The VA Central Iowa Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full-time Social worker for the SUD (Substance Use Disorder) Treatment Program. This position is under the Mental Health Intensive Care Coordination Service Line and located at the Des Moines VA Medical Center, 3600 30th St, Des Moines, IA 50310. A recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP). Please see below for more information. 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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Grade Determinations: 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: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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 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 KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II, Appendix G39 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: Lifting, carrying, use of fingers, walking, standing, operation of motor vehicle, read fine print, hearing (aid permitted), mental/emotional stability, no skin allergies preventing use of protective equipment, function of extremities for computer/phone. ["The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. The SUD (Substance Use Disorder) Treatment Program assumes responsibility for the provision of substance abuse services to veterans who are admitted for outpatient and residential substance abuse treatment. The services will be provided primarily in outpatient setting and may provide some services to Residential Rehabilitation patients. The SUD social worker interviews patients/significant others and completes psychosocial assessments. The incumbent also completes a substance abuse assessment responding to substance abuse consults from medical and mental health providers within VA Central Iowa Healthcare System. The assessment will include data pertinent to the development of an effective treatment plan as stipulated in Joint Commission and CARF standards. The social worker will serve as a member to the multidisciplinary treatment team. In addition, the social worker will provide direct care and treatment where indicated and as such functions as a substance abuse treatment team member. The social worker must have an understanding of psychodynamics and use a wide range of treatment modalities, including crisis intervention, individual case work, group work, patient education, motivational interviewing, supportive therapy, family therapy, discharge planning and knowledge of aftercare treatment resources, etc. The treatment modality shall be consistent with the needs, as well as, goals and objectives of each patient. Individuals shall be involved with and participating in formulating and implementing their own rehabilitation efforts with the goal of optimal functioning. The social worker providing substance abuse services may participate in conducting orientation sessions for new employees. Inservice training sessions may also be conducted for medical center staff to improve the level of knowledge and understanding of substance abuse, its impact on families and significant others, treatment and aftercare services. The social worker obtains a thorough working knowledge of aftercare rehabilitation community treatment resources and makes appropriate referrals. The incumbent makes every effort to link patients to the appropriate resource and to implement the aftercare plan. The social worker serves as a liaison between both the inpatient and outpatient setting and the community services. The incumbent advises significant others about community rehabilitation resources available to them (Al-Anon) as well as informing aftercare facilities about VA programs and resources. The social worker is accountable for proper documentation in the clinical treatment file including social work assessments and discharge summaries, documentation of statistical data and recording of social work workload into the DSS system. Duties include, but are not limited to: 1. The incumbent will conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members. 2. The incumbent will conduct intake assessments for patients to determine appropriate VA program needs. 3. The incumbent is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. 4. The incumbent will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. 5. The incumbent will provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate. VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU 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. 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. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Available - Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Authorized Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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