What are the responsibilities and job description for the Addiction Therapist (Licensed Master's) position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The incumbent is a member of an interdisciplinary team that provides treatment to patients with a diagnosis of substance use disorder (SUD); patients may also have coexisting medical and other psychiatric conditions/problems. The Incumbent may be assigned to work areas both inside the VAMC Washington DC main medical center and in other community bases outpatient clinics (CBOC's).
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Duties
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
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:
For grades/assignments at or above the full performance level, candidates must be licensed at the master's level.
Failure to Obtain Licensure.
Prior to the time of appointment, HR Office staff will provide uncertified or unlicensed LMATs, the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. In all cases, LMATs must actively pursue meeting requirements for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. If LMATs fail to obtain licensure during this time period, their employment may be terminated.
Loss of License.
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 (Licensed Master's) GS-11.
They analyze problems and interpret and adapt guidelines such as policies, regulations, precedents, etc. for application to specific problems and recommend changes.
LMATs provide evidenced-based practices in programming and recovery plan development.
They provide psychoeducation for individuals, groups, families and couples either as leaders or co-leader.
LMATs administer crisis intervention to patients in psychological distress handling emergencies within the scope of practice.
They perform clinical supervision and oversight of patient care.
They handle the coordination of treatment, and management of acute and chronic substance use and mental health issues.
LMATs manage a caseload of patients with complex addictions, and mental and related physical problems.
LMATs involve participants and their identified support systems in the treatment via education, treatment and planning.
They develop a diagnostic evaluation/summary of the client's substance abuse and coexisting conditions.
LMATs 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.
They make recommendations to the treatment team regarding readiness for discharge.
LMATs are part of the team that formulates discharge plans and arranges referrals to community agencies and organizations.
They ascertain the employment history to include employment difficulties; and conduct an assessment for vocational services planning and housing support and provide community-based resources that assist with recovery.
LMATs collaborate with other disciplines to compile data to ensure quality patient care and compliance with Joint Commission Standards and ensure current information is available.
Preferred Experience:
incumbent possesses knowledge of basic principles, concepts, and methods of counseling and therapies used in treatment of individuals with SUD's. The knowledge and skills may have been acquired through a pertinent formal course of study or may have been acquired through pertinent on-the-job training.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit:
https://www.va.gov/OHRM/QualificationStandards/HT38/0101-AddictionTherapist.pdf
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
The incumbent is a member of an interdisciplinary team that provides treatment to patients with a diagnosis of substance use disorder (SUD); patients may also have coexisting medical and other psychiatric conditions/problems. The Incumbent may be assigned to work areas both inside the VAMC Washington DC main medical center and in other community bases outpatient clinics (CBOC's).
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Duties
- Utilizes an abstinence-based approach for individuals some requiring the benefit of a prescribed opiate agonist therapy (OAT).
- Provides a variety of evaluative, therapeutic, and consultative tasks in identifying, providing, and ensuring continuity of rehabilitative treatment to those with SUD's are who outpatients.
- Incumbent works in collaboration with other personnel, towards maintaining high quality SUD rehabilitation counseling care.
- Performs duties critically, and contributes to the further refinement and improvement of counseling services offered through the Substance Abuse Recovery Program.
- Performs duties as a clinical expert in the field of addiction counseling.
- Supervises, and train other therapists and rehabilitation technicians assigned to SARP.
- Knowledge of basic principles, concepts, and methods of counseling and therapies used in treatment of individuals with SUD's.
- Provides addiction screening/assessments, orientation/education, treatment planning and counseling in person or via telehealth.
- Analyzes problems and interpret and adapt guidelines such as policies, regulations, precedents, etc. for application to specific problems and recommend changes.
- Provides evidenced-based practices in programming and recovery plan development.
- Administer crisis intervention to patients in psychological distress handling emergencies.
- Performs clinical supervision and oversight of patient care.
- Handles the coordination of treatment, and management of acute and chronic substance use and mental health issues.
- Develops a diagnostic evaluation/summary of the client's substance abuse and coexisting conditions.
- Utilizes assessment and diagnostic evaluations to develop an individualized treatment plan.
- Formulates discharge plans and arranges referrals to community agencies and organizations.
- Conducts an assessment for vocational services planning and housing support and provide community-based resources that assist with recovery.
