Social Worker (SUD)

The Substance Abuse Treatment Team (SATT) Social worker independently provides clinical psychosocial, mental health and case management services to eligible Veterans who have problems with substance abuse or dependence and may include work with family members and the Veteran as part of the treatment plan.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• 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/.

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 meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

GS-11 Social Worker candidates must have the following:

• Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one (1) 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 (1) year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting.

While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. These are the KSA's for this subject position:

GS-11

1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard.

The full performance level of this vacancy is the GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Able to meet the physical demands of the position, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. They must have good manual dexterity. Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken and written word. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens. Position involves sitting a majority of the workday, with some standing, bending, and walking.

Responsibilities:

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• The SATT social worker interviews Veterans and their family members/significant others to establish facts about the Veteran's situation, presenting problems and their causes, and the impact of such problems on the Veteran's functioning and health as part of a comprehensive psychosocial and/or mental health assessment.
• Interprets and explains VA's treatment and benefit programs.
• Reviews all data, subjective and objective, and makes a clinical assessment, identifying needs and strengths.
• Effectively uses professional skill, objectivity and insight.
• Uses advanced clinical training, insight and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options.
• Assesses high risk factors, acuity and need for services.
• Has the ability to serve Veterans who tend to have serious frequent and severe crises, lack family or an adequate community support network, be poor at self-monitoring, frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment, have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychological support.
• The SATT social worker completes a psychosocial and/or mental health assessment documenting appropriate treatment plans, interventions, VA/community resource referrals and follow-up case management services; services provided are focused on helping Veterans maximize treatment potential and achieve a more satisfying and productive level of emotional, social, and physical functioning.
• Case management entails ensuring that the Veteran receives needed substance abuse, psychological, and psychosocial services in the most appropriate treatment setting and is assisted with resolution of access to these services, and facilitating linkage of the Veteran and/or family members with community resources.
• Substance dependence is diagnosed using the latest version of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual; the appropriate level of care is assigned using the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) multi-dimensional criteria.
• Case management encompasses the full range of direct social work practice services in the course of assessing, treating and coordinating care for assigned Veterans.
• The SATT social worker independently evaluates the client's situation, including the Veteran's reaction and ability to cope, and arrives at a reasoned conclusion.
• Based on the psychosocial assessment, uses professional judgment and advanced practice skills to make a psychosocial/mental health diagnosis.
• Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan, involving the Veteran and family or significant others.
• Performs insightful assessment of serious and complicated cases involving psychiatric illness, catastrophic medical conditions, dementia and other high-risk diagnoses.
• Makes independent professional decisions and recommendations for agency action.
• Consequences to the Veteran may be serious and the results are often unpredictable.
• On an inpatient/residential/outpatient basis, finds a suitable means of treatment to help Veterans and/or significant others cope with stressful situations.
• Treatment is aimed at helping Veterans find practical and lasting solutions to problems.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Telework: May be available, as determined by the agency/facility.
Functional Statement #: Social Worker (SUD), FS# 50301F
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Salary : $79,470 - $103,307