Social Worker (SUD)

This incumbent functions as a Licensed Independent Social Worker in the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment programs located at the Dayton VA Medical Center. The position requires extensive work with veterans diagnosed with substance use disorders. The SUD population of veterans will receive a variety of therapeutic services such as medication assisted therapy, addiction education, evidenced based psychoeducation, psychotherapy, group therapy, case management and service coordination.

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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.

• 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.]

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, you must meet the following grade requirements.

GS-9 Social Worker:

Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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.

GS-11 Social Worker:

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 (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard dated September 10, 2019.

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: Emotional maturity, compassion for others, and tolerance for stressful situations are required. High energy level is required in order to interact with challenging veterans to meet their treatment needs. The work is primarily sedentary, however, walking, carrying files, and fine motor dexterity is involved in processing and monitoring veteran's cases.

Responsibilities:

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Screening of veterans who have been referred to the program and collaborate with providers to determine suitability for program.
• Complete a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment on the veteran, taking into account the presenting problems, historical information, medical and psychiatric issues, legal implications, the present environment, significant others and the current support systems.
• Collaborate with various agencies and providers working with the veteran to gather collateral information and for continuity of care.
• Review all data and make a clinical assessment, identifying needs and strengths.
• Utilize advanced clinical training, insight and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options.
• Provide explanation of the different levels of care available and why one level may benefit the veteran more than another.
• Utilize advanced clinical judgment to determine the appropriate level of care and to assess the effectiveness of treatment.
• Provide orientation and overall program information to the veterans and others involved in their care.
• Utilize advanced clinical skills to work with veterans who are considered a high-risk population and who have high recidivism rates.
• Independently initiate and provide creative solutions to reoccurring problems, such as a loss of resources.
• Professional recommendations and referrals are made for those veterans who tend to have frequent and severe crises.
• Make clinical diagnoses based on the psychosocial assessment, utilizing professional judgment and advance practice skills.
• Perform insightful assessment of complicated cases involving mental illness, legal consequences, transmittable and terminal medical conditions, addictions and other high- risk factors.
• Consult with other specialists in planning treatment for veterans with co-morbidities.
• Utilize the psychosocial assessment to suggest plans for the course of treatment.
• Provide consultations and recommendations in the development of interdisciplinary treatment plan.
• Plan treatment interventions utilizing evidence-based practices.
• Receive and complete consults requesting services on complex cases using advanced practice skills and expertise.
• Demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff and social work students assigned to the SUD program.
• Utilize outcome evaluations to further treatment and designs systems changes based on empirical findings.
• Participate in the writing of procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the veterans served in the SUD program.

Work Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, 12pm to 8:30pm, Saturday 8am to 4:30pm, or as determined by agency
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: Social Worker (Substance Abuse Disorders)/91525-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Salary : $56,483 - $88,837