Summary

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. Program 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.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education and/or Experience Combination - You must possess 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
• Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work
• License or Certification - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Senior Social Worker GS-12: Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination - unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California - which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and must be able to provide supervision for licensure
• Experience Requirement: You must possess at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which - one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• Examples of specialized experience include - but are not limited to: ???assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect - exploitation and/or intimate partner violence
• use of clinical social work skills
• maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies - handbooks or directives
• acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver
• independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members - identifying the patient's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity
• Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
• In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations
• This includes individual - group - and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management
• Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice
• Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area - as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession - and to write policies - procedures - and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area
• Preferred Experience: Substance use disorder treatment: stepped or transitional continuum of care: residential or intensive outpatient substance use treatment: Dual diagnosis: VA experience
• 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-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Senior Social Worker is the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Specialist for the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) Program
• This position provides coordination with VISN for referrals to RRTP Programs in VISN 1.Position will oversee clinical case management in Domiciliary to ensure compliance and clinical expectations
• Duties may include - but are not limited to: Provide a full range of services within the Social Work Scope of Practice based on Veteran needs - acuity level - and preferences for care
• Services may include - but are not limited to - the following: individual - family - and group therapy
• case management - discharge planning
• resource linkage
• and care coordination
• Provide consultation and psychoeducation to Veterans and Veteran families on topics including community resources - Advance Directives - VA benefits - budgeting - activities of daily living - and recovery goals
• Act as a consultant to other team/staff members and take a lead clinical role in case consultation
• Fulfill ethical responsibilities to Veterans - colleagues and VA in accordance with ethics policies
• This includes but is not limited to: compliance with all laws and regulations related to confidentiality and release of information
• protecting Veterans' personal identifying information
• Document all Veteran care in the electronic health record in accordance with facility policy - VHA Directive 1162.05 (and revisions) - and program-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Ensure compliance with standards and expectations of Joint Commission and other relevant accrediting bodies
• Assist program leadership in accreditation preparation and continuous readiness activities as requested
• Actively participate in program planning and development - advising the supervisor of shifting Veteran care needs and identifying the need for SOP or policy changes
• Provide supervision - training and education to students - interns - or unlicensed Social Workers as requested
• Maintain familiarity and responsibility for all behavioral health performance measures
• Assist in development and maintenance of operational plans and strategic goals related to these measures
• Responsible for participation and leadership in process improvement - system redesign - and/or other applicable workgroups and committees - to include creation of standard work documents or strategic plan implementation
• Take responsibility for improving professional competencies by participating training programs and continuing education
• Primary administrative oversight of the enrollment of Veterans into the MH RRTP - ensuring rapid access to care in accordance with the VHA Handbook
• MH RRTP Outpatient and inpatient consult administrative management
• Program evaluation to identify and address barriers to program enrollment/engagement and rapid access
• Formally supervise trainees & unlicensed staff in the provision of specialty addictions assessment and SUD stabilization
• Actively participate in facility committees relevant to SUD specialty care
• Perform other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Jaime Perez at Jaime.Perez3@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more EDRP Assignment Code: B3 Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required