Supervisory Creative Arts Therapist

Veterans Health Administration • Queens, NY

13h • Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisory Creative Arts Therapist serves in an administrative and clinical capacity, with responsibility for administrative oversight of the Recreation/Creative Arts Therapy Service at VA NY Harbor Healthcare System and for maintaining a caseload of residents in the Community Living Center (CLC). The role includes supervising and managing a diverse clinical team, strategic planning, fiscal and program management, and providing clinical care. The position reports to the Chief, Recreation/Creative Arts Therapy (Supervisory Creative Arts Therapist) at VA New York Harbor Healthcare System.

The supervisor oversees Recreation and Creative Arts Therapists, Recreation Therapy Assistants, trainees, and volunteers. Responsibilities include assigning and reviewing work, monitoring workload, clinical volume, competencies, quality, performance, and productivity, addressing operational problems, and implementing effective solutions. The supervisor provides professional oversight and consultation, uses evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines, and manages fiscal resources, supplies, equipment, and clinical programs.

Clinical duties include evaluating patients, setting goals, developing and modifying treatment plans and interventions, delivering Creative Arts Therapy services, and serving as a subject matter expert to staff, students, and healthcare professionals. The position participates in interdisciplinary care, consults with physicians and rehabilitation and other health professionals, and coordinates treatment and care delivery with other sections and services. The supervisor also supports education and training for therapists, assistants, interns, and trainees; maintains professional competence and certification through continuing education; and sustains relationships with other departments and community partners.

The work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some weekends and evenings required. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position is permanent and in the Excepted Service. The selected grade is GS-12.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Meet the education requirements for the applicable Creative Arts Therapy specialty: art, dance/movement, drama, or music therapy, as specified in the announcement.
• Meet the applicable registration or certification requirements: ATR for art therapy, RDT for drama therapy, DMTCB board certification for dance/movement therapy, or MT-BC certification for music therapy, subject to the stated provisions.
• Demonstrate ability to provide treatment in complex cases and work with great independence.
• Demonstrate ability to balance responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and implement effective solutions.
• Demonstrate ability to analyze operational problems, improve efficiency, and use data to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity.
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills for dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.
• Demonstrate ability to use evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines and guide staff in their use.
• Demonstrate knowledge of organizational theories and strategies that support service goals and objectives.
• Demonstrate knowledge of fiscal, supply, equipment, clinical, and program management functions.
• Complete required background/security investigation, online onboarding, pre-employment physical examination or evaluation, and other application and employment requirements.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the conditions described in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

• Interpersonal skills in dealing with employees, customers, and leadership.
• Knowledge of supervisory and administrative duties, including time management, conflict resolution, program development, workload distribution, employee engagement, and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative oversight for the Recreation/Creative Arts Therapy Service and maintain a caseload of CLC residents.
• Supervise Recreation and Creative Arts Therapists, Recreation Therapy Assistants, trainees, and volunteers.
• Assign work, monitor workload and clinical volume, review employee work for accuracy and validity, impose disciplinary measures, and monitor clinical competencies.
• Analyze organizational and operational problems and implement solutions to improve service efficiency and use of data to manage workload, quality, performance, and productivity.
• Use evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines and guide staff in applying them.
• Manage fiscal, material supply, equipment, clinical, and program functions.
• Evaluate patients, establish goals based on evaluation findings, and develop treatment interventions across clinical practice areas.
• Provide professional oversight and consultation for staff therapists and deliver Creative Arts Therapy services directly to patients.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to staff, students, and other healthcare professionals.
• Represent Recreation Therapy on interdisciplinary teams as assigned or needed.
• Consult with physicians, rehabilitation team members, and other health professionals through case presentations, ward rounds, re-evaluation clinics, treatment and discharge meetings, and educational events.
• Coordinate RT/CAT treatment, scheduling, and care delivery with other sections and services.
• Maintain interdepartmental relationships with other services, individuals, and community partners to support medical center goals.
• Assist with teaching and provide learning opportunities for therapists, assistants, and clinical interns or trainees.
• Maintain professional competence and certification through continuing education.
• Follow Medical Center policies and procedures, use ADP systems in accordance with established procedures, and comply with ADP security policy.
• Implement and modify treatment plans and goals as needed to ensure optimum outcomes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family, subject to eligibility and position type.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual for prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager