The Cincinnati VA Medical Center's (CVAMC) is seeking a Social Worker for Mental Health Care Line (MHCL) for the Substance Dependence Program (SUDEP). This individual is licensed at the state's independent practice level. This Social Worker provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic assessment, therapeutic and psycho-educational interventions as well as consultative services to other clinical specialties.

Duties

Duties included but not limited to: The position entails the assessment and provision of substance use disorder-related and mental health treatment for veterans presenting to the Substance Dependence Program (SUDEP). The incumbent will primarily work with patients in the outpatient SUDEP clinic. Responsible for following procedures for meeting needs of patients and present these cases for feedback within the treatment team. Maintains an active caseload and helping to coordinate their care through the various branches of SUDEP and the mental health care line. Consults with a team responsible for resolving inpatient and outpatient substance use disorder consults. Serves as a member of the SUDEP Intake team, which is the initial contact for veteran's entering SUDEP. The provider completes the intake process which includes: Mental Health Intake, related clinical reminders, consent to treatment, and determines appropriate level of care. Independently identifies high-risk patients and provide referrals to appropriate case manager or may serve as a temporary case manager while veteran waits for admission to SUDEP clinical care and/or residential treatment. Conducts psychosocial assessments using the Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM). Develops an integrated diagnostic summary, to include a SNAP assessment to document strengths, needs, abilities and preferences. Works with the veteran to develop treatment plans and additionally offers psychosocial interventions while measuring treatment outcome during treatment plan review. Skilled in providing individual and group psychotherapy and psycho educational groups. Presents to the VA staff and the SUDEP program. Facilitates groups in the SUDEP program. These can include psycho- educational groups, group therapy, and the Community Connections group. Provides individual psychotherapy to a variety of individuals, many with complex needs. Provides couples or family therapy to veterans and their family members. Aids in the collection of urine toxicology screens as needed for perspective programs and utilize these results as a tool for assessing patient status and treatment plan development. Routinely makes referrals to both internal and external resources to coordinate extended care and additional supportive resources for the veteran and their family. Provides consultation services to other staff, including trainees, about psychosocial needs of patients, participates in treatment planning with the multidisciplinary team and when making consults to other providers. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. Participates in peer review. The incumbent also independently evaluates his/her performance yearly. The incumbent participates in case conferences. Provides clinical, education, or research-related services in any service or clinic within SUDEP at any time at the discretion of the SUDEP or MHCL leadership. The provider can be a member of any SUDEP or Mental Health Care Line team, performing any function relating to independent Social Work knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Other duties and assignments as instructed by the Director of SUDEP, or her/his designee. The incumbent may be deployed to another area at the discretion of the SUDEP or MHCL leadership. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Available, upon supervisors discretion. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91206-0 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. 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. Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases, social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English Grade Determinations Social WorkerGS-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: 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. Social Worker, 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. OR (2) 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: 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 This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Incumbents are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties 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 and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team, the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors, conducts assessment and provides specific interventions. The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The social worker links the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities, in order to maximize the Veteran's independence, health, and well-being. The social worker conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate. The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems. They provide a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy. They independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Social workers serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39, Qualification Standards for Social Workers. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. This position may be filled at the GS 11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

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 Cincinnati VA Medical Center 3200 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45220 US
• Name: Rhonda McCubbin
• Email: [email protected]