Social Worker - Substance Abuse Treatment Team Admissions Coordinator

Full Job Description

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The Substance Abuse Treatment Team (SATT) Social Worker - Admissions Coordinator provides clinical psychosocial, mental health, and case management services to eligible Veterans who have problems with substance abuse or dependence and may include work with family members and the Veteran as part of the treatment plan.

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. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C.

§ 7402(b)(9), as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419, enacted November 1, 2000.

To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA, all applicants must meet the following: 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. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. 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). Licensure.

Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 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.

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.

Please carefully review the Social Worker Qualification Standard - GS-0185 - September 10, 2019 for additional information regarding this exception for licensure at the GS-09 level.

Grandfathering Provision.

All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of the Social Worker Qualification Standard - GS-0185 - September 10, 2019 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. GRADE DETERMINATIONS.

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Social Worker, GS-09: Experience, Education, and Licensure.

None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans, their family members, caregivers, and survivors.

(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: 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 nonVA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level.

-OR- Education and Licensure.

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.

Licensure or certification at the independent practice level is required at the GS-11 level. -AND- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

In addition to the experience above, the candidate 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) SSkill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, educational, and other 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: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit Human Resources and Administration (HRA) Employee Resources Hub - VA Qualification Standards - Social Worker Qualification Standard - GS-0185 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-09 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: It is VA policy to ensure that all selected applicants and employed personnel are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit to perform the duties of the position to which assigned.

A pre-placement physical examination is required for all full-time, part-time and intermