The Social Worker practices in the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System (VAECHCS). Position is assigned to the outpatient Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Clinic under the Mental Health Service. Member of a multidisciplinary treatment team, provides comprehensive psychosocial assessments; individual, family and group treatment of a broad spectrum of substance use and mental health disorders; provides triage through same-day access clinics and assists with drug and alcohol monitoring as needed.

Duties

The incumbent, being trained and experienced in the assessment and treatment of substance use and co-occurring disorders completes all components of the intake and assessment process and develops a treatment plan pertaining to all assessed needs. The incumbent, being trained and experienced in case management, serves as case manager for a panel of patients, the size of which is commensurate with other clinicians on the staff of the SUD Clinic. As case manager, the incumbent attends to a broad range of patient needs that are not fully met directly through the clinical services provided by the SUD Clinic itself, including but not limited to those needs dealing with physical health, employment, finances, family, social support, and housing. The incumbent, being trained and experienced in crisis management, provides same-day access service s, as needed, for Veterans enrolled in the SUD Clinic, including referring patients for emergency medical treatment, psychiatric medication evaluation, or nonmedical detoxification as well as coordinating the admission of patients to the inpatient psychiatric unit of the nearest VA Medical Center or local non-VA facilities. The incumbent, being trained and experienced in the treatment of patients with substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders, provides a range of treatment services, including but not limited to individuals, families, and group treatment. Group treatment includes psycho-educational as well as psychotherapeutic groups. The incumbent utilizes evidence-based treatment methods whenever possible. They employ Motivational Interviewing skills and techniques, as clinically indicated, and applies, as clinically indicated, interventions based on both abstinence and harm reduction approaches to substance use disorders. The incumbent assesses patient interest in and eligibility for Medication Assisted Therapies and provides referrals for evaluation for these treatments. The incumbent participates in triage services through the daily same-day access clinics and assists with drug and alcohol monitoring, as needed, in conjunction with psychosocial services. The incumbent is responsible for timely follow up with Veterans on their case load who prematurely drop out of treatment in compliance with any VA policies or SOPs. The incumbent actively participates in weekly staff meetings and team huddles regarding clinical, administrative, and staff development issues. The incumbent actively participates in program planning and development, making recommendations for changes in policies and procedures as needed, as opportunities arise. The incumbent maintains up-to-date charting in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), documenting all assessment, treatment and case management contacts with patients. Documentation meets all local, state, and national guidelines and is completed in a professional and timely manner. The Social Worker completes encounter forms in expected timelines, adheres to proper coding guidelines, and strives to meet productivity targets and clinic utilization standards. The incumbent takes responsibility for meeting continuing education requirements and completing all mandatory trainings including those accessed on the Talent Management System (TMS). The incumbent participates in the planning and executing of specific staff-development projects, attends seminars and other training events, and participates in the training programs of other disciplines (psychology, psychiatry, nursing, addiction counseling) as requested. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 53862-A, 53863-A, Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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/. 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. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, 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. Social Worker, 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G-39 Dated September 10, 2019 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. Physical Requirements: Must be able to meet the physical demands of the position, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. They must have good manual dexterity, must be able to express or exchange ideals by means of spoken and written word. Must be able to view and read information on computer screens.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Eastern Colorado HCS Denver 13611 E. Colfax Ave Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: Rodney Riggleman
• Phone: (801) 584-5685
• Email: [email protected]