The Addiction Therapist (Licensed Master's) position is in the Social Work service at VA Boston Healthcare System at the Jamaica Plains Campus in Boston, MA. This position is full time, 40 hours per week.

Duties

This position is located at the Boston VA Healthcare System, providing addiction therapy, case management and supportive services to veterans who are or have experienced homelessness and are participating in the HUD-VASH Program that provides them with permanent supportive housing subsidized by HUD-VASH Section 8 housing choice vouchers. The position is located at the Causeway Street CBOC site. The Addiction Therapist is a member of an interdisciplinary team that provides treatment to patients with a diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and coexisting medical and other psychiatric conditions/problems. The incumbent collaborates with other applicable departments and VA Boston Healthcare System programs such as SAARPT, CIRCA, VIADPT, REACH, Outpatient Mental Health, and any other relevant service through referrals, and participation in team meetings when appropriate. They develop and maintain appropriate communications, rapport and positive working relationships with a variety of institutions, organizations and service providers, e.g. halfway houses, Alcoholics Anonymous, Al Anon, Narcotics Anonymous, Nar Anon, Cocaine Anonymous, community church groups, etc. GS-9: The GS-09 level Addiction Therapist of the position may handle crisis intervention or other emergency situations with benefit of specific instructions/oversight. GS-11: The full performance level Addiction Therapist of the position may handle crisis intervention or other emergency situations without benefit of specific instructions. (Note: For GS-11, you must submit a copy of your independent license in the field of Alcohol and Drug Treatment with the application.) Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Authorized. Telework can be performed on a less than full-time basis anywhere other than a VA facility or using VA-leased space (example: home). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F05099/F05098 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): NotAuthorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: This position is in the Excepted Service. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Selectee may be required to work at any Boston Healthcare System campus, as needed. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Addiction Therapist AT/LMAT must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38. U.S.C. 7403(f) Education Requirement: Hold a master's degree or higher in drug and alcohol studies or related behavioral health field from an accredited college or university. Foreign Education. There is no substitution for foreign education for this occupation; therefore, foreign education evaluation is not applicable. Licensure Requirement: Individuals appointed or reassigned to an LMAT position must possess a full, current, and unrestricted license in a jurisdiction for independent practice in the field of Alcohol and Drug Treatment. Exception. The Secretary or designee may waive the licensure requirement for selectees who are otherwise qualified, pending state acceptance of completion of state prerequisites at the master's level. Licensures can be waived for three years from the date of employment for the GS-9 level only. Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-9-Addiction Therapist (Licensed Masters) -Entry level Education, License and Experience.(a) Less than one year of experience post licensure. OR (b) LMATs at the master's level who are graduates not yet licensed at the independent practice (Journey) level. Unlicensed LMATs at the GS-09 grade level must have completed the required education and are working toward obtaining a full, current, and unrestricted license in a jurisdiction for independent practice in the field of Alcohol and Drug Treatment. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of coexisting medical or other mental health disorders and the interrelationship of SUDs.(b) Knowledge of basic recovery programs and resources.(c) Skill in providing individual and group therapy, including using certain SUD Evidenced-Based Therapy (EBTs).(d) Skill in developing and maintaining effective working or therapeutic relationships with multidisciplinary staff, Veterans and their families, and community resources to ensure appropriate referrals.(e) Ability to complete the assessment of substance use disorders, treatment/recovery planning and continuing care planning.(f) Ability to identify patients who are in psychological distress consistent with VA national policy and within scope of certification and secure appropriate interventions. GS-11 Addiction Therapist (Licensed Master's) (1) Experience. One year of creditable experience comparable to the next lower grade. (2) Licensure. Candidates must possess a full, current and unrestricted license in a State for independent practice in the field of Alcohol and Drug Treatment. (3) NOTE: Applicants who meet the qualifications requirements for an AT at the full performance level, who have a minimum of one year experience at that level and who have obtained the master's degree and license will be qualified at the GS-11 level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Skill to independently complete assessments of substance use disorders, treatment planning and continued care planning.(b) Skill to apply the principles, concepts and methods of counseling and therapies used in the treatment of individuals with SUDs.(c) Skill to collaborate and consult on medical or other psychiatric disorders as interrelated to SUDs.(d) Ability to apply various community-based recovery programs and resources in a treatment plan. References: VA Handbook 5005/155 Part II Appendix G76.The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 11. Preferred Experience: At least 1 year work experience with addictions. Work with people experiencing homelessness. Physical Requirements: The work requires extreme patience and control of emotions. When applicable the work requires travel in a vehicle to off-site locations for community based or face-to-face home visits and accompanying to appointments

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/.

Contacts

• Address VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: Diane McClure
• Phone: 774-826-4912
• Email: [email protected]