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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Senior Social Worker-Substance Use Disorders Near Colorado, CO

Qualifications:

***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 28th, 2024 The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be January 11th, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. 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.***

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. 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. A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work.
• Licensure. Possess a full and unrestricted license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Grade Determinations:
GS-12: Basic requirements as described above. 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 (1) 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. 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.
2. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 therapy.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G39. Social Worker Qualification Standard, GS-185.

Physical Requirements: The position is generally of a sedentary nature and involves activities normally associated with the counseling process and office work, including sitting for long periods of time. No unusual physical demands are placed on the incumbent. The work requires extreme patience and control of emotions in a multi-disciplinary work setting. Must have an active, unrestricted Driver's License and ability to use a VA vehicle as services may be provided at Community Based Outpatient Clinics.

Responsibilities:

• The Senior Social Worker is certified in at least two evidence-based treatments (or non-VA equivalent) and has actively practiced each for at least two years. It is preferred that at least one of these directly targets Substance Use Disorders (e.g. MI/MET, CBT-SUD). Actively implements these evidence-based treatments within the SUD Clinic.
• Provides clinical supervision towards licensure in social work or addictions counseling and/or actively represents the SUD Clinic in facility or VISN-level workgroups/committees.
• Provides clinical consultation to other members of the workgroup, as needed.
• Provides administrative and/or clinical coverage in the absence of the Program Manager, Detox/MAT Coordinator, or as other clinical needs indicate.
• The incumbent, being trained and experienced in the assessment and treatment of substance use and co-occurring disorders completes all components of the intake and assessment process and develops a treatment plan pertaining to all assessed needs.
• Serves as case manager for a panel of patients, the size of which is commensurate with other clinicians on the staff of the SUD Clinic.
• Attends to a broad range of patient needs that are not fully met directly through the clinical services provided by the SUD Clinic itself, including but not limited to those needs dealing with physical health, employment, finances, family, social support, and housing.
• Provides same-day access services, as needed, for Veterans enrolled in the SUD Clinic, including referring patients for emergency medical treatment, psychiatric medication evaluation, or non-medical detoxification as well as coordinating the admission of patients to the inpatient psychiatric unit of the nearest VA Medical Center or local non-VA facilities.
• Provides a range of treatment services, including but not limited to individuals, families, and group treatment. Group treatment includes psycho educational as well as psychotherapeutic groups.
• Utilizes evidence-based treatment methods whenever possible.
• Employs Motivational Interviewing skills and techniques, as clinically indicated, and applies, as clinically indicated, interventions based on both abstinence and harm reduction approaches to substance use disorders.
• Assesses patient interest in and eligibility for Medication Assisted Therapies and provides referrals for evaluation for these treatments.
• Participates in triage services through the daily same-day access clinics and assists with drug and alcohol monitoring, as needed, in conjunction with psychosocial services.
• Responsible for timely follow up with Veterans on their case load who prematurely drop out of treatment in compliance with any VA policies or SOPs The incumbent actively participates in weekly staff meetings and team huddles regarding clinical, administrative, and staff development issues.
• Maintains up-to-date charting in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), documenting all assessment, treatment, and case management contacts with patients. Documentation meets all local, state, and national guidelines and is completed in a professional and timely manner.
• Completes encounter forms in expected timelines, adheres to proper coding guidelines, and strives to meet productivity targets and clinic utilization standards.
• Actively participates in program planning and development, making recommendations for changes in policies and procedures as needed, as opportunities arise.
• Takes responsibility for meeting continuing education requirements and completing all mandatory trainings including those accessed on the Talent Management System (TMS).
• Participates in the planning and executing of specific staff-development projects, attends seminars and other training events, and participates in the training programs of other disciplines (psychology, psychiatry, nursing, addiction counseling) as requested.
• General knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension is required.
• Facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility.
• Provide services in Community Based Outpatient locations other than their assigned duty station and/or may provide services to these locations over Telehealth, including VA Video Connect and other technology.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible:May be available for highly qualified candidate, as determined by the agency policy.
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position-as determined by the agency policy.
Functional Statement #: 54772-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidate.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary