The Creative Arts Therapist (Art) at the VA San Diego Health Care System (VASDHCS) is aligned under Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service providing rehabilitation for Veterans with complex conditions including amputation, paralysis, neurological and orthopedic disorders, behavioral health/ psychiatric diagnoses, dementia, TBI, respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular disease, and multi-morbid presentations. This announcement may be used to fill future vacancies. Major duties to include but not limited to: Conducts formal, standardized assessments of needs, aptitudes, interests, and abilities; includes cognitive, psychosocial, sensory-motor, and functional domains relevant to outpatient mental health and rehabilitation. Develops and implements evidence-informed Art Therapy plans specifying scope, duration, and frequency; aligns goals with outpatient rehab plans and mental health treatment objectives. Applies specialty Art Therapy modalities to address sensory integration; neuromuscular and motor-cognitive integration; cognitive components; psychosocial skills; and psychological symptoms (trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, behavioral activation). Exercises high-level independent clinical decision-making; designs, develops, or adapts unique Art Therapy interventions; collaborates in co-treatment for complex presentations. Partners with Psychiatry, CLC, Psychology, PM&R/PMRS, Nursing, Social Work, OT/PT/SLP to integrate Art Therapy into treatment plans, rounds, and care transitions. Completes timely, accurate documentation (assessments, progress notes, encounters, consults, care plans, discharge summaries); ensures appropriate coding/workload capture (VERA/productivity). Maintains professional boundaries; provides a safe, trauma-informed environment for symbolic expression, processing, and skill acquisition; supports safety planning and crisis response as indicated. Incorporates knowledge of the roles and meaning of art across cultures; co-develops relevant interventions and programming; Serves as a subject matter expert; provides consultation, in-service education, mentorship; contributes to quality improvement and program evaluation. Identifies community resources for discharge planning; ensures coordinated handoffs to outpatient MH RT/CAT and rehabilitation services. Engages when mental health symptoms impede participation or progress toward physical rehab goals, or when symptom regulation/safety is required to enable rehabilitation (e.g., PTSD symptoms affecting engagement, severe anxiety limiting therapy tolerance, depressive symptoms diminishing activation). Performs focused inpatient mental health Art Therapy evaluations and delivers targeted interventions (e.g., grounding, regulation, trauma-informed approaches, behavioral activation) that directly support rehab milestones and safe participation. Initiates coordinated care with the Experiential & Recreation Therapy team; collaborates with PM&R/PMRS, Psychiatry, Psychology, Nursing, Social Work, OT/PT/SLP to integrate Art Therapy into the inpatient rehabilitation plan of care and discharge planning. Ensures continuity by communicating treatment goals, progress, and recommendations to outpatient teams; supports transitions back to outpatient services to sustain gains Covers Outpatient mental health Creative Arts Therapy clinics and consults; Inpatient consultative involvement as clinically indicated to achieve physical rehab goals; cross-coverage for outpatient/inpatient needs during leave or program transitions. Serves as backup Government Purchase Card (GPC) holder, completing required training and adhering to VA/facility policies, internal controls, documentation, reconciliation, and audit requirements for micro-purchases and approved transactions. Perform other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 AM-4:00 PM or 8:00 AM-4:30 PM; Tour may vary based on agency needs. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: 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. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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