The Social Worker (Harm Reduction Case Manager) position is located in the Social Work Service at the Albany VA medical center in Albany, New York. The Social Worker functions as part of the staff in the Addictions Treatment Services Program, inclusive of outpatient and residential treatment with primary focus in the outpatient program.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The social worker will provide ongoing risk assessment for suicide. Implementation of solution focused interventions for crisis intervention are also required. The incumbent provides individual, group, marital, and family psychotherapy. Case management responsibilities include coordination of treatment, information and referral with VA, community agencies, and legal institutions. The social worker will provide consultations to medical staff regarding veterans with dually diagnosed substance use and mental health conditions. The incumbent provides education of medical staff on substance use, diagnosis and treatment to VA staff and the community. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran and family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Clinical Functions The incumbent will conduct psychosocial assessments to determine needs of veterans and family members. The incumbent will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. The incumbent will provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate. 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 act as liaison between VA and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. 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 provide wellness/prevention psychoeducation 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 care lines to facilitate continuity of care for veterans. The incumbent will assist patients and their significant others with coping and dealing with the loss and grief experiences in disability, terminal illness, and death. The incumbent will document social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record consistent with agency documentation time frames utilizing CPRS and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care. Administrative Functions The incumbent is responsible for supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of the VA, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility. May serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN, and/or VA Central Office levels. Provides coverage for colleagues during staff absences within the Social Work group. Must maintain a level of productivity and quality consistent with facility and discipline specific standards and the complexity of the assignment. Must maintain a level of productivity and quality consistent with facility and discipline specific standards and the complexity of the assignment. Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings and attends appropriate facility meetings. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or VISN, as appropriate. Participates in program development of a facility syringe services program (SSP) and systems to increase Veteran access. Assists program staff in developing a facility fentanyl test strip distribution system. Identifies community SSP referral options for Veterans who decline or are unable to receive VA SSP services. Assists in identifying sources to obtain harm reduction supplies and coordinates with other Departments to ensure that supplies are available for distribution to Veterans. Collaborates with the National VA HIV/SSP Affinity Group to develop new SSP resources, including Veteran and staff education resources. Collaborates with local and national community harm reduction organizations for program improvement. Partners with key facility services, such as HUD-VASH, Infectious Disease Clinic, the Substance Use Disorder Program, Behavioral Health Clinic, Pharmacy Service, Nursing, Chemistry Lab, and Logistics Service. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Available Functional Statement #: 39083F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. 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/. 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Creditable Experience. The candidate must have knowledge of current professional social work practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with current professional social work practice. The experience or education must be post-Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree. Experience and education satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice, which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional social worker, as defined by the appropriate state licensing board. Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's degree in social work and if it includes work as a professional social worker directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example, one week of full-time credit is equivalent to two weeks of part-time work. Fellowships or Post-Graduate Training. Fellowship and post-graduate training programs are typically in a specialized area of clinical practice, i.e., group or family practice. Training as a fellow or post-graduate may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. 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-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 G39 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 at the GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center - Albany 113 Holland Ave Albany, NY 12208 US
• Name: Yviana Martinez
• Email: [email protected]