Summary

The Eastern Colorado Health Care System VA Hospital is currently recruiting for one GS-9 target 11 Social Worker to work for the Substance Use Disorder, SUD, Program. This position is assigned to the outpatient Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Clinic under the Mental Health Service.

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:

• Citizenship Must be US citizen Non-citizens only appointed when it's not possible to recruit qualified US citizens English Language Proficiency Must be proficient in spoken &
• written English Education Education
• Have a master's degree in social work from social work school fully accredited by Council on Social Work Education, CSWE Graduates of social work schools in candidacy status don't meet requirement until social work school is fully accredited Doctoral degrees in social work may not be substituted for master's degree in social work Degree verification can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify the social work degree meets accreditation standards for masters of social work Licensure
• Persons hired/reassigned to social worker positions in GS-0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at master's degree level
• Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/
• Exception
• VHA may waive licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified, pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
• Exception only applies for GS-9 grade levels
• GS-11 grade levels &
• above must be licensed or certified
• At the time of appointment, supervisor, chief social work or social work executive provides unlicensed/uncertified social worker w/ written requirements for licensure or certification, including time by which the license or certification must be obtained &
• consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline For GS-9 appointments: VHA social workers who aren't licensed or certified at time of appointment must become licensed or certified at independent, master's level w/in 3 years of their appointment as social worker Most states require 2 years post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking licensure/certification exam &
• VHA gives social workers 1 additional year to pass licensure/certification exam In states such as California, Washington &
• others where prerequisites for licensure exceed 2 years, social workers must become licensed at independent, master's level w/in 1 year of meeting full state prerequisites for licensure Social workers who don't have a license to allow independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of same discipline who's a VA staff member &
• who has access to electronic health records Failure to Obtain License or Certification
• In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from appointment date Failure to become licensed or certified w/in prescribed deadlines results in removal from GS-0185 social worker series &
• may result in employment termination
• Loss of Licensure or Certification
• Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment
• Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• Grade Determinations: Candidates must possess following grade determination requirements in addition to basic requirements GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure
• None beyond basic requirements AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills &
• Abilities, KSAs Candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to experience above: 1) Ability to work w/ Veterans/family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational &
• other diversified backgrounds using counseling skills 2) Ability to assess psychosocial functioning needs of Veterans/family members &
• create/implement treatment plans, identifying Veterans'
• issues, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills &
• needed assistance 3) Ability to implement treatment modalities working w/ individuals, families &
• groups to achieve treatment goals
• requires judgment &
• skill using supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques 4) Ability to establish/maintain effective working relationships &
• communicate w/ clients, staff &
• community agencies representatives 5) Fundamental knowledge of medical/mental health diagnoses, disabilities &
• treatment procedures
• includes acute, chronic &
• traumatic illnesses/injuries
• common medications &
• their effects/side effects &
• medical terminology GS-11 Experience and Licensure
• Appointment to GS-11 grade requires completion of minimum of 1 year post-MSW experience equivalent to GS-9 grade level in health care field or other social work-related settings, VA or nonVA experience &
• state licensure or certification at independent practice level OR Education
• Doctoral degree in social work from social work school may be substituted for required 1 year professional social work experience in a clinical setting in addition to meeting basic requirements Demonstrated KSAs Candidates must demonstrate all following KSAs in addition to experience above: 1) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community &
• other governmental agencies for services &
• ability to coordinate services 2) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments &
• treatment interventions to a diverse individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational backgrounds 3) Knowledge of medical &
• mental health diagnoses, disabilities &
• treatment procedures, i.e
• acute, chronic &
• traumatic illnesses/injuries, common medications &
• their effects/side effects &
• medical terminology to formulate treatment plans 4) Skill in independently applying various treatment modalities working w/ individuals, families &
• groups who're having variety of psychiatric, medical &
• social problems to reach treatment goals 5) Ability to provide consultation services to new social workers, social work graduate students &
• staff about psychosocial client needs &
• psychosocial problems impact on health care &
• adherence to treatment Preferred Experience: Experience providing range of treatment services to patients w/ substance use &
• co-occurring disorders, including but not limited to: individual, family &
• group psychotherapy, experience using motivational interviewing skills &
• techniques &
• abstinence based interventions &
• harm reduction approaches to SUDs Reference please visit ttps://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ for qualification standards information Vacancy full performance level is a GS-11
• Applicants may be selected for grades GS-9-GS-11s for this vacancy Physical Requirements: Lift/carry <15 lbs, use computer equipment, sit, walk, stand, bend, carry papers, books, laptop/other items, rapid mental/muscular coordination, climb/descend stairs &
• complete, pass &
• maintain Basic Life Support certification

Duties

• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf The full performance level of the Social Worker Substance Use Disorder, SUD, duties include, but are not limited to the following: Completes all components of the intake and assessment process and develops a treatment plan pertaining to all assessed needs Provides same-day services, as needed, for Veterans enrolled in the SUD Clinic, including referring patients for emergency medical treatment, psychiatric medication evaluation, or non-medical detoxification as well as coordinating the admission of patients to the inpatient psychiatric unit of the nearest VA Medical Center or local non-VA facilities Provides a range of treatment services to Veterans with substance use and co-occurring disorders, including but not limited to individual, family, and group psychotherapy
• Group treatment includes psycho educational as well as psychotherapeutic groups
• The incumbent utilizes evidence-based treatment methods wherever possible
• They employ Motivational Interviewing skills and techniques, as clinically indicated, and applies, as clinically indicated, interventions based on both abstinence and harm reduction approaches to substance use disorders Assesses patient interest in and eligibility for medication assisted therapies and provides referrals for evaluation for these treatments Participates in triage services through the daily same-day access clinics and assists with drug and alcohol monitoring, as needed, in conjunction with psychosocial services Participates in staff meetings and team huddles regarding clinical, administrative, and staff development issues Maintains up-to-date charting in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), documenting all contacts with patients in accordance with local policies and procedures Actively participates in program planning and development, making recommendations for changes in policies and procedures as needed, as opportunities arise Is responsible for improving the skills of other professionals in the SUD Clinic, participating in the planning and executing of specific staff-development projects, attending seminars and other training events, and participating in the training programs of other disciplines (social work, psychology, psychiatry, nursing, addiction counseling) as requested Has general knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special program, service-connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension is required
• The incumbent facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility May provide training to staff through didactic presentations Assures compliance w/ Joint Commission standards Complies w/ national & local performance measures Complies w/ all documentation procedures, including timeliness standards according to policies Performs complex Care Management and has Consultation responsibilities Participates in educational activities, completes unit based in-services, & mandatory educational activities in a self-directed manner by deadlines Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills & professional behavior that promote cooperation & teamwork Practices good customer service & demonstrates VA I-CARE values Participates in unit-based quality of care performance improvement activities, unit based performance improvement measures & results Perform other duties as assigned Work Schedule: 7:30-4:00pm or similar schedule, can discuss during interview Compressed/Flexible: Available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Available-as determined by the agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PD53863A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized