Senior Social Worker - Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program - Substance Use Disorder

Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Togus, Maine

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

  • Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education and/or Experience Combination - You must possess 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
  • Note: A doctoral degree in Social Work may NOT be substituted for the master's degree in Social Work
  • License or Certification - You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
  • Senior Social Worker GS-12: Licensure Requirement: You 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 must be able to provide supervision for licensure
  • Experience Requirement: You must possess 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
  • Examples of specialized experience include - but are not limited to: ???assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect - exploitation and/or intimate partner violence
  • use of clinical social work skills
  • maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality per policies - handbooks or directives
  • acting as an advocate with appropriate community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the patient and family members/caregiver
  • independently assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members - identifying the patient's strengths - weaknesses - coping skills - and psychosocial acuity
  • Applicable experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment
  • In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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
  • Preferred Experience: Substance use disorder treatment: stepped or transitional continuum of care: residential or intensive outpatient substance use treatment: Dual diagnosis: VA experience
  • Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
  • The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
  • The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
  • Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Services.

Duties

  • Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Senior Social Worker is the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Specialist for the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) Program
  • This position provides coordination with VISN for referrals to RRTP Programs in VISN 1.Position will oversee clinical case management in Domiciliary to ensure compliance and clinical expectations
  • Duties may include - but are not limited to: Provide a full range of services within the Social Work Scope of Practice based on Veteran needs - acuity level - and preferences for care
  • Services may include - but are not limited to - the following: individual - family - and group therapy
  • case management - discharge planning
  • resource linkage
  • and care coordination
  • Provide consultation and psychoeducation to Veterans and Veteran families on topics including community resources - Advance Directives - VA benefits - budgeting - activities of daily living - and recovery goals
  • Act as a consultant to other team/staff members and take a lead clinical role in case consultation
  • Fulfill ethical responsibilities to Veterans - colleagues and VA in accordance with ethics policies
  • This includes but is not limited to: compliance with all laws and regulations related to confidentiality and release of information
  • protecting Veterans' personal identifying information
  • Document all Veteran care in the electronic health record in accordance with facility policy - VHA Directive 1162.05 (and revisions) - and program-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
  • Ensure compliance with standards and expectations of Joint Commission and other relevant accrediting bodies
  • Assist program leadership in accreditation preparation and continuous readiness activities as requested
  • Actively participate in program planning and development - advising the supervisor of shifting Veteran care needs and identifying the need for SOP or policy changes
  • Provide supervision - training and education to students - interns - or unlicensed Social Workers as requested
  • Maintain familiarity and responsibility for all behavioral health performance measures
  • Assist in development and maintenance of operational plans and strategic goals related to these measures
  • Responsible for participation and leadership in process improvement - system redesign - and/or other applicable workgroups and committees - to include creation of standard work documents or strategic plan implementation
  • Take responsibility for improving professional competencies by participating training programs and continuing education
  • Primary administrative oversight of the enrollment of Veterans into the MH RRTP - ensuring rapid access to care in accordance with the VHA Handbook
  • MH RRTP Outpatient and inpatient consult administrative management
  • Program evaluation to identify and address barriers to program enrollment/engagement and rapid access
  • Formally supervise trainees & unlicensed staff in the provision of specialty addictions assessment and SUD stabilization
  • Actively participate in facility committees relevant to SUD specialty care
  • Perform other related duties as assigned
  • Work Schedule: Full-time
  • Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
  • Contact Jaime Perez at Jaime.Perez3@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
  • Learn more EDRP Assignment Code: B3 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
  • 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
  • Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required