Career Center

Summary

The incumbent works for the Central Virginia VA Health Care System - Health Care Center (FxHCC) - in Fredericksburg - Virginia - as a direct report to the Mental Health Service - and is assigned to the Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP).

Qualifications

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
• 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
• For appointments at the GS-9 grade level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
• In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
• A social worker who does not yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline who is a VA staff member and who has access to the electronic health record
• Failure to Obtain License or Certification: In all cases - social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment
• Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• 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 DeterminationsGS-09 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: 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II Appendix G39 - Social Worker Qualification Standard GS-0185 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-09 to GS-11.

Duties

• The incumbent is a critical member of the outpatient SATP - providing care coordination - assessment - and treatment to Veterans seeking services for substance use disorders (SUD)
• Duties include but limited to the following: Utilizes Measurement Based Care (i.e. - PHQ9 - BAM-R - etc) as part of clinical assessment and on-going reassessment to inform treatment goals and adjust clinical approach based on data - ultimately improving treatment outcomes
• Completes comprehensive risk assessments using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) and other clinical measures
• Completes Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE) and MH Safety Plan as clinically indicated
• Completes thorough psychosocial - risk - and diagnostic assessments - as clinically indicated - to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their families
• The incumbent must be able to utilize assessments to inform treatment planning
• Is competent and confident in diagnosing mental health conditions and substance use disorders and identifying correlating evidence-informed or EBP/EBPI treatment interventions as first line considerations in treatment planning
• Uses shared decision making to independently develop a Veteran-centered treatment plan for Veterans - or to contribute to an existing treatment plan
• The incumbent sets SMART (specific - measurable - attainable - relevant - time-based) treatment goals/objectives with the Veteran - family members/significant others and in collaboration with the team (e.g
• team-based care) - as applicable
• All goals/objectives are aimed at maximizing Veteran independence and recovery
• Possesses knowledge and ability to independently provide EBP - EBPI - and evidence informed episodes of care to treat and assist Veterans with recovering from a wide range of substance use disorders and co-existing mental health conditions
• Exhibits a high level of skill and expertise in establishing and maintaining effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans in the SATP and their families
• The incumbent can independently work with Veterans and their families who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical - psychiatric - emotional - behavioral - and psychosocial problems
• Maintains general knowledge of Veteran's benefits and services - community resources - and process for making appropriate referrals to community and other governmental programs or agencies
• Provides consultation and education to Veterans and their families and facilitates referrals based upon Veterans' needs and eligibility
• Serves as a liaison between Veterans and/or their families and VA and community resources to ensure thorough delivery of services
• When appropriate and feasible - the Social Worker will educate and encourage the Veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf - thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment
• Provides education related to VA and community resources - entitlements - Advance Directives/Living Will (including psychiatric interventions) and will refer Veterans and family members/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs
• The incumbent will perform other duties outside of SATP as assigned to meet the needs of the agency
• Other duties as assigned
• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 8:00AM-4:30PM Mon-Fri Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized