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

This position provides social work services to the Veteran population enrolled in the Substance Use Disorders Treatment Program (SUDTP) in the MHS at the SAVAHCS. Services include provision of high-quality case management, clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination with other appropriate VA or community service providers and/or agencies as needed by the patient. Services are provided in collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team. Major duties include, but are not limited to: The incumbent has a high level of skill and expertise in establishing and maintaining effective therapeutic relationships with the Veteran and their families. The incumbent is able to independently work with the Veteran and their families who may be experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, substance use, behavioral, and/or psychosocial problems. The incumbent independently completes thorough biopsychosocial assessments to determine the substance use and mental health diagnoses, psychosocial functioning, and associated needs of the Veteran and/or their family. The social worker utilizes this assessment to develop and implement a comprehensive treatment plan in Mental Health Suites (MHS) to address assessed needs including community integration. The incumbent follows the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Adult Patient Placement Criteria for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders to assess and assigning a level of care and setting for treatment. The incumbent independently conducts assessments of high risk patients to identify risk factors, protective factors, and develops a safety plan through the use of the Suicide Risk Assessment (SRA) and other appropriate tools. The incumbent is able to independently provide substance use and mental health focused psychosocial interventions outlined in the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health. The incumbent actively participates as an interdisciplinary treatment team member through collaboration with the Veteran and family to develop and implement social work treatment goals and interventions. The incumbent is able to develop a timely and viable transition/discharge plan in concert with the Veteran and family. The incumbent educates the Veteran and family regarding community resources and makes referrals to these resources for community reintegration. Referrals may include but are not limited to medical, substance abuse, mental health, potential crisis support, housing, and financial resources. The incumbent is able to facilitate community placements through partnership with the Veteran and their family as well as the interdisciplinary treatment team in a timely manner. Community placement referrals may involve but are not limited to contract nursing homes, community living centers, residential care homes, and inpatient and outpatient hospice services. The incumbent is willing to actively participate in the substance use disorders treatment program performance improvement (PI) program as deemed appropriate by the supervisor. The incumbent is willing to actively participate in TJC and CARF survey preparation activities, medical record reviews, and distribution, collection, and analysis of patient satisfaction surveys. The incumbent is willing to serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor. The incumbent keeps their supervisor apprised of problems and recommends solutions to problems encountered in their area of responsibility. The incumbent is responsible for expanding their professional growth through continuing education appropriate to the area of assignment and social work in general. The incumbent is able to provide assistance with the orientation and mentoring less experienced social workers. If interested, may serve as a preceptor for social work students. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. but schedule may be adjusted to meet the needs of the service. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], 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. 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/. 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). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates 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 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience in treatment of substance use disorders/addiction. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standards, GS-185, Veterans Health Administration. 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: Traveling throughout the medical center and the community is required, as is performing activities involving sitting, walking, and standing, bending and carrying such items as books, papers, and files. In carrying out responsibilities, it may be necessary to travel into the community where he/she conducts interviews with the Veterans, their families, representative of community health and welfare agencies and law enforcement agencies. Must possess current driver's license and drive a government vehicle in carrying out professional duties when deemed necessary.

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 Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Kimberly Ross
• Phone: 858-665-1906
• Email: [email protected]