The HUDVASH Addiction Therapist primary assignment will specialize in treatment of substance abuse issues within the HUD VASH program. The HUD-VASH Addiction Therapist will provide individual substance abuse therapy, group therapy as needed by the program, and general case management services for veterans and their families in both an in home and office-based setting.

Duties

Major Duties Directs/coordinates clinical and psychosocial services and is accountable for the overall effectiveness of the services provided. Modifies services to best meet the treatment needs of the veterans and to promote effective practice and coordinates with other services offered in the treatment program, assuring such services are complementary and comprehensive. Provide consultation with the VAMHCS relative to areas of special expertise (specialized treatment modalities, etc) Establish and maintain effective working &relationships and liaison with community agencies, organizations, and officials in support of the needs and and interests of HUD VASH and is substance addicted Veterans for referral, aftercare, residential placement, rehabilitation, and other resource supports. Utilize clinical and (as appropriate) standardized addiction evaluations/measures. Contribute to the development or formal treatment program evaluation strategies and assessment measures consistent with valid Addiction Therapist statistical and evaluation methodologies. Responsible for attending treatment planning meetings, and for helping to ensure that treatment plans/service plans are accurate, complete, and updated at required intervals. Provide addiction education and training to appropriate individuals internal and/or external to the VAMHCS. Collaborates with other programs and VAMHCS personnel, be responsible for participating in determining the strengths nd weaknesses of Community Integration addictive services and developing proposals for program improvement/refinement. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized Telework: Position is Suitable Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education and experience. The candidate must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1)Successful completion of a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university. The degree must be in a behavioral health or social science related field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, family counseling, mental health counseling, nursing, ministry and criminal justice); OR, (2)Two years of specialized experience as a first responder (e.g., Police, Medic, Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency Dispatch, etc.) or in a social science related field that included behavioral health crisis response, and two years of higher education (i.e., above the high school level) from an accredited college or university in a behavioral health or social science related field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, family counseling, mental health counseling, nursing, ministry and criminal justice); OR, (3)Successful completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in any field and, one year of specialized experience that included behavioral health crisis response or mental health counseling. English Language Proficiency. HUD VASH Addictions Therapist must be proficient in spoken and written English. See 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f) 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). Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series, or in another occupational series, who perform the duties as described in the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1)Employees in an occupation not requiring a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation. (2)Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (3)Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels. (4)Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(5)Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. NOTE: Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade level. GS-7 (Entry Level)(a) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. HUD VASH Addictions Therapist, GS-9 Experience or Education. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below. Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled; or (b) Education. Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a behavioral health or social science related field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, and family counseling, mental health counseling, nursing, ministry, criminal justice). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to use evidenced based crisis intervention skills. Ability to collaboratively solve problems under stressful circumstances. This includes the ability to work effectively with a team. Ability to learn call center protocol and available approved VCL resources. Ability to use a variety of technology to gather information. This information could be used for locating resources and assessing needs of the caller GS-11 ( Full Performance Level) Experience or Education. Individual must meet at least one of the requirements below. Experience. In addition to the basic requirements, must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level, which is directly related to the position to be filled; OR Education. Ph.D. or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university in a behavioral health related field appropriate to the work of the position (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology, or family counseling). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to provide an evidenced based crisis intervention through a variety of modalities (e.g., telephone interviews, chat/text services, or social media forums). Ability to carry out crisis management steps while withholding judgment on controversial behaviors and not imposing one's values during the contact. Ability to effectively prioritize complex problems quickly and respond appropriately in a crisis situation. References: VA Handbook 5005/136 Part II Appendix G64 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited by U.S. Department of Education at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Contacts

• Address VA Maryland Health Care System 10 North Greene Street Baltimore, MD 21201 US
• Name: Courtnie Wilson
• Phone: (410) 605-7000
• Email: [email protected]