The Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Program at Boise VA Medical Center provides a full range of outpatient SUD services including ambulatory detoxification services through Medication Assisted Treatment, various outpatient services & an intensive Outpatient Program. The SUD program serves Veterans in various stages of readiness & recovery who frequently have mental health comorbidities & exhibit difficulty coping with psychosocial problems including frequent crises & lack of social support systems.

Duties

Major Duties: The Social Worker Harm Reduction Coordinator (HRC) for the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Program functions at the Boise VA Medical Center provides a full range of outpatient SUD services. There are three main areas of focus: (1) providing harm reduction strategies/interventions; (2) develop/implement a syringe service program; (3) provide outreach to Veterans about HIV PrEP. This is accomplished through: Independently provides a full range of services within the scope of social work practice based on Veteran needs, acuity level and preferences for care. Service may include but are not limited to the following: timely assessment and identification of symptoms leading to clinical diagnosis of SUD and/or other behavioral health diagnoses, brief intervention and resource linkage within the recovery model framework, timely documentation and development of treatment plans and discharge criteria. Provides education to Veterans and family members about SUD conditions, harm reduction, safe syringe, safe sexual health practices, and contingency management services. Provides appropriate clinical documentation for all contacts with or about veterans. Conducts: routine suicide risk screens; comprehensive suicide risk evaluations, and collaborate safety plans when clinically indicated; follows-up with Veterans who fail to attend appointments per local procedures; seek needed consultation with the Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Disruptive Behavior Committee, and/or a chief as needed, to ensure the safety and welfare of Veterans; remains up-to-date on suicide prevention training materials and clinical tools, and utilizes them as appropriate in clinical practice. Advanced skills used to administer structured interviews and assessments with a wide variety of patient populations, particularly Homeless Veteran populations with SUD who are also Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI) Veterans, Women Veterans, 911/M2VA Veterans, elderly Veterans and/or Veterans with families. Follows Social Work ethical practices as outlined in the National Association of Social Worker's Code of Ethics. Serving as a resource and advocate for the protection of patient/family rights. Participates in policy making and program development for Harm Reduction education an expansion of Harm Reduction Strategies across the Boise facility and CBOC's. Serves as member in facility-wide Opioid Safety Review Board Provides regular and recurring training regarding harm reduction, education, and awareness throughout the facility as a subject matter expert. Works closely with pharmacy to coordinate and monitor training requirements for compliance for social workers who are eligible to carry and administer Naloxone (Narcan). Consulting with the Offices of Chief Counsel to determine if any SSP services/supplies are legally prohibited. Identifying sources to obtain harm reduction supplies. Serving as a local point of contact to educate Veterans and staff about the SSP. Collaborating with local and national harm reduction groups to develop new SSP resources, including veteran and staff education resources, standardized harm reduction kits and a standardized note template. Evaluating SSP outcomes, implementation strategies, and lessons learned for further program improvement. Outreach to Veterans about HIV PrEP. Partnering with key facility services, such as HUD-VASH, Infectious Disease Clinic, Addiction Recovery Treatment Services, Mental Health Service, ect. Working with local colleagues to improve sexual & drug use history taking and linkage to appropriate harm reduction services. Maintains a level of productivity & quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment & consistent with Behavioral Health, facility standards, ect. Provides supervision to students, interns, or unlicensed social workers as requested. Practice in conjunction with the Harm Reduction Supervisor, Chief of Social Work and colleagues. All other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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). Licensure: 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 Licensing requirements by state or province - Association of Social Work Boards (aswb.org) or VA's Title 38 Hybrid Occupations - Office of Human Resources Management NOTE: Licensed applicants MUST submit either a copy of their social work license (preferred) as part of the application package OR provide the state and license number on resume for verification of current licensure. Exception: 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. 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 doctorial 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 https://www.cswe.org/accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Accreditation | CSWE NOTE: Transcripts must be included in the application package. Transcripts must include the following information to be considered acceptable: student's name, college/ university name, degree obtained, and date degree conferred. Diplomas will not be accepted. 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 (Program Coordinator), GS-12 Experience and Education: *One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. Verification of the degree can be made by going to https://www.cswe.org/accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Accreditation | CSWE NOTE: Transcripts must be included in the application package. Transcripts must include the following information to be considered acceptable: student's name, college/ university name, degree obtained, and date degree conferred. Diplomas will not be accepted. Licensure/Certification: Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advance practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure. NOTE: Licensed applicants MUST submit either a copy of their social work license (preferred) as part of the application package OR provide the state and license number on resume for verification of current licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of program coordination and administration which includes consultation, negotiation, and monitoring. Knowledge and ability to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program. Ability to supervise multidisciplinary staff assigned to the program. Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s). Ability to provide training, orientation and guidance within clinical practice. Assignments: All higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety. May include but not limited to: Administratively responsible for a clinical program providing treatment to Veterans in a major specialty area. Provide direct patient care services in the program area. Oversees the daily operation of the program, develop policies and procedures for program operation, prepare reports and statistics for the facility, VISN, and national use. May be responsible for the program's budget, developing and monitoring staff compliance with practice, standards and guidelines on documentation, workload, data entry, ethical practice and service delivery. Provide leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned staff. Preferred Experience: A minimum of 2 years of substance abuse treatment experience. Experience providing harm reduction strategies/interventions, including referring to appropriate treatment programs. Experience developing and implementing new Harm Reduction s such as Safe Syringe Programs. Experience providing outreach/education to Veterans regarding safe sexual health. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgement, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the GS-12. Physical Requirements: See guidance in VA Handbook 5019, Part II, Ch 4 (a)(1)(b).

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript mustbe 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Boise VA Medical Center 500 West Fort Street Boise, ID 83702 US
• Name: Angela Wilson VAPORHCS
• Phone: (816) 812-9502
• Email: [email protected]