Addiction Therapist

Summary

HUD-VASH is an intensive case management program for chronically homeless Veterans aimed at providing psychosocial services to Veterans while residing in stable housing through HUD's Section 8 voucher system. The incumbent in this position functions as the Medical Center's Liaison/Case Manager for Central California's VAMC's Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program Department of Housing and Urban Development / VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH).

Qualifications

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• AT/LMAT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• Education
• AT and LMAT candidates must meet the education requirements defined in the specific sub-appendice for the position being filled
• Foreign Education
• There is no substitution for foreign education for this occupation
• therefore - foreign education evaluation is not applicable
• Licensure/Certification
• Reference to "license -" "licensure -" "certification -" or "non-licensed" throughout the standard and sub-appendices is implied and intended for different levels of certification and license granted by level in a United States state - territory - commonwealth - or the District of Columbia depending on the highest level of recognition for practice in the field of Alcohol and Drug Treatment in a jurisdiction based upon the specific level of degree obtained (bachelor's degree or master's degree)
• AT and LMAT candidates must meet the licensure requirements defined in the specific sub-appendice for the position being filled
• a
• Education
• Hold a bachelor's degree in drug and alcohol studies or a related behavioral health field from an accredited college or university
• In some jurisdictions - individuals may not be required to hold a bachelor's degree to be licensed in Alcohol and Drug Treatment
• VHA will not waive education requirements even if the candidate has a license that does not require a bachelor's degree
• b
• Licensure
• (1) Licensure Requirements: Individuals appointed or reassigned to an AT position in the GS-0101 series must: (a) Hold a full - current - and unrestricted license in a state - territory - commonwealth - or the District of Columbia to practice in the field of Alcohol and Drug Treatment
• AND (b) Complete one of the following: i International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium - Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Certification
• or ii National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors - National Certified Addiction Counselor Level 1
• (2) Loss of License or certification
• In collaboration with HR Office staff - management officials must immediately relieve employees of the duties and responsibilities associated with the occupation who fail to maintain the required licensure or certification - which may also result in separation from employment 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: a
• Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level) GS-05
• (1) Experience
• The entry level assignment is used for ATs who are licensed with less than one year of experience
• There is no experience outside of the basic requirements 7 (2) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• None (3) Assignment
• Employees at this grade level serve in an entry-level developmental position
• ATs in the entry-level assignment will receive close clinical supervision and guidance from an LMAT and meet weekly with an assigned clinical supervisor
• Duties include - but are not limited to - assisting with intake/assessments - facilitating program orientation or educational sessions and treatment planning
• ATs identify patients experiencing psychological distress and engage licensed clinicians as necessary to provide crisis intervention
• They maintain appropriate records and chart accurate information
• They develop and maintain appropriate communication - rapport and positive working relationship with various institutions - organizations and service providers
• b
• Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level) GS-07
• (1) Experience
• In addition to the basic requirements - at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• OR (2) Education (Advanced Entry Level Placement)
• Applicants who meet the GS-05 grade level may be appointed at the GS-07 grade level if they possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a major field of study in a drug and alcohol studies or a related behavioral health field with an exemplary academic record as demonstrated by: (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript - or as computed based on four years of education or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum
• OR (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum
• OR (c) Class Standing: Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college - university or major subdivision based on completed courses
• (3) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience/education requirements - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
• (a) Knowledge of principles - concepts and methods of counseling and therapies used in treatment of individuals with SUDs
• 8 (b) Knowledge of appropriate documentation of substance use history and treatment
• (c) Ability to identify patients who are in psychological distress
• (4) Assignment
• ATs in this level assignment will receive clinical supervision and guidance from designated LMAT
• ATs assist with addiction screening - assessments - orientation - education - treatment planning and counseling
• They identify patients experiencing psychological distress and engage licensed clinicians as necessary to provide crisis intervention
• ATs assist in developing an evaluation/summary of the client's substance use and any co-occurring conditions based on the results of assessments to provide an integrated approach to treatment planning based on the client's strengths - preferences and identified problems and needs
• ATs participate with a multidisciplinary team regarding treatment planning
• They communicate with a variety of institutions - organizations and service providers
• c
• Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level)

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: GS-5 a.) Evidence-Based Psychotherapy - The AT will seek VA approved training and certification to provide competent evidence-based interventions for a variety of mental health and addictive disorder diagnoses
• Psychotherapy may be needed in individual - group - couple - or family formats - as meet the needs of patient population
• b.) Psychosocial Assessment - The AT will develop an evaluation/assessment of the Veteran's substance use - family - economic - community - and psychosocial support systems
• Assessments will reflect a skillful and comprehensive view of the Veteran's current state of functioning and support
• Clinical interview skills will be used to gather and document data that analyzes and interprets relevant strengths and needs directly related to patient health - care planning - treatment - education - internal/external supports - and case management needs in order to optimize the Veteran's functional status and to help ensure that the Veteran is able to safely live in the least restrictive environment possible
• The Veteran - family members and significant others are involved in this process - whenever possible
• ATs utilize assessment and diagnostic evaluations to develop an individualized treatment plan
• and incorporate assessments and psychological testing results from physical exams and urine toxicology data for use by a multidisciplinary treatment team to develop a treatment plan
• GS-7 a.) Evidence-Based Psychotherapy - The AT will seek VA approved training and certification to provide competent evidence-based interventions for a variety of mental health and addictive disorder diagnoses
• Psychotherapy may be needed in individual - group - couple - or family formats - as meet the needs of patient population
• b.) Psychosocial Assessment - The AT will develop an evaluation/assessment of the Veteran's substance use - family - economic - community - and psychosocial support systems
• Assessments will reflect a skillful and comprehensive view of the Veteran's current state of functioning and support
• Clinical interview skills will be used to gather and document data that analyzes and interprets relevant strengths and needs directly related to patient health - care planning - treatment - education - internal/external supports - and case management needs in order to optimize the Veteran's functional status and to help ensure that the Veteran is able to safely live in the least restrictive environment possible
• The Veteran - family members and significant others are involved in this process - whenever possible
• ATs utilize assessment and diagnostic evaluations to develop an individualized treatment plan
• and incorporate assessments and psychological testing results from physical exams and urine toxicology data for use by a multidisciplinary treatment team to develop a treatment plan
• GS-9 a.) Evidence-Based Psychotherapy - The AT will seek VA approved training and certification to provide competent evidence-based interventions for a variety of mental health and addictive disorder diagnoses
• Psychotherapy may be needed in individual - group - couple - or family formats - as meet the needs of patient population
• b.) Psychosocial Assessment - The AT will develop an evaluation/assessment of the Veteran's substance use - family - economic - community - and psychosocial support systems
• Assessments will reflect a skillful and comprehensive view of the Veteran's current state of functioning and support
• Clinical interview skills will be used to gather and document data that analyzes and interprets relevant strengths and needs directly related to patient health - care planning - treatment - education - internal/external supports - and case management needs in order to optimize the Veteran's functional status and to help ensure that the Veteran is able to safely live in the least restrictive environment possible
• The Veteran - family members and significant others are involved in this process - whenever possible
• ATs utilize assessment and diagnostic evaluations to develop an individualized treatment plan
• and incorporate assessments and psychological testing results from physical exams and urine toxicology data for use by a multidisciplinary treatment team to develop a treatment plan
• Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 08944F - 08945F - 08946F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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