- Establishes, maintains, and updates all computerized records on patients.
- Records information and observations in patient's records with sufficient clarity.
- Evaluates patient's records on recurring basis to assess the current condition and progress.
- Attends SARP interdisciplinary treatment planning meetings.
- Prepares administrative reports as assigned.
- Supervises others assuring delivery of high-quality case management and documentation of care provided.
- Provides direct services to patients receiving OAT/methadone, including assisting pharmacy personnel in the monitoring of methadone dispensing.
- Consults and submits requests to increases/decreases of patient's dosages according to identified treatment needs.
- Supervises the collection of and screening of random urinalysis and breath alcohol content (BAC).
- Assists with screening of OAT applicants.
- Provides a complete spectrum of outpatient aftercare substance abuse services.
- Is a contact between Federal and State agencies, community/area agencies, organizations, and officials as regards to outpatient treatment of veterans with SUD's, aftercare, rehabilitation, follow-up, and placement of patients discharged.
- Determines strengths and weaknesses of SARP and developing proposal for program improvement/refinement.
- Provides substance abuse/alcohol education and training to appropriate individuals internal and external.
- Provides consultation and clinical supervisory assistance to rehabilitation technicians, volunteers, and paraprofessionals that are providing direct service to SARP outpatient aftercare patients.
- Serves as a member on Multidisciplinary Treatment Planning (MTP) team for the rehabilitation process for SARP patients and program compliance.
- Serves on the Quality Assurance Substance Abuse Committee, participating in the specific and continual developmental evaluative elements of this Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).
- Participates in peer review and other performance improvement activities to assure quality documentation by self and peers.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
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:
- Citizenship.
- Education.
- Licensure.
For grades/assignments at or above the full performance level, candidates must be licensed at the master's level.
Failure to Obtain Licensure.
Prior to the time of appointment, HR Office staff will provide uncertified or unlicensed LMATs, the written requirement to obtain licensure, the date by which the license must be acquired and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline. In all cases, LMATs must actively pursue meeting requirements for licensure starting from the date of their appointment. If LMATs fail to obtain licensure during this time period, their employment may be terminated.
Loss of License.
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.
- Physical Requirements.
- English Language Proficiency.
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 (Licensed Master's) GS-11.
- Experience.
- Licensure.
-
NOTE:
- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs).
- Skill to independently complete assessments of substance use disorders, treatment planning and continued care planning.
- Skill to apply the principles, concepts and methods of counseling and therapies used in the treatment of individuals with SUDs. 13
- Skill to collaborate and consult on medical or other psychiatric disorders as interrelated to SUDs.
- Ability to apply various community-based recovery programs and resources in a treatment plan.
- Assignment.
They analyze problems and interpret and adapt guidelines such as policies, regulations, precedents, etc. for application to specific problems and recommend changes.
LMATs provide evidenced-based practices in programming and recovery plan development.
They provide psychoeducation for individuals, groups, families and couples either as leaders or co-leader.
LMATs administer crisis intervention to patients in psychological distress handling emergencies within the scope of practice.
They perform clinical supervision and oversight of patient care.
They handle the coordination of treatment, and management of acute and chronic substance use and mental health issues.
LMATs manage a caseload of patients with complex addictions, and mental and related physical problems.
LMATs involve participants and their identified support systems in the treatment via education, treatment and planning.
They develop a diagnostic evaluation/summary of the client's substance abuse and coexisting conditions.
LMATs 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.
They make recommendations to the treatment team regarding readiness for discharge.
LMATs are part of the team that formulates discharge plans and arranges referrals to community agencies and organizations.
They ascertain the employment history to include employment difficulties; and conduct an assessment for vocational services planning and housing support and provide community-based resources that assist with recovery.
LMATs collaborate with other disciplines to compile data to ensure quality patient care and compliance with Joint Commission Standards and ensure current information is available.
Preferred Experience:
incumbent possesses knowledge of basic principles, concepts, and methods of counseling and therapies used in treatment of individuals with SUD's. The knowledge and skills may have been acquired through a pertinent formal course of study or may have been acquired through pertinent on-the-job training.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit:
https://www.va.gov/OHRM/QualificationStandards/HT38/0101-AddictionTherapist.pdf
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Read more
- Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
