The Social Worker in Recovery Services provides professional services and substance use disorder treatment, along with general and specialized mental health care to patients at the Central Ohio VA Healthcare System in Columbus, Oh. The incumbent can be assigned to provide specialized treatment services, within the following components of the division: Assessment and treatment planning; Intensive Outpatient Treatment, Low Intensity Rehabilitation/Aftercare, Ambulatory Detoxification, etc. 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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g this part). 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. 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. 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 Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Works with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. Assesses 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. Implements 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. Establishes 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. Social Worker, GS-11 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. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: A background in substance abuse disorders and treatment is preferred. References: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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: Must be in overall good health, able to sit at a desk working at a computer, engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting, walking, bending, and carrying supplies. The Social Worker must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the social worker or others. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center, standing for extended periods of time, and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Provides Social Work services and general and specialized mental health care to patients and their families or significant others as applicable, applying knowledge of treatment for substance use disorder and mental health disorders, other clinical and social issues, group and individual therapy and family treatment methods in order to help patients improve medical, mental health and social functioning, abstain from addictive behaviors, maintain community living and limit the need for hospitalization and other intensive intervention. Provides Social Work services to patients, families and significant others as needed in order to establish linkages to resource systems. Performs independent intake interviews on patients in order to accomplish initial data gathering necessary to evaluate, recommend options and treat addictions, mental disorders and other clinical or social issues. Independently completes psychosocial assessments and Brief Addiction Monitors (BAM's) in order to formulate treatment plans defined by problems, goals, objectives and interventions. Documents in patients' medical records in accordance with Social Work, Behavioral Health Services (BHS) and RS requirements in order to substantiate service activity with the patients. Fully participates in treatment team meetings in order to communicate assessment and intervention activities to multidisciplinary team members, with whom the Social Worker collaborates on the plan of care. Prepares documentation, clinical summaries, encounter forms and other statistical reports to disseminate pertinent information while adhering to VA and regulatory standards (JC, CARF) and specifically Ambulatory Care Center, BHS and RS policies, procedures and guidelines. Maintains cooperative and collaborative interdisciplinary working relationships with clinic staff and community providers in to assist with the development and execution of effective care planning. Identifies professional training needs and participates in continuing education in order to enhance skills and knowledge base. Informs supervisor of potential legal, political, or high risk incidents in order to keep management alerted to situations that may involve high level intervention. Conforms to legal and ethical codes and regulatory requirements of Social Work license, practice and conduct; adheres to VA policy and procedures; relevant Federal, State and local laws; and related Joint Commission and other accrediting or sanctioning organizations guidelines. Conducts therapeutic in-depth counseling in accordance with specific training and education and handles crisis intervention or other emergency situation with and without benefit of special instruction. Prepares written assessments based on knowledge of each patient's background and clinical history for use by members of the multidisciplinary treatment team or the therapist's use in developing the appropriate treatment process. Conducts group, family and individual therapeutic counseling sessions; observes patient behaviors and reaction patterns for use in intervention adjustment. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm; May require some evening and/or weekend duties. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, 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 #: 91634-O/91635-O Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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