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. 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: 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. Education Requirement: Master of Social Work: Applicants must have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Note: 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. COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED. Licensure Requirement: Appointment at the GS-11 Full Performance Level: Persons hired or reassigned to full performance 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. OR Appointment at the GS-9 (Entry or Developmental Level): 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 appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Grade Determinations: GS-9 (Entry Level): Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. For appointments at the GS-9 grade level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent, master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam, and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the applicant's resume 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 (Full Performance Level): 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, the applicant's resume 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. 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 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-9 to GS-11. ["A recruitment incentive may be approved for highly qualified applicants. This announcement is open continuous. Certificates will be issued to the hiring manager on a biweekly basis until all positions have been filled. Announcement will remain open until all vacancies are filled, and may close sooner than 9/29/2023. This position provides Substance Use Disorder (SUD) case management and intervention support to the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program in a team oriented, recovery-based program. The SUD Specialist supports the HCHV Program by providing continuity of care between Homeless Programs through services to Veterans with SUDs as the transition from programs such as HCHV Outreach or Contract Residential Housing, Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Programs (RRTPs), and Grant Per Diem Programs (GPD) to permanent housing through the Housing and Urban Development - Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) Program or other forms of housing in the community. Major duties include, but are not limited to, the following: The incumbent will provide direct SUD services for the HCHV program in the Medical Center and in the community. The incumbent will provide Outreach services for the HCHV program in the community. The incumbent will provide training for other members of a multidisciplinary treatment team in areas related to SUD assessment anger management, life skills and SUD with co-occurring disorders. The incumbent independently conducts intake and needs assessment of homeless Veterans and their significate others. Identifies symptoms leading to clinical diagnosis of SUD. The incumbent will provide all necessary assessment functions, e.g. interviewing, psychosocial histories, and SUD assessments to aid in the development of treatment plans. The incumbent will develop comprehensive treatment plans with the Veteran that address the factors that contributed to homelessness, including SUD and other co-occurring factors within a recovery model framework. The incumbent will work with the Veteran to realize the Veteran's treatment goals and reassess and revise the goals as indicated by the Veteran's engagement in treatment. The incumbent will organize and conduct individual and group case management and SUD treatment, to include early interventions and supportive follow-up to ensure stability. The incumbent will provide SUD support to the HCHV team as a functional member of the team, to include consultation, interventions or accompanying other HCHV personnel into the community. The incumbent will serve as a member of a multidisciplinary homeless program treatment team. The incumbent will develop partnerships with community agencies, especially those serving homeless and SUD Veterans, with regular contract and communication. The incumbent will provide liaison services with other programs referring homeless Veterans to HCHV to ensure continuity of care and promote successful transition of Veterans from one program to another. The incumbent will provide consultative services to HCHV, as needed. The incumbent will participate in policy making, goal setting and treatment service planning discussions with other members of HCHV and other Homeless Programs. The incumbent will appropriate clinical documentation for all contacts with or about Veterans. The incumbent will be responsible for the collection of statistical data and for reviewing the data to improve performance and delivery of services to homeless Veterans. The incumbent will provide recovery-oriented treatment with the goal of establishing the Veteran independently in the community at the Veteran's highest level of functioning and quality of life. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:00pm; Monday-Friday Telework: Ad Hoc Travel: Up to 50% may be required. Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact vhavisn23edrp@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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