The HOPE Outreach SUD Social Worker is the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Specialist for the VA St. Louis Health Care System's Homeless Department also known as HOPE (Homeless, Outreach, Prevention and Education) Programs. This position provides clinical SUD case management and interventions to Veterans receiving outreach and engagement services through HOPE and community partners such as Support Services for Veterans Families (SSVF).

Duties

The incumbent is a professional social worker assigned to the VASTLHCS. The incumbent must possess clinical licensure at the advanced practice level and maintain the ability to provide clinical supervision for social work licensure. Twenty five percent of clinical functions are targeted to advanced practice for Homeless Specialty Care Programs. The incumbent independently conducts diagnostic assessments to determine conditions of Veterans who have complex psychiatric and co-occurring SUD conditions. The incumbent is expected to use Evidence Based Psychotherapy (EBP) and Evidence Based Psychosocial Interventions (EBPI) paired with evidence-informed psychosocial interventions, as part of their clinical work with Veterans and families. Duties include but not limited to: Completes thorough psychological, risk, clinical diagnostics inventories, differential diagnostic assessment and complex case conceptualization incorporating complex multiple causation to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their families. Because these Veteran frequently encounter severe crises, often lack familial and community support, are often poor self- monitors, frequently fail to comply with treatment recommendations, exhibit major deficits in coping skills, and require continuing professional psychological support, the incumbent must be able to utilize the results of these assessments to inform treatment planning. Must have an advanced level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans with co-occurring Homelessness/SUD and their families in community and nontraditional settings. The incumbent can independently work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial problems. Maintains general knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services, community resources, and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies. Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families and facilitates referrals based upon Veterans' needs and eligibility. Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of services. When appropriate and feasible, the Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. The incumbent Is responsible for supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility. Ability to provide psychosocial and diagnostic assessment to inform treatment planning for a wide variety of individuals and families from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture. The incumbent demonstrates advanced knowledge in the delivery of psychosocial interventions for Veterans recovering from substance use and co-occurring disorders. Ability to work with Veterans and families who are experiencing a variety of mental health, medical, and social problems utilizing individual and family interventions. Formulates and implements a measurable treatment plan, identifying the Veteran's measurable objectives with associated time limited interventions. Incumbent meets the needs of customers while supporting VA missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (veterans, their representatives, visitors, and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Incumbent provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the consumer constructively and appropriately. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available (Ad-hoc) Travel: Not required Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Available for well-qualified applicants EDRP Authorized: 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. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

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. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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. 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. Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. Experience: 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 and 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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 and Certifications Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) certification Full independent licensure at the advanced practice level At least two years should be in an area of specialized social work practice. Experience in conducting visits to impacted areas and emergency shelters, possibly in conjunction with VA Disaster Emergency Medical Personal System (DEMPS) or other Emergency Management response protocols Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

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 VA St Louis Health Care System 1 Jefferson Barracks Drive St. Louis, MO 63125 US
• Name: Stephanie Hawkins
• Email: [email protected]