Social Services Assistant (Resident Assistant) Job

Vacancy No. IHS-25-CA-12719463-DE Department Indian Health Service
Salary $44,708.00 to $75,722.00 Grade 5 to 7
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/2/2025 Close Date 12/31/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Davis, CAHemet, CA


Summary

The purpose of the position is to supervise and deliver quality behavioral health services and care to youth ages 12 to 17 years of age with substance use/chemical dependency/co-occurring problems. The Resident Assistant works in coordination with other professional staff in the management and supervision of facility residents to ensure a safe, structured, and therapeutic residential treatment environment. The incumbent reports to the Supervisory Social Services Assistant.

This job is open to

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. The IHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Duties

  • Supervise daily tasks and assignments of residents such as making beds, housekeeping assignments, etc.; assist in maintenance of the living units. Provide guidance and instruction in group activities, personal health and hygiene, courtesy, and etiquette to residents.
  • Supervise and assist residents in getting ready for school, therapy groups, and other treatment activities. Attend activities as directed to assist in management of resident's behavior.
  • Assist residents with homework assignments from school classes and treatment sessions.
  • Escort residents to and from meals and on field trips providing observation during meals and trips. Provide transportation to airport, hospital, and/or other treatment activities as directed.
  • Provide non-professional counseling for patients. Recognize and respond appropriately to deviations from normal behavior. Provide crisis intervention and management of aggressive or difficult behavior.
  • Participate with a multidisciplinary team concerning patient care plans and patient management. Keep drug and alcohol counselors and the Clinical Director informed on all clinical and administrative issues. Assist the treatment team in the assessment, emotional support counseling, and follow-up. Interact daily with psychologist, nurses, social workers, administrators, community resources, resident and their families.
  • Keep well written records (such as daily logs and incident reports) in accordance with the treatment center policies and procedures.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Must pass pre-employment examination.
Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
Valid state driver's license is required.
Must pass pre-employment physical examination.

Rotation shift is required including Day, Evening, Nights, Weekend, and Holidays.

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.

Adherence to the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and the IHS Circular 2016-04 requiring Measles and Rubella, and seasonal influenza immunizations for staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities OR an exemption request will need to be submitted.

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/.

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
The following experience and/or education is required to qualify for this position.

For GS-5: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the private or public sector) performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Aid or assistant to professional or specialist staff working with individuals who are addicted to or abuse alcohol and/or drugs, serve as a group leader in community or residential recreation or training programs, and/or perform as a counselor in a youth summer camp. This experience should provide you the ability to recognize deviations from normal behavior or problematic behaviors, and report to treatment team or appropriate staff.
OR
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree that (a) included at least 24 semester hours in any combination of subjects directly related to the work of the position; (b) included a major in social behavior, human behavior, or health care or; (c) was supplemented by experience in activities that afforded the opportunity to acquire and demonstrate the skills required by the position. (The supplementary experience may have been gained, for example, in part-time or summer employment, in volunteer social welfare or recreation programs, or in community organizations.

For GS-6: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the private or public sector) performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Supervise the day-to-day activities of a group to maintain order and safety; instruct and supervise the group members in such daily activities as work details to keep their quarters in order, physical training, recreation; give practical advice and counsel to individuals on everyday problems of adjustment to the group; or provide client services in a field such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. This experience should provide you the ability to recognize and respond appropriately to deviations from normal behavior, identify problematic behaviors, and report to treatment team or appropriate staff.

For GS-7: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the private or public sector) performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Plan and carry out successive steps to handle behavioral problems in accordance with instructions, policies, previous training, or accepted practices within the interdisciplinary health care team; work with a multidisciplinary team (such as psychologists, nurses, social workers, and administrators) to ensure the safety and well-being of patients; facilitate group activities; recognize and respond appropriately to deviations from normal behavior; provide non-professional counseling to de-escalate aggressive or difficult behavior, or to help the patient/resident process a situation or incident.
OR
One full year of graduate education directly related to the work of the position meets the requirement.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels and positions for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Education

There are no education requirements for this position, however, if you are using education to meet the minimum qualification of this position, you are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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/.

Additional information

**This position is being announced concurrently under Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP) and Merit Promotion (MP) procedures. Please review vacancy announcement number IHS-25-CA-12719464-ESEP/MP for eligibility requirements. Read the "This job is open to" section- it tells you who is eligible to apply to the job. NOTE: Applicants will only be considered for the hiring paths listed on the job announcement to which they apply.**

Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement.

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized. At least a 6 month service agreement will be required.

This position has promotion potential to the GS-07 grade level. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your demonstrated ability to perform the higher level duties, the continuing need for the higher level duties, and "Regulatory/Administrative" approval. Promotion to the next higher grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

If you meet the minimum qualifications requirements for this position, your application will be evaluated and rated under Category Rating selection procedures. Once the application process is complete, a review of your qualifications will be conducted to determine if you are qualified for this job. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The quality categories are: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within each of these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-preference eligibles.

Please note that if, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your category rating can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against the qualifications as defined in the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement and your responses to the assessment questions. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume (your resume must state specific duties that relate to this position) and your responses to the assessment questions will be evaluated against the duties you provided in your resume, along with your submitted documentation to determine your ability to demonstrate the following.

  • Conflict Management
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Technical Competence
  • Technology Application


The following links below provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities. If you are a Veteran, qualified CTAP and ICTAP eligible, or an individual with a disability, please refer to the following links below for additional guidance. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Workforce Restructuring Career Transition website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Click here to view vacancy questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12719463. All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 12/31/2025, to be considered.

Required Documents

Resume: You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form you choose then you must describe your job-related qualifications that includes beginning and ending dates for paid and non-paid work experience, hours worked per week, month and year of employment for each job title listed, annual salary, and description of job duties. Include name and address of employer; supervisor name and telephone number.

Required as applicable for the purposes of specific eligibility and appointment claim(s), and position requirements:

  • Indian Preference Applicants: If claiming Indian preference, applicants must provide a completed copy of the Form BIA-4432, "Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Only." Indian preference will not be given unless a properly signed and dated form is submitted with your application, including any verification by an authorized Tribal Representative or BIA Official of tribal enrollment records. For detailed instructions, see form BIA-4432. Refer to BIA-4432 link:https://www.bia.gov/sites/default/files/media_document/1076-0160_indian-pref_expires-2.28.25_508%28w.omb%29.pdf. When an Indian Preference candidate possesses Veterans preference the rules regarding Veterans preference apply under ESEP and the applicant must provide documentation in order to receive preference.
  • Veterans Preference: If claiming Veteran's Preference provide a copy of your DD214 Form (Member 4 copy). To claim 10-Point Veterans Preference, submit a SF-15 Application (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf) along with the appropriate supporting documentation. For additional information regarding Veterans Preference visit: http://www.fedshirevets.gov.
  • Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP, follow the instructions below: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ctap_guideline.pdf.
  • Transcripts: You are encouraged to submit copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) although not required at the time of application. You must list your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Official transcripts will be required after tentative selection and prior to issuing an official job offer.

You must meet the requirements of the job by 11:59 (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date: 12/31/2025

Your resume and any documents submitted will be retained for three months and may be used at any time during this period. After 3 months, you must reapply to this announcement in order to be considered.

The following cut-off dates will be used for this announcement. A cut-off date establishes an early consideration period. All applications received by the cut-off date that meet the minimum qualifications and are eligible for referral will be referred to the hiring manager thereafter. Applications received or edits made after each cut-off date will be reviewed on the following cut-off date.

Cut-off Dates:
Group 1: 11:59 pm (EST) on 04/17/2025
Group 2: 11:59 pm (EST) on 05/08/2025
Group 3: 11:59 pm (EST) on 05/31/2025
Group 4: 11:59 pm (EST) on 06/30/2025
Group 5: 11:59 pm (EST) on 07/31/2025
Group 6: 11:59 pm (EST) on 08/31/2025
Group 7: 11:59 pm (EST) on 09/30/2025
Group 8: 11:59 pm (EST) on 10/31/2025
Group 9: 11:59 pm (EST) on 11/30/2025
Group 10: 11:59 pm (EST) on 12/31/2025 (closing date)

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below.

  1. Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
  2. Follow the prompts to upload your resume and/or supporting documents.
  3. Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly. .
  4. Complete the assessment questions.
  5. Verify all required documentation is included in your application package
For additional questions please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) found here: https://www.ihs.gov/jobs/faq/.

Agency contact information

Angela Peshlakai
Address
California Area Indian Health Service
650 Capitol Mall Suite 7-100
Sacramento, CA 95814
US

Next steps

You can track the progress of your application package via your USAJobs account. You will receive an acknowledgement from USAJobs that your submission was successful once we have received your on-line occupational questionnaire, resume, and any supporting documentation. You will be notified of the status of your application via your USAJobs Account after we conduct a qualification review of your complete application package. You will be contacted if further evaluation or interviews are required. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempt to conceal information may disqualify you for employment consideration. We may verify all information you provide in your resume and questionnaire responses, through reference and/or background check, and/or verification of your education. If you are selected, you will be contacted personally by the human resources office posting this announcement.

If all required documentation is not submitted with your application you will lose consideration. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information and documents entered, uploaded, or faxed are received, legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

HHS has a critical preparedness and response mission: HHS protects the American people from health threats, researches emerging diseases, and mobilizes public health programs with domestic and international partners. In support of this mission, HHS offers its employees the opportunity to volunteer to become Federal Civilian Detailees and contribute their unique skills through voluntary temporary assignments to humanitarian emergencies or Departmental priorities countering new and emerging health, safety, and security threats.

~ ~ ~ Indian Health Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer ~ ~ ~


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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