The Social Worker is a full-time position assigned to the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC), aligned under Behavioral Health and based in the Veterans Wellness and Recovery Center (VWRC) in Syracuse, NY. The Syracuse VAMC is a large hospital located in a highly complex VA facility, covering thirteen (13) counties and including seven (7) CBOCs. It provides diverse services to Veterans, families and caregivers, and is an affiliated tertiary care health care system.

Duties

The PRRC recovery coach will provide individual recovery coaching and psychotherapy to assigned Veterans and significant others, consistent with the goals and methods of the PRRC and the Northeast Program Evaluation Center (NEPEC), and with all relevant Medical Center policies and procedures. Recovery coaching services are characterized by individual treatment planning, reviewing group commitment and community integration goal setting. The incumbent will demonstrate advanced teaching and group facilitation skills (such as motivation-based strategies and cognitive-behavioral techniques). Incumbent will complete all new intake/consults and complete a full psychosocial intake assessment and NEPEC paperwork. In addition, Incumbent will complete recovery coaching and psychotherapy progress notes, treatment plans and discharge summaries as needed. Incumbent will provide community integration support, as clinically indicated and needed, based on the individual recovery goals of the Veteran. Incumbent will collaborate and consult with other interdisciplinary treatment teams and programs to promote and enhance the care of Veterans. Also responsible for linking Veterans to other VA programs and community resources as needed. Incumbent will participate in team staff meetings regarding Veteran enrollment, determination of treatment plans and goals, progress evaluation, discharge planning and after care. Incumbent will work assertively and consistently with inpatient teams to assure continuity of care by providing consultation regarding clinical needs, treatment plans, and case management services for assigned Veterans. Work assertively to promote appropriate treatment, rehabilitation, and discharge of assigned Veterans, consistent with program goals and with the individual treatment plans. Incumbent will complete clinical documentation according to PRRC, Medical Center Standards, Joint Commission and CARF; this includes, but is not limited to, progress notes, treatment plans and other NEPEC assessment forms for the evaluation and monitoring of service delivery outcomes. Incumbent will maintain effective working relationships with other professional and administrative personnel both within the Medical Center and in the community. Incumbent will meet with VA, community and professional organizations and individuals as needed to carry out assigned responsibilities. Incumbent participates in committee assignments, discipline specific meetings and initiatives, as deemed necessary by the service manager. The social worker performs other discipline specific duties as assigned. Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21J45-A Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases 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)

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/. 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. 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 (1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Social Worker, GS-11 (1) 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. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120, PART II, APPENDIX G39 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-09 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Syracuse VA Medical Center 800 Irving Ave Syracuse, NY 13210 US
• Name: Valerie Rarick
• Phone: 315-425-4400 X56571
• Email: [email protected]