The incumbent serves as a Staff Social Worker and as Lead for the SUD/IOP Program in the VA Caribbean Healthcare System. The incumbent is responsible to assist the Program Manager with the day to day operation of this program in alignment with the guidelines set forth in the Uniform MH Handbook. The Lead assists the SUD/IOP Program Manager in the day to day program management and in the oversight of administrative and programmatic resources.

Duties

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: The incumbent will develop an assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members and significant others. The incumbent is responsible for developing the treatment plan, and setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran/family. The incumbent is responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. The incumbent will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. The incumbent is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission, short term/or long term placements including involuntary treatment when necessary. The incumbent maintains resource directories (within VA and Community) to meet the demands of a crisis. In the event of a medical or psychiatric crisis, the social worker will coordinate any required service with other VA Programs as well with Local Government and Community Partners in accordance with VA Policy and Law requirements. The incumbent assist the SUD/IOP Program Manager in the day to day operation of the program regarding issues such as clinic coverage and environment of care. The incumbent assists the Program manager with consults through monitoring the consults, referrals, and care transitions (CPRS consults, post discharge, referrals to other and from other services) of Veterans enrolled in his/her program. The incumbent assists the Program Manager with program Staff and schedulers (HAS) in procedures regarding clinic utilization and scheduling to avoid missed opportunities and no-show rate. The incumbent assists the Program Manager in assuring treatment teams within his/her program carry out all patient care related meetings such as huddles, Interdisciplinary treatment planning, monthly program meetings and other required meetings. The incumbent assists the Program Manager in monitoring staff regarding completion of required documentation including, MHTC assignment, MHS treatment planning and progress notes. The incumbent assists the SUD/IOP Program Manager in assuring that staff within the program can follow all standard operating procedures established for this program. The incumbent understands and interprets data provided in essential performance reports (e.g. clinic utilization, caseload, productivity, and performance measures, etc.). The incumbent assist the Program manager to accomplish program goals and objectives as well as program's performance measures and performance improvement activities. Assists the SUD/IOP Manager in identifying operational challenges within the program and assists in the implementation of action plans to resolve these. m. Assists the SUD/IOP Manager with matters of patient safety, and management of patients' and staff complaints, management of clinical offerings, and other clinical and operational challenges. Assist in the delegation of program responsibilities among program staff as needed to secure appropriate clinical and administrative operations. Conduct monthly meetings with program's staff to communicate and enforce program standard operating procedures and system wide expectations regarding program offerings and performance outcomes. Assists the SUD/IOP Program Manager in the preparation of issue briefs, reports, and action plans as requested by Psychology Service Chief and/or ACOS for Behavioral Health Sciences. Knowledge of patients' satisfaction surveys, analyses and review to assist the Program Manager to identify appropriate actions to improve Veterans experience of care. Ability to assist the SUD/IOP Program Manager in coordinating resource requests for submission to Specialty BH Senior Manager and Psychology Service Chief. Participates actively in the Behavioral Health Sciences (BHS), San Juan VAMC or VA Caribbean Committees, Project Action Teams, quarterly Psychology Service meetings, RCAs, or other workgroups to which he/she may be assigned. Community visits may be required in some cases to assure patient safety, to assess any psychosocial need and adequate living conditions. Willingly accepts additional and special assignments that are necessary to meet program goals or customer needs. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm may include some evenings, weekends, holidays and on-call duties (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs). Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: Senior Social Worker (SUD/IOP) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. 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: 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/. 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-12 Senior Social Workercandidates must have the following: Experience/Education: Must have at least two (2) years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one (1) year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Senior social workers 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. Licensure/Certification: Senior social workers must be licensed or certified by a state 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. While we no longer require essay-style responses to our Knowledge's Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAOs), you must be able to demonstrate that you possess the (below) competencies which are necessary to perform the work of the position. Please ensure your resume/CV/application contains sufficient information to support the level of experience/education/training; otherwise, we will not be able to award you credit for the experience/education/training you claim. These are the KSA's for this subject position: 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. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SPF) - This position includes a skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to -and essential for- satisfactory performance of the job. Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. Evidence of the Selective Placement Factor must be reflected in your resume. The SPF for this position is: In addition to the English Language Proficiency, you must also be proficient in basic written and spoken Spanish in order to perform the duties of this position. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work requires use of fingers; moderate walking and standing; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted; clear speech; emotional stability; moderate duty.

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.

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 San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Yolanda Ortiz-Davila
• Phone: (407) 631-7515
• Email: [email protected]