To provide Substance Use Disorder treatment services to the veteran population enrolled in the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Specialty Program at the VA Illiana Medical Center. Services include provision of high-quality clinical treatment, case management, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers /agencies as needed by the client.

Duties

Develop an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the veteran, family members and significant others. The goal of the assessment is to highlight the veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the veteran's functional status. Develop the treatment plan, and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran/family. The treatment plan will be completed and updated within the time frame specified by the Policies and Procedures of each individual substance abuse treatment program. Collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs. Educate the veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the veteran's preference. Develop an awareness of community resources and referring the veteran to appropriate community support services as needed. Make rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans. Provides education related to VA and community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each veteran being referred for substance abuse treatment services. Provide both individual and group psychotherapy to address issues related to a substance use disorder. Enter all veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate formats and templates. Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday Telework: May be eligible for occasional telework upon supervisor approval. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Clinical Social Work Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS CITIZENSHIP: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). EDUCATION: Must 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Licensure: LICENSURE: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED) Exception: 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 the GS-11 grade level and above, the candidate must be licensed or certified. At the time of appointment, the supervisor, chief social work or social work executive will provide the unlicensed/uncertified social worker with the written requirements for licensure or certification, including the time by which the license or certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by the deadline. GRADE DETERMINATIONS In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-9 GRADE LEVEL 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: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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 GRADE LEVEL EXPERIENCE: In addition to the basic requirements, you must have a minimum of one year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work or other social work-related settings (VA or non-VA experience). 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) AND 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, Social Worker Qualification Standards 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: 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 Danville VA Medical Center 1900 East Main Street Danville, IL 61832 US
• Name: Lyndsay Thomas
• Phone: 217-510-8036
• Email: [email protected]