Details
Posted: 04-Jun-22
Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Salary: Open
Categories:
Mental Health/Social Services
Internal Number: 651947400
The principal role of the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) is to provide integrated mental health and substance abuse evaluation and treatment for Veterans with comorbid disorders who receive care in the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program (STP) and other programs within the Behavioral Health Service (BHS) or Mann-Grandstaff Veterans Administration Medical Center (MGMC). 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: A. 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). B. 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. C. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. OR 2. 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. 3. 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 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: The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items (less than 15 pounds), such as papers, books, or small parts. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. ["This position is based in the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program (STP) primarily at the Coeur d'Alene Community Based Outpatient Clinic of the Mann-Grandstaff VAMC. The incumbent follows Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) guidelines and community best-practice standards of care in providing integrated addictions and mental health treatment to Veteran patients. Functional areas include: Psychosocial Evaluation and Treatment:\nProvides comprehensive, coordinated, integrated care for Veterans with co-occurring substance-related and mental health disorders, with a goal of maximizing health outcomes and decreasing morbidity due to substance-related and mental health conditions. Incumbent's role has a direct and significant effect on the effectiveness of health care delivery to the patient population. Continuously improve individual and organizational health care provision, with focus on dually diagnosed Veterans, in accordance with Agency and Veterans' goals. Specific services include, but are not limited to: Provides comprehensive, integrated substance abuse & mental health intake evaluations for new substance abuse patients. Provides comprehensive, multi-disciplinary treatment planning, with focus on integrative treatment for Veterans with co-occurring addictions and mental health disorders. Provides individual and group psychotherapy to new and established patients, for a full range of Veteran patients with diverse clinical needs. Provides Evidence-Based Psychotherapies appropriate to patients' needs. Provides supportive interventions for individuals receiving office-based buprenorphine or other medication assisted treatments for substance use. Interventions include, but are not limited to: Pre-induction assessments for individuals beginning buprenorphine Group interventions specific to supporting continued involvement in office-based buprenorphine program Case management of patients prescribed buprenorphine Provides evaluation and treatment through tele-health technologies, as clinically and administratively indicated. Assists Veterans in crisis, in collaboration with the Suicide Prevention Team, Mental Health Clinic, Emergency Department, and others. Facilitates referrals for patients in crisis, when indicated. As a Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC), monitors assigned Veterans. Assures all assigned high risk patients complete a collaborative Safety Plan documenting crisis prevention strategies, in keeping with facility policies and processes. Care Collaboration, Coordination, and Consultation: Actively coordinates evaluation and treatment activities with other members of Veterans' medical and mental health treatment teams as well as family members and others invited by Veterans to participate in their care. Develops, implements, monitors, and revises plans of treatment that are based on best practices for Veterans with co-occurring disorders, Veteran's assessed needs and preferences, and the input of other Veterans' current and projected holistic (biopsycho-socio-spiritual) needs and projected course. Takes lead to coordinate and conduct team conferences for Veterans with dual diagnoses. Maintains and help others maintain conscientious focus on needs of Veterans with co-occurring substance-related and mental health disorders. Provides direction and consultation to SATP providers, BHS Home Team providers, and other treatment team members regarding best practices for integrated care. Maintains awareness of developments in the field and provide consultation and training to others when new treatment options become available. Actively coordinates and communicates with primary care teams and medical specialists (e.g. nutrition, palliative care, hospice) regarding the Veterans care plans and needs. Establishes and maintains networks, both within the VAMC, local CBOC's, other VISN20 sites and agencies within the Spokane catchment area. Actively collaborate with these agencies to support expeditious provision of high-quality, integrated care for Veterans with complex needs. Administrative Duties: Maintains lists of community, state, and national resources, organizations, and support groups that support patient care, with special focus on programs for dually diagnosed patients. Keep staff appraised of ways these can be integrated into care plans to help patients meet their physical, social, spiritual, or financial needs. Contributes to administrative oversight and further development of buprenorphine program based on best practices and patient needs. Contributes to regional and national work groups that focus on provision of care to dually diagnosed Veterans, and report on these to service and facility leadership. Maintains tracking systems for special projects and ongoing data collection requirements. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]