Social Worker - Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Therapist

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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
• Education: Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Graduates of schools of social work that are in candidacy status do not meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited
• A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work
• Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Exception
• VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• This exception only applies at the GS-9 grade level
• For the GS-11 grade level and above - the candidate must be licensed or certified
• At the time of appointment - the supervisor - chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification - including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline
• For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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
• Social Worker - GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• Ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members - and to formulate and implement a treatment plan - identifying the Veterans problems - strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and assistance needed
• Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups to achieve treatment goals
• This requires judgment and skill in utilizing supportive - problem solving - or crisis intervention techniques
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities - and treatment procedures
• This includes acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses/injuries
• common medications and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology
• Social Worker - GS-11 Experience and Licensure
• Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings - (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level
• OR - Education
• In addition to meeting basic requirements - a doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required one year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - candidates must demonstrate all of the following knowledge - skills - and abilities: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - cultural - ethnic - educational and other diversified backgrounds
• Knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses - disabilities and treatment procedures (i.e
• acute - chronic and traumatic illnesses/injuries - common medications and their effects/side effects - and medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan
• Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals - families - and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric - medical - and social problems to achieve treatment goals
• Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers - social work graduate students - and other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment
• Preferred Experience: Experience working with individuals diagnosed with Substance Use Disorder Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The position is located in the Behavioral Health Service's Substance Use Disorders (SUD) program
• The SUD program provides comprehensive services to Veterans struggling with substance misuse and behavioral addictions
• As a social worker in the Behavioral Health Clinic - the incumbent has the overall responsibility for providing the full range of psychological services to the patients in this clinic
• These services include intake evaluations - rendering diagnostic opinions - treatment planning - and the provision of evidence-based individual - group - and family psychotherapy - using a variety of techniques based on psychological principles
• Major Duties include but are not limited to: Provides a full range of clinical psychological services with the SUD program including diagnostic assessment - treatment planning - group and individual psychotherapy - consultation and psycho-education on pertinent clinical topics
• Assesses level of care needs (i.e. - detox - residential - outpatient) using ASAM guidelines - which includes completion of evaluations at the Urgent Care Center - via telephone calls into the clinic - and consultation with other BH staff
• Provides comprehensive - evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions - including individual - family - and/or group psychotherapy for treatment of substance use disorders and behavioral addictions within the SUD program
• Maintain awareness of new treatment techniques and evidence-based practices that follow the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the treatment of SUD
• Develops - implements - and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for an assigned caseload of patients within the SUD program including prompt completion of clinical reminders
• The treatment planning process involves cooperation and input from the Veterans and is recovery-focused with an emphasis on wants - needs - and goals as defined by the Veteran
• Reassesses each patient as needed to determine the status of their current clinical problems - current needs - and responses to treatment
• Takes action to communicate findings with relevant BHC staff and initiates action to modify treatment - when indicated
• Is an engaged member of the SUD clinical team - which involves participation during biweekly treatment team meetings - regular case consultation - and active involvement with program development
• Provides education to patients - family members - and significant others on mental health disorders
• Provides consultation and in-house trainings to professional staff within Erie VAMC as requested
• Completes suicide screenings - assessments - and safety plans in accordance with Joint Commission and VA guidelines
• Responsible for identification of patient problems requiring consultation with other multi-disciplinary medical center staff and making appropriate referrals
• Fully accountable for practice - including scheduling and documenting patient visits - measuring outcomes to interventions - and meeting productivity standards
• Adheres to operational policies and procedures for the treatment team established by the Behavioral Health Clinic and SUD programs
• Complies with national and local performance measures including timely health care screening - completion of clinical reminders - and completion of measurement based care for all patients -
• Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g. - entering diagnostic and procedure codes)
• May serve as a behavioral health representative on Behavioral Health and Medical Center committees and workgroups
• Advocates for the delivery of trauma-informed care All staff are encouraged to participate in systems redesign activities and are allotted time to participate in activities that will contribute to the overall efficiency - quality - and satisfaction of Veterans and employees
• Conducts other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Thursday - 10:00am - 6:30pm and Friday 9:00am - 5:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [email protected] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Telework: Available - Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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