The Social Worker is the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) therapist at an advanced practice level and has mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex chronic mental illness and substance use disorders. 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. (Copies for transcripts must be provided with application) 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. (Copies of License and Certification must be submitted with application) 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). The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. NOTE: If Social Workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker. Senior Social Worker: Grade Determinations GS-12 level: Education and Experience - The candidate must have at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment. Social Workers at the GS-12 grade level are experts in their specialized area of practice. Social Workers at his level may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Licensure/Certification - Social Workers at this grade level must be licensed or certified by a state at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities {KSA's} - In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39, Social Worker, available in the local Human Resources Office. 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 range of GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. ["The Senior Social Worker will provide support with SUD Specialty Care Services and other mental health disciplines by ensuring programming, including groups, are consistent and responsive to the Veteran's needs. The incumbent will play an important role in assuring continuity of care across all levels of programming including collaboration with the SUD programs, BHIP, Inpatient, and PCHMI. The incumbent will have skill in a range of specialized intervention and treatment modalities used in SUD specialty treatment programs. This social worker must be able to provide treatment to individuals, group, families, as well as perform advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. The SUD Senior Social Worker will help to provide clinical guidance and direction for new staff, SUD case managers, registered nurse, peer supports, interns, and other positions as applicable. The SUD Therapist as a senior social worker may provide supervision to social work students, LCSW clinical supervision, and mentor entry-level staff. The senior social worker may be assigned administrative responsibility for clinical program development and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns. The senior social worker collaborates with the other members of the treatment team in the provision of comprehensive health care services to Veterans, ensures equity of access, service, and benefits to this population, ensures the care provided is of the highest quality. The senior social worker provides leadership, direction, orientation, coaching, in-service training, staff development, and continuing education programs for assigned social work staff. They serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN and national level, or in the community as deemed appropriate by the supervisor, Social Work Executive or Chief of Social Work Services. This assignment is to be relatively few in number based on the size of the facility/service and applying sound position management. Completes comprehensive clinical assessments with Veterans and their family members/significant others to fully understand a Veteran's needs and identify treatment goals. Clinical assessments will identify symptoms and stressors that contribute to a Veteran's substance use and/or mental health diagnoses. Clinical assessment will often include assessment of one's substance use through use of specified measure based care assessments. The senior social worker will also Interprets and explains VA's treatment and benefit programs. Reviews all data, subjective and objective, and makes a clinical assessment identifying needs and strengths. Effectively uses professional skill, objectivity, and insight. Uses advanced clinical training, insight, and experience to interpret data and to identify viable treatment options. This Social worker assesses high risk factors, i.e. suicidality, acuity, and need for additional and or specialized services. Has the ability to serve a variety of at risk veterans such as: combat related readjustment or injuries, military sexual trauma, serious mental illness, and substance use issues who tend to have frequent and severe crises, lack family or an adequate community support network, lack self-monitoring skills, and/or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychosocial support. Independently evaluates the client's situation, including the veteran's strengths and arrives at a reasoned conclusion. Based on the psychosocial assessment, uses professional judgment and advanced practice skills to make a psychosocial diagnosis to include appropriate DSM V criteria. Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the veteran and family or significant others as indicated. Develops psychosocial treatment plans independently with appropriate levels of professional autonomy. Independently determines the appropriate course of treatment or intervention, even in instances where actions can have serious impact on the life of the veteran. Such options might include initiate acute psychiatric hospitalization (voluntary or involuntary), coordinating referrals to long-term institutional care or placement at a CRC or residential facility. Is responsible for clinical Social Work practice in the area or program to which assigned, including promotion of Social Work services as a key component of treatment. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Senior Social Worker - Substance Use Disorder/PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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