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Incumbent is a professional social worker assigned to the SARRTP (Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program). The incumbent must use a high level of skill in assessing, coordinating care, and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans with a diagnosis of substance use disorders. The incumbent works with Veterans referred to the SARRTP, assuring a timely admissions process screening and intake coordination. 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. 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/. 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: Senior Social Worker, GS-12 (1) Experience/Education. The candidate must have 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. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. (2) Licensure/Certification. Senior social workers 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 they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. (3) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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: Experience providing mental health and substance use disorder specific evaluations is preferred. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. ["The incumbent takes referrals, contacts, and screens Veterans, maintains records, and contact with veterans and referral sources, and coordinates care. The incumbent completes thorough psychosocial assessments with applicants as part of the consult process when the Veteran is initially referred to the SARRTP. Other social work services include EBT with outpatient and residential individuals, contact with families of patients who may be in crisis, ongoing care coordination with referral sources and the many internal VA services and resources which these patients will be involved, and referral for resources and benefits and all other assigned tasks. A. Clinical Functions (90%): (1) Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the SARRTP and/or their families. The incumbent is able to independently work with Veterans diagnosed with SUD (substance use disorders), and their families, who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, and behavioral, substance abuse, adjustment and psychosocial problems. (2) Must independently complete thorough screens, telephone and personal interviews, and psychosocial assessments to determine the diagnosis, psychosocial functioning, needs of and appropriateness for program of Veterans referred to the SARRTP. The incumbent must be able to utilize these screens and assessments in facilitating the Veteran's maximum use of treatment for attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practicable. (3) Must actively participate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and actively participate through collaboration with Veterans and their family as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members in the development and implementation of a resident centered treatment plan. (4) Must possess a specialized, substantial, working knowledge and experience in diagnosis of SUD, medical as well as comorbid mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses, common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. (5) Must take courses in, develop competencies, receive consultation for, and practice the appropriate, VA approved, Evidence Based Therapies, both individual and group, relevant to the assignment. Must also be familiar with short term problem focused therapy and supportive therapy. (6) Must facilitate discharge planning, particularly with the SARRTP through collaboration with Veterans, their families, and as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate discharge plans and follow up are executed in a timely manner. (7) Must serve as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of services. This involves coordination of Veteran and family involvement in the development of treatment plans, coordination of care within SARRTP and with the many medical and treatment needs of patients. Must coordinate Veteran involvement in monthly Resident Council meetings. (8) Must possess knowledge and ability to independently implement EBT and SA treatment modalities, provide therapy, and/or groups within the SARRTP for Veterans and families as well as be familiar with supportive groups. (9) Must provide consultation and education to Veterans and their families regarding community resources, VA resources, benefits and specialty programs, and advance directives. This includes the incumbent's knowledge of the process for accessing and/or coordinating services (involved VA programs), community programs, including information and referral for additional services from other relevant and involved VA programs, other government programs, and community programs. (10) Must be available to provide consultation to other treatment team and staff members regarding psychosocial needs of Veterans with SUD in the SARRTP, and/or their families and the impact of the identified psychosocial problems on the Veteran's health care planning, compliance with treatment, and discharge planning. (11) Must maintain knowledge of Veteran's VA resources and contacts, benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals to VA, community and other governmental programs or agencies. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Telework: Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91813-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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