Correctional Treatment Specialist (Drug Abuse Treatment Specialist)

Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System • Estill, SC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Correctional Treatment Specialist serves as a Drug Abuse Treatment Specialist (DATS) within a Bureau of Prisons federal correctional facility. The role provides direct drug abuse treatment services, including individual therapy, group counseling, drug education, and residential or non-residential treatment focused on the rational behavioral therapy model of drug abuse treatment and criminality.

The specialist educates prison staff about drug abuse, treatment, and the local prison program; administers eligibility and psychosocial assessments to inform individual treatment plans; and collaborates with supervisors, other DATS staff, and unit teams to share information and recommendations about treatment participants. Like all correctional institution employees, the incumbent is responsible for maintaining institutional security. Correctional responsibilities take precedence over other duties and are performed regularly.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Meet the basic education requirement: at least 24 semester hours in behavioral or social sciences, either through a degree or a qualifying combination of education and experience equivalent to a four-year degree.
• Meet the applicable GL-09 or GS-11 qualification through graduate education, specialized experience, or a qualifying combination of graduate education and experience. GL-09 education requires two years of progressively higher graduate education leading to a master's degree or a master's/equivalent degree; GS-11 education requires three years of progressively higher graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or a doctoral/equivalent degree.
• Specialized experience must be equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade and related to the position. Examples include treatment services, assessments, treatment planning, presentations, analytical reports, or discharge and follow-up planning, depending on grade.
• Meet one of the selective factors for the grade sought. GL-09 requires either 12 graduate semester hours in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or social work, including three semester hours of clinical treatment internship/practicum, or 12 months of full-time professional experience treating individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders. GS-11 requires either 24 such graduate semester hours, including six internship/practicum semester hours, or 24 months of full-time professional treatment experience.
• Clearly document applicable professional experience in the resume, including the actual time spent on activities, such as hours worked per week.
• If qualifying through education, provide legible transcripts with the application; coursework and degrees must be from an appropriately accredited college or university. Selected applicants qualifying through education must provide an official transcript before their first day on duty.
• Satisfactorily complete pre-employment and panel interviews, urinalysis, physical examination, background investigation, NCIC screening, and credit check.
• Complete the three-week Introduction to Correctional Techniques course in Glynco, Georgia.
• Meet applicable Selective Service requirements.
• Applicants above the maximum entry age of 36 for original appointment to a BOP institution must provide documentation of prior federal law enforcement coverage, unless exempt as a qualified preference-eligible veteran.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual therapy and group counseling to people participating in drug abuse treatment.
• Provide drug education and residential and/or non-residential treatment using the rational behavioral therapy model of drug abuse treatment and criminality.
• Educate prison staff about drug abuse, drug abuse treatment, and the local prison program.
• Administer eligibility and psychosocial assessments to support individual treatment planning.
• Attend meetings with supervisors, other drug treatment specialists, and unit teams to share information, knowledge, ideas, and recommendations concerning treatment participants.
• Help maintain the security of the correctional institution as a regular and recurring responsibility.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits and eligibility depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level