The Lead Addiction Therapist (Lead LMAT) assists with managing SUD treatment services of AT staff. Provides recommendations to the SUD manager of any clinical changes to policy and procedure. The Lead LMAT communicates assignments with milestones, priorities, expected outcomes, deadlines and time frames for completing assignments. Makes adjustments to assignments to distribute and balance workload and tasks among staff to accomplish workload. 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education: Hold a master's degree or higher in drug and alcohol studies or related behavioral health field from an accredited college or university. Licensure. 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. 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. Grandfathering Provision: 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). All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification 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: Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation. Employees in an occupation that requires licensure, certification, or 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. Employees in an occupation that require a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before being promoted to those higher grade levels. 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. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification, or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. Employees retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision who leave that occupation or employment with the VA, lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Lead Addiction Therapist (Licensed Master's), GS-12: Experience: Completion of one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) directly related to the position being filled. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders and managers Ability to provide staff training and development Ability to independently set priorities to meet multiple deadlines Preferred Experience: 3+ years of evidence based psychotherapy in the areas of substance use and disorder. References: VA Handbook 5005/155, PART II APPENDIX G76 ["Major duties include but is not limited to: Monitors and reports on the status and progress of work completed for AT and LMAT staff to ensure the supervisor's instructions on work priorities, methods, deadlines and quality have been met Addresses program issues under review and problems to be resolved by providing advice on work methods, practices, and procedures Ensures AT and LMAT staff comply with clinical procedures, treatment goals and standards of practice Provides leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development and continuing education programs for other assigned staff Assists in communicating the organizations' strategic plan, mission, vision and values to the clinical staff and ensure integration into work plans, products and services Maintains reference materials, project files and documentation of policies, procedures and written instructions to ensure staff is kept up to date and well informed Assists with the oversight of EBT provided by other LMATs. Analyzes and provides oversights of core quality and performance improvement projects and reports Participates in quality assurance programs within the facility, reporting accomplishments, issues within the program, need for resources, training, equipment and the status or completion of tasks to appropriate management Assists the SUD Program Manager or designees in collaborating with other disciplines in compiling data for quality management to ensure quality patient care and compliance with accreditation organizations and VA standard and ensures current information is available Provides input to the SUD Program Manager or designee on performance reviews for ATs and LMATs Also has clinical duties and must coordinate treatment planning and delivery of service that best meet the needs of patients diagnosed with SUD Provides direct, concurrent clinical care using established evidence-based practices for Veterans with SUD Provides a range of psychological interventions (family, individual and group) consistent with training and expertise, with special emphasis on evidence-based treatments for SUDs Evidence based treatments to be provided to Veterans individually or in group format with appropriate documentation and measurement of effectiveness and Veteran response using clinical judgement and standardized assessment instruments Provides administrative duties including: Scheduling of Veterans and related issues, returning Veteran's phone calls and secure messages, attending organizational meetings Provide clinical coverage for absent staff members as needed Compiles with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders Other collateral duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required."]

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