Clarification from the agency

The IHS is required by law to give absolute preference to qualified applicants who meet the Secretary of the Interior's definition of Indian for appointment to vacancies within the IHS in accordance with established IHS policy as outlined in the Indian Health Manual Part 7, Chapter 3.

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• Direct patient care will be required as official duties and monitors residents at all times; screens and monitors all visitors/phone calls, family visits according to policies and procedures; reports questionable symptoms to clinical or nursing staff on duty or with on-call staff, completes accurate entries into medical chart progress notes.
• Monitors client at meal times; takes food temperatures, follows sanitation procedures, per training; during night shift remains awake and alert during working hours, completes routine chart audits on time.
• Assists in a structured program schedule, facilitates groups during day and evening shift: (Cultural Awareness, Living Skills per curriculum, 12 Step support groups, other off campus activities and events.
• Serves as a healthy positive role model and leader, encourages compliance of the program, provides residential orientation, demonstrates respect and safe reassurance toward native adolescents.
• Actively participates in staff meetings, AM rounds, staffing, mid-treatment reviews, treatment team meetings, provides input in reviews, mandated trainings, self-training and other residential services.

Conditions of employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two-year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

Services are provided seven days a week, rotating shifts. Will be required to work all shifts including day, evening and night time shift work, weekends and holidays.

IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently, temporarily, or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases, consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers. Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S):
Social Services Aid and Assistant Series 0186

In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Monitoring patient's daily activities; Documenting behavior or other changes in patients in a substance abuse facility or like program. Experience working with patients who are addicted to or abuse alcohol and/or drugs, conducting meetings, and teaching the program to give patients the tools needed to live a sober life; Assisting patients and their families to utilize available community, state and federal resources.

Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications.

Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required competencies. SMEs will review ONLY the first two (2) pages of your resume. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume).

Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

Click here to view vacancy questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12821471.

All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 12/19/2025, to be considered.