Job Description
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
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: You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
- Education: 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
- Exception - For assignments at the GS-9 level - VHA may waive the licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified - pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations
- VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
- 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: GS-9 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - Abilities (KSA) - In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
- 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
- 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
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
- 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
- GS-11 Experience/Education - In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-11 - you must possess 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
- Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Working under close supervision in program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience
- Identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse - neglect or exploitation
- providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning
- providing social work case management
- acting as an patient/family member/caregiver advocate with community service providers/agencies
- assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members
- In collaboration with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary treatment teams - identifying strengths - weaknesses - coping skills and psychosocial acuity
- Maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the patient and/or family members/caregivers and assist with appropriate referrals
- OR 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
- Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - Abilities (KSA) - In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level - the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
- Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic - educational - and other backgrounds
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
- The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
- The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
- Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
- May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - pulling - and pushing
- May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
- Additional information may be found in VA Directive and Handbook 5019 (Employee Occupational Health Service).
Duties
- The Social Worker - Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Substance Abuse Disorder position is located at the Charleston VA Clinic in South Charleston - WV
- Major Duties include but not limited to: Provides screening/assessment/consultation for Veterans needing mental health treatment
- Develops community resources & coordinates these resources in the interest of the Veteran
- Provides case management services to include internal and external referrals - resources - education - advocacy - and supportive services
- Completes structured diagnostic and clinical assessments for participants
- Utilize proactive patient identification and outreach activities related to substance misuse for the PACT population
- Offer formal or curbside consultation regarding the treatment of SUD within primary care
- Provides psycho-education and direct advice regarding symptoms of depression - anxiety and alcohol misuse to patients
- Specializes in staff development & patient education in the area of mental health treatment
- Determines the appropriate level of care need for patients not in treatment and the ability to understand the variety of clinical options available through the medical center and local community
- Support Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Clinical Practice Guideline-concordant care of SUD within primary care
- Reviews Primary Care patient panels for positive mental health screen reminders or the use of psychotropic medications - thereby identifying potential patients who may benefit from PC/MHI interventions
- Serve as a Point of Contact related to SUD concerns within PACT - with emphasis on Opiate and Alcohol Use Disorders
- Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full-time
- Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm
- Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
- Contact visn5hredrpcoordinators@va.gov for questions/assistance
- Learn more 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: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Functional Statement #: PD000000
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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
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Permanent employment, Full time, Work experience placement, Work at office, Local area, Remote work, Relocation package, Monday to Friday