The Senior Social Worker will provide support to the Stepped Care Expansion in SUD services working 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. 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 - Candidates must 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 - Social workers at the GS-12 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. 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). Experience: In additional to meeting the basic requirements as stated above, you must have the following: Grade Determinations: GS-12 Level: Senior Social Workers must posses 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. Senior social workers are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers 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, and are able to 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: -Performs specialized treatment of complex physical or mental illness to Veterans with substance use disorders, particularly opioid use disorders. -Provides psycho-therapeutic services with attention to delivering Evidence-Based Psychotherapy (EBP) to Veterans diagnosed with OUD and/or other comorbid mental health diagnoses. Services may include conducting assessments, delivering psychotherapy in-person or virtually (individual, family, and/or group formats),MBC, development of treatment plans, as well as provision of consultation to staff regarding substance use issues. -Incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. -Provides advanced level case management in coordination of care delivery across VA system and the community, with close collaboration with our Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Behavioral Health Integrated Program (BHIP) teams. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II, Appendix G39 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: All candidates must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Candidates must meet the physical requirements outlined in Section II and Section VI of the OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions and must possess emotional and mental stability. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The SUD Senior Social Worker will help to provide clinical guidance and direction for new staff, BHIP case managers, registered nurse, peer supports, interns, and other positions as applicable. 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. Duties include but are not limited to: Completes comprehensive clinical assessments with Veterans and their family members/significant others to fully understand a Veteran's needs and identify treatment goals. Reviews all data, subjective and objective, and makes a clinical assessment identifying needs and strengths. Assesses at-risk factors and develops a preliminary disposition plan involving the veteran and family or significant others as indicated. Serves a variety of at risk veterans such as: combat related readjustment or injuries, military sexual trauma, serious mental illness, and substance use issues. Independently determines the appropriate course of treatment or intervention. Evaluates practice on an on-going basis through participation in professional peer/quality reviews and discussions, case conferences in Mental Health, and any other organized means as indicated. Receives and completes requests for services (consults) from interdisciplinary team members, clinics, and from other professionals on complex, difficult cases, using advanced practice skills and expertise. Documents independently in the medical records utilizing electronic formats, including psychosocial assessments, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, follow up, no shows, collaboration, collateral information, informed consent, and referrals. Serves as a mentor to other Social Workers and acts as a role model for entry level Social Workers and interdisciplinary team members as a senior clinician with advanced practice skills and expertise. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:45am- 4:30pm Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60232-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?Readying Warriors and Caring for Heroes! This position is located within Surgical Services at the CAPT James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, IL. The FHCC is a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), and Department of Navy (DoN)/Department of Defense (DoD). It is larger than just a single facility, but rather it is a fully-integrated medical care facility with a single combined VA and Navy mission. The combined mission of the FHCC means active duty military and their family members, military retirees, and eligible veterans receive health care at this facility.VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Join the FHCC team of energetic, career-minded professionals! For additional information, click onhttp://www.lovell.fhcc.va.gov/index.asp.