Job Seekers

The Addiction Therapist is located within Mental Health Care Line in Kansas City VAMC. This position will routinely implement substance abuse activities that require the highest level of skill and knowledge of substance abuse treatment, and will serve as the case manager for the patients who are participating in the Substance Use Treatment Outpatient program. (STOP) and Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residence (CWT/TR) program. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/30/2022. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education described below: Basic Requirements: Degree: Behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. In addition to the above basic requirements, applicants must meet specialized experience and/or education requirements as described below. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing expert substance abuse counseling services, including evidence based treatments to eligible veteran patients; conducts individual, group, and family therapeutic counseling sessions; observes patient behaviors and discusses differential treatment options; screens, provides treatment planning, outreach, and follow-up activities; responsible for assisting the patient with on-going sobriety maintenance activities including outpatient substance abuse clinics, specified follow-up activities, and the variety of community resources. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a masters or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education in a related field of study that demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 18semester hours (1 year) is creditable. If you qualify by a combination, your experience must be detailed in your resume and transcripts are required. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem SolvingCommunicationsComputer SkillsTeamworkTechnical Competence Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Physical demands are consistent with typical therapy interventions. The physical demands of providing groups, classes, and individual counseling and documenting clinical services in the medical record are essential. On occasion the incumbent is required to neutralize hostile, intoxicated, or incoherent patients. The mobility to ambulate throughout the Medical Center is necessary. The incumbent may be required to work off tour assignments to provide patient care to the SARRTP patients on 9 East, according to the SARRTP Standard Operating Procedures manual and the SARRTP Emergency Plan. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. ["Major Duties will consist of but not limited to: Participates in VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service screening meetings and STOP treatment team meetings. Observes patient behaviors and discusses differential treatment options with higher level professionals in reviewing and modifying treatment and/or follow-up plans. Provides in-person expert substance abuse individual and/or group counseling sessions(including evidence based treatments) with veterans admitted to VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Service program and STOP program. Contributes to team decision concerning therapeutic interventions and recommends levels of care. Documents patient interaction in the electronic medical record. Update databases as required. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 11:00am - 7:00pm (CWT/TR) and 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (STOP),with occasional weekends/evenings as needed for patient care.\nCompressed/Flexible: Not available\nTelework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Description/PD#: Addiction Therapist/PD08121A\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]