Provide addiction therapy, which is a broad range of interventions for treatment of substance use disorders built on an understanding of appreciation of & ability to use contributions of evidence-based addiction & behavioral health counseling models as applies to modalities of care for individuals, groups, families, couples and significant others. Using methods sensitive to individual client characteristics & influence of significant others, as well as client's cultural and social context. 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. Physical Standards: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. English Language Proficiency: AT/LMAT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. Foreign Education. There is no substitution for foreign education for this occupation; therefore, foreign education evaluation is not applicable. Licensure: Individuals appointed or reassigned to an AT position in the GS-0101 series must: 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 Complete one of the following: International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Certification; or National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, National Certified Addiction Counselor Level 1. 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: Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level) GS-05 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. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). None Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level) GS-07 Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade; OR 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: 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 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 Class Standing: Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university or major subdivision based on completed courses. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience/education requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. Knowledge of principles, concepts and methods of counseling and therapies used in treatment of individuals with SUDs. Knowledge of appropriate documentation of substance use history and treatment. Ability to identify patients who are in psychological distress. Addiction Therapist (Bachelor's Level) GS-09 Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of coexisting medical or other mental health disorders as interrelated to SUDs. Ability to complete assessments of substance use disorders, treatment planning and continued care planning. Ability to develop and maintain effective working or therapeutic relationships with multidisciplinary staff, Veterans and their families, from various backgrounds and community resources to ensure appropriate referrals. Preferred Experience: Licensed/certified in addiction specialty care Experience functioning as a part of a multi-disciplinary team Experience in the provision of evidence-based assessment and psychosocial interventions for addiction Experience employing measurement-based care in a clinical setting Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-09. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. ["Duties include, but are not limited to: Providing addiction counseling services in the SUD program as a member of the multi-disciplinary treatment team Conducting initial screening interviews with new patients seeking treatment in the SUD program. In order to comply with Joint Commission Behavioral Health standards of care, all veterans referred to the Addiction Therapist will be assessed utilizing the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Multidimensional Assessment tool that is used to place a patient into an appropriate level of care across the ASAM continuum Performing assessments: gathering information about Veteran patients who present with addiction concerns and engaging with them to determine the severity of addiction, readiness for change, existence of co-occurring mental health disorders, problem areas that may affect treatment, and other needs and opportunities Developing individualized treatment plans that address each substance use disorder and that are continually modified depending on the patient's response to treatment. This treatment plan is multidisciplinary, implemented in conjunction with other members of the patient's health care team. Treatment plans must match the individual needs, readiness and goals of the patient Conducting individual, family, and group therapy that is evidence-based with the goal of improving patient's ability to identify and change negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. substance abuse treatment. Therapy must be goal-directed and incorporate strategies for coping with relapse triggers and other stressors Working with patients to avoid relapse and maintain recovery by assisting patients to determine risks for relapse and to develop prevention plans Referring patients to other support resources that are vital to their recovery. This can include referrals to other SUD team members, medication management, psychotherapy for co-occurring mental health disorders, inpatient care, intensive outpatient programming, residential treatment, and mutual help groups Timely documentation in the medical record of all patient encounters, therapeutic interventions, and treatment plans is required in order to communicate progress to other members of the treatment team, to track progress in treatment, and to evaluate and refine treatment plans on an ongoing basis May act as leader of various group activities with topics such as relapse prevention, anger management, interpersonal communication, and co-dependency. When assigned, the incumbent revises and implements content/structural changes to existing groups and collaborates in program development as Service need/expansion dictates May be assigned other duties including, but not limited to, serving on special committees, special projects, action teams, etc. Work Schedule: Fulltime, Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 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 Bargaining Unit position"]
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.
