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Providing Substance Abuse Treatment Program Social Work services to the Veteran population enrolled at the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System. Services include provision of high quality case management, substance abuse education, clinical treatment, family, individual, and group therapy, advocacy, aftercare groups for continuing support, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers and/or agencies as needed by the client. 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. 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 (1) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (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-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 Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve active listening, reading, observing and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior, walking, speaking, documenting, and using office equipment such as computers, telephones, fax machines, and photocopy machines. ["A. Screening/Assessment 1)Develop an assessment of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members and significant others. The goal of the assessment is to highlight the Veteran's strengths, limitations, and internal/external supports and service needs in order to optimize the Veteran's functional status, formulate a diagnosis, and lay the foundation for the treatment plan, if necessary. 2)Demonstrate an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for substance abuse therapy for all adult patients. 3)Have an understanding of the factors and causes of substance abuse as well as the problems related to this disorder. 4)Have the knowledge to accurately diagnose the different types of substance abuse and dependence. 5)Be able to utilize assessment tools and assessment methods in order to best serve the Veteran. 6)Has the responsibility, working within the interdisciplinary treatment team to develop a treatment plan with the Veteran based on this assessment. The initial assessment will be completed as specified by the policy for the assigned work area. An initial patient assessment is required as well as reassessments as defined in policy. B. Treatment Planning/Goal Setting 1) Responsible for developing the treatment plan, and setting achievable and measurable treatment goals with the Veteran/family. The treatment plan will take into account the Veteran's strengths and weaknesses. 2) Will factor in the bio-psycho-social needs of the Veteran. 3) Complete the treatment plan by the patient's third visit for mental health services. 4) Update the plan as defined by policy depending on the services utilized by the Veteran. C. Referral to service providers 1) Is the subject matter expert on VA and/or community resources. 2) Collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs. 3) Responsible for educating the Veteran and/or caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker. These include, but are not limited to, referrals to psychiatrists, residential and dual diagnosis treatment facilities, and any other available community resources that are deemed appropriate through patient assessment and reassessment. D. Resource Usage/Development 1) Responsible for using the current social work resource file of VA and community social service programs and enhancing the content to the benefit of Veterans. 2) Will refer the Veteran to needed services as determined by Veteran's needed level of care. E. Advocacy 1) Understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family. 2) When appropriate and feasible, the social worker will educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate on own behalf, thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday; 7:45am to 4:30 pm or 8:45am to 5:30pm. (Some PM clinics may be required). Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 91577-A/91578-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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