This Social Worker position in the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) Mental Health Services (MHS) Substance Use Disorder (SUD) provides a full range of outpatient SUD Services including ambulatory detoxification services through Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Intensive Outpatient Program, Outpatient Recovery Program and Opioid Medication Assisted Treatment.
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. VHA Social Worker must 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. 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: GS-09 Social Worker Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors. 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. Note: KSAs must be clearly reflected in your resume under description of duties to be found qualified for this position/grade level. 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. 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. Note: KSAs must be clearly reflected in your resume under description of duties to be found qualified for this position/grade level. Preferred Experience: Experience in group/individual therapy Experience with case management Experience with evidence-based treatments Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Social Worker serves Veterans in various stages of readiness and recovery who frequently have mental health co-morbidities and exhibit difficulty coping with psychosocial problems including frequent crises and lack of social support systems. Duties may include but are not limited to: Provides treatment for Veterans with complex substance use disorders and co-morbid mental health disorders. Incorporates complex multiple causations in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Completes clinical reminders across a broad spectrum of mental health disorders including (but not limited to) post-traumatic stress disorders, depression, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Performs psychosocial assessments and collaborates with the Veteran/family to develop treatment plans. Performs appropriate psychosocial interventions and measures the outcomes of those interventions. Coordinates services to address Veteran's treatment goals and develop clinical interventions in collaboration with Veteran to address treatment goals. This includes coordinating with community-based partners, other VA programs, and other government entities. Meets with Veterans to review progress in treatment within established program timelines. Monitors progress towards treatment plan goals and address any identified barriers to treatment outcomes. Collaborate with the treatment team on corrective interventions, recommend/implement disciplinary actions, and make recommendations for a more intensive level of care, as appropriate. Has knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension. Facilitates referrals based upon Veterans' needs and eligibility. Collaborates with Veterans/support system and the interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate VA and Community referrals are completed in a timely manner. Serves as the primary case manager for Veterans on their assigned caseload. Ensures appropriate discharge plans are in place prior to program completion including any needed referrals, follow-up/aftercare plans, safety plans and warm handoffs are completed. Reviews and approves/denies Veteran's requests for weekend passes and/or requests to be excused from programming. Teach and mentors staff, fellows, and students in this special area of practice, as appropriate. Provides Advanced Directive information and education including but not limited to the following: Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, Living Will, Health Care Directive, and/or treatment preferences document to Veteran and families. Also assists the Veteran in preparing such documents, as requested. Assist the interdisciplinary team by identifying appropriate decision makers if Veteran is unable to make their own decision. Facilitates advanced care planning group visits with Veterans and support system. Performs comprehensive suicide risk screenings and assessments and develops and integrates safety planning and safety goals into the Veteran's collaborative, individualized treatment plan. In conjunction with the healthcare team, identifies and assesses risk, safety, supports and implements appropriate interventions/treatment for those who are experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation or are experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Schedule subject to change based on the needs of the facility. 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: Ad hoc only - Telework may be authorized during specific situations like adverse weather conditions per Agency Policy and at the Services discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 598-01316-F, 598-01317-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized