Incumbent is assigned as a social worker to the Services for Outpatient Addiction Recovery (SOAR). The incumbent will interview patients, family members, and significant others to assess psychosocial needs, determine treatment, plan for discharge, and provide follow-up care with particular emphasis on substance abuse disorders. . The incumbent will utilize basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. 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. OR current and/or former VA trainee who will meet the VA qualifications by the time you are hired. 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/. (1) 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.] (a) 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 VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 September 10, 2019 PART II APPENDIX G39 II-G39-4 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. 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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-9 (1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 September 10, 2019 PART II APPENDIX G39 II-G39-6 (2) 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- September 10, 2019 VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 II-G39-7 VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c.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 5005/120 Part II appendix G39 Preferred Experience: Experience working with persons with Substance Use Disorders and co-occuring mental health disorders The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 9 to 11. Physical Requirements: The Incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the incumbent or others ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until February 20, 2023. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be December 2, 2022, with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Duties Include but are not limited to: 1. Incumbent has knowledge of community resources as well as those in the VA System and understands how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services and has ability to coordinate services in respect to all services needed, including, but not limited to substance use disorders. The incumbent has experience working with Veterans and is familiar with the VA health care delivery system. 2. Incumbent can conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. Incumbent has worked with many different ethnicities from a variety of regional settings. Incumbent has a knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture. Incumbent has a working knowledge in the assessments used in accordance with ASAM requirements, such as ASI, in how to administer, read, and understand content. 3.Incumbent can assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate mental health diagnoses and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team. Incumbent has a knowledge of psychosocial treatment available within the VA System and Local Community and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, including evidence-based psychotherapy, in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems to achieve treatment goals. Incumbent employs independent judgment and skill in utilizing psychotherapy, care coordination, and problem solving or crisis intervention techniques. 4.Incumbent has the knowledge and experience in the use of mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. Incumbent can independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, and families. Incumbent practices within the bounds of clinical level of licensure or certification and holds a current LCSW license. 5.Incumbent has the ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment. Incumbent has experience working as part of a treatment team within the SOAR Team. Incumbent has the ability to evaluate his/her own practice and has participated in professional peer review case conferences. 6.Incumbent has the knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking, especially those programs in use by VHA. 7.Incumbent has independently acquired knowledge in respect to pulling information as needed through systems when needed by utilizing VA Computer Experts to assist in tasks. 8.Incumbent has demonstrated all knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at GS-11 Social Worker level. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00a -4:00p Compressed/Flexible: Available dependent upon needs of the program and agency Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 55865-A, 55866-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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