competency in treating patients that range in age from young adult to geriatric who may experience complex medical or mental health issues.
• Demonstrates the ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work and make adjustments to accomplish the workload in accordance with established procedures.
• Develops therapeutic relationships with professional boundaries and establishes a safe environment for the patient to understand the symbolic expression of their creative arts therapy product process and experience.
• Maintains knowledge of the roles and meaning of creative arts therapy in various cultures and works effectively with diverse populations developing recreational therapy programs and interventions.
• Demonstrates understanding of specialization in creative arts therapy and its effects on human growth and development diagnostic classifications and symptomatology when developing interventions.

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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers 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.

• 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.

Qualifications

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: SEE EDUCATION SECTION FOR DETAILS.
• Certification: Applicants must be a MT-BC approved by the CBMT. If hired under paragraph 3b(5)(b) certification cannot be waived.
• Exception: Exception. Non-registered and/or non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for registration and/or certification may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate recreation or creative arts therapist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B) for a period not to exceed two years. Applicants who fail to obtain registration and/or certification during this temporary full-time appointment may be terminated. The exception only applies to positions at the GS-7 and GS-9 level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be registered and/or certified.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

• At least 2 years of experience as a music therapist
• Ability to design develop or adapt unique music therapy methods for assessment treatment or palliation and evaluation procedures for complex clinical cases.
• Ability to apply effective use of professional skill objectivity and insight to respond constructively to both positive and negative reactions establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with professional boundaries to reflect trusting empathetic and respectful interactions.
• Ability to treat patients with complex medical or mental health issues.

• Experience/Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Assignment. Employees at this level serve in an entry level position as a creative arts therapist (music). They work under the supervision of a recreation or creative arts therapist at or above the full-performance level or a designated supervisor in a clinical environment. Employees have knowledge of their respective discipline and work with guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff. Established treatment procedures are substantially adapted and applied for patients who are acutely ill. Employees at this level would not be assigned work at a CBOC unless supervision is on site.

• Experience/Education. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level or a masters degree in creative arts therapy (music) may be substituted for the required one year of professional creative arts therapist (music) experience.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Ability to perform a varied repertoire of popular folk and traditional songs appropriate for use in a clinical setting using at least two of the following: keyboard voice guitar percussion or other musical instruments suitable to a clinical setting.
  • Knowledge of the roles and meaning of music in various cultures and subcultures.
  • Knowledge to design develop or adapt unique music therapy methods for assessment treatment or palliation and evaluation procedures.
  • Skill to apply objectivity and insight to respond constructively to both positive and negative reactions while maintaining a safe environment for the patient and therapist.
• Assignment. Employees at this level serve in a developmental level position as a creative arts therapist (music). They work under general supervision. Employees have an understanding of music therapy processes and procedures to provide patient care. They exercise judgment administer and interpret music therapy assessments and use clinical knowledge to develop assessment and interview approaches. They plan and organize music therapy interventions for persons diagnosed with chronic or life-threatening conditions as well as their families and in collaboration with an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary team. Duties may include but are not limited to the use of music listening singing playing creating and improvising for therapeutic or palliative treatment. They recommend new treatment groups and programs (including co-treatment opportunities) for treating patients with medical or mental health issues.

• Experience. At least one year of creditable experience at the next lower grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of the roles and meaning of music in various cultures and subcultures how culture influences identity formation concepts of health and pathology and understanding of the role of music therapy and how music therapy is practiced.
  • Knowledge of current methods of music therapy assessment treatment and evaluation related to human growth and development musical development diagnostic classifications etiology symptomatology and prognosis in formulating complex treatment plans including the contraindications of music therapy for individuals and groups.
  • Ability to design develop or adapt unique music therapy methods for assessment treatment or palliation and evaluation procedures for complex clinical cases through a broad range of specialized music therapy services for various and emerging patient populations.
  • Ability to use music therapy interventions to provide opportunities to work through treatment issues including emotional disturbances by establishing a safe environment for the patient to understand the symbolic expression of their musical product process and experience as it relates to recovery and wellness.
  • Ability to apply effective use of professional skill objectivity and insight to respond constructively to both positive and negative reactions establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with professional boundaries to reflect trusting empathetic and respectful interactions.
  • Ability to apply current research literature and co-facilitate treatment with professionals from other disciplines the uses of the creative arts therapies and recreation therapy as well as understanding emerging models and trends in music therapy.
• Assignment. Employees at this level serve as creative arts therapists (music) at the full performance level. They have a full understanding of music therapy processes and procedures and require only general supervision when providing direct patient care. They exercise independent judgment administer and interpret music therapy assessments and utilize clinical knowledge to develop unconventional assessment and interview approaches to effectively elicit information. They review pre-evaluation data in the medical record upon admission or through consult. They conduct analyze interpret and report assessment data across functional domains (i.e. behavioral cognitive communicative emotional/affective physical sensory and social) as well as musical knowledge skills and abilities. Continued in Additional Information Section.