This Addiction Therapist position has responsibility for addiction therapy and psychosocial rehabilitation for veterans in the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV), Housing and Urban Development-VA Supported Housing Program (HUD/VASH) within the Mental Health Service line at the Alaska VA Healthcare System. The incumbent is responsible for providing substance abuse counseling to veterans and related activities to their families in support of the HUD/VASH program. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 06/22/2022. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7, for a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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 as described below: Individual Occupational Requirement: All applicants, regardless of grade level must meet minimum qualification requirements. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position; OR Combination of education and experience that provided you 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 demonstrates you have acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. (in order to be creditable, the education must have been in a behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position) Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. GS-9: 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: Experienced in the use of appropriate professional counseling principles/techniques in order to guide the individual to a realistic recognition of his/her problem, to understand and accept his/her capabilities and limitations, and to assist in selecting a suitable vocational goal and developing a treatment plan; experience with the principles of individual and group therapeutic treatment for persons diagnosed with addiction disorders; Experience with the specialized problems involved with the addiction treatment, including providing consultation; Experience approaching individuals and groups to establish rapport with persons who may be emotionally distraught, fearful, suspicious, uncooperative, or dangerous. GS-7: 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: Experienced in the use of appropriate professional counseling principles/techniques in order to guide the individual to a realistic recognition of his/her problem, to understand and accept his/her capabilities and limitations, and to assist in selecting a suitable vocational goal and developing a treatment plan; experience with the principles of individual and group therapeutic treatment for persons diagnosed with addiction disorders; Experience with the specialized problems involved with the addiction treatment. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have GS-9: have successfully completed 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree OR I have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree. GS-7: have successfully completed 1 full year of graduate level education, or I have completed a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. OR, Note: in order to be creditable, the education must have been in a behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. GS-9: only graduate education beyond the first 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours can be combined with GS-7 level experience to qualify for a GS-9 level position. GS-7: some graduate level education but less than one year, can be combined with some GS-5 level experience to qualify for a GS-7 level position. Note: in order to be creditable, the education must have been in a behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Interpersonal SkillsSelf-DirectionTeaching OthersVeteran and Customer Focus Incidental operators are employees, other than those occupying a position officially classified as a motor vehicle operator, who are required to operate a government-owned or -leased motor vehicle to properly carry out their assigned duties. To qualify as an incidental operator, an employee must possess a valid State license, have a safe driving record, pass a road test, and demonstrate that he or she is medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely English language proficiency requirement: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) employees appointed in direct patient-care positions must meet English language proficiency requirements. Preferred applicants will have the following characteristics: State Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP), two years of experience in the field, experience working with Veterans, particularly homeless Veterans. 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: Work requires sitting, walking, standing, carrying light items such as books, papers, files and chairs. 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/. ["Duties of the position include but are not limited to the following: Serve as a member of the HCHV interdisciplinary treatment team as a clinical addiction specialist and work with other professionals in formulating individualized treatment plans and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment plans, including those for veterans with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Initial treatment plans must be completed within 15-days of intake for those veterans willing to engage in SUD services while in the HUD/VASH program Update treatment plans for assigned veterans and present this treatment plan to the HCHV interdisciplinary team Develop, organize, and implement a variety of therapeutic treatment modalities including group and class work to assist veterans in reaching their individual treatment and program goals utilizing multiple evidenced based practices to include Motivational Interviewing and Harm Reduction within a Housing First model of services Conduct individual counseling, individual psychotherapy, group counseling, and group psychotherapy using best practice treatment modalities Observe patient behaviors and report these to other staff members on the interdisciplinary team, utilizing the Computerized Patient Record System, (CPRS) and Standardized clinical note in the \"DAP\" or \"SOAP\" format, for use in reviewing and/or modifying treatment and/or follow-up plans for the identified patient Handle crisis intervention or other emergency situations without benefit of specific instruction as situations dictate Contribute to interdisciplinary team decisions concerning necessary controls and restrictions required in the therapeutic treatment of specific patients, and/or group(s) of patients Recommend degrees of supervision required, including readiness for referrals, involvement in treatment, and/or readiness for discharge Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the interdisciplinary programs and services of the HUD/VASH program Evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment program through data collection and analysis Collaborate with other disciplines in compiling and analyzing data for Performance Improvement Reports, required VACO reports, research projects, strategic planning and other statistical information needs Maintain appropriate records, charting data in a way so as to insure ready availability of current information Develop and maintain appropriate communications, rapport, and positive working relationships with a variety of institutions, organizations, and service providers Assist in the implementation and evaluation of the Quality improvement plan, policies and procedures in accordance with The Joint Commission and CARF standards and requirements for the HUD/VASH program Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Description/PD#: Addiction Therapist/PD501970 and PD501980\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]