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.

Duties

The incumbent will join a large interprofessional team of pain specialists and provide therapy for chronic pain patients to improve their functioning, well-being and quality of life. This clinical social worker will also work with chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, dietician, health coaches, health psychologists, movement therapists and other allied healthcare staff across the health care system as part of an expanded team. In addition to providing individual therapy, the clinical social worker may play a role in several of the programs offered by the NWI Integrative Pain Clinic, including the Pain Rehabilitation Clinic, Integrated Pain Academy, Opioid Safety Clinic and STORM risk assessment team. Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: The incumbent will conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans. The incumbent is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines. The incumbent will provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate. Treatment will be delivered using evidenced-based modalities, which can include but is not limited to cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain, acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. The incumbent will provide consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives and VA benefits. The incumbent will act as a consultant to other team/staff members. The incumbent will provide consultation/education to medical residents on social work practice and VA policy and procedure. Work closely the staff members involved in the Pain Rehabilitation Clinic and Opioid Safety Clinic and be well versed in using all the available pain management resources within the healthcare system to maximize treatment outcomes. Supports several population health initiatives aimed at improving the safety and effectiveness of pain care across the entire system (i.e. Opioid Safety Initiative, Overdose Education Naloxone Distribution, Informed Consent for Long-Term Opioid Therapy, PDMP, Data-Based Opioid Risk Reviews, etc.). Facilitates ongoing education for NWI staff to foster a comprehensive understanding of the biopsychosocial underpinnings of chronic pain and the ability to provide "Total Person" pain care. The incumbent will act as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed and as pre-approved by the public relations officer and mental health leadership. The incumbent will provide case management to veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care. The incumbent will provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate. The incumbent will address Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with the standards of their work area. The incumbent will provide wellness/prevention education and facilitate Patient/family support groups as appropriate. The incumbent will, as appropriate, supervise the practice of social work students, or a less experienced social worker. The incumbent will coordinate treatment and communicate with the other service lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans. The incumbent will participate in committee assignments, as deemed necessary by the Pain Program Manager. The incumbent will maintain data and statistical compilations to comply with Joint Commission, VA and medical center policy and procedures. The incumbent will document social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring patient care. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not 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: 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 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. Preferred Experience: Experience with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness, etc. are preferred. 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.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 VA Nebraska-Western Iowa HCS - Omaha 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 US
• Name: Kira Kuhn
• Phone: 3193380581 X636737
• Email: [email protected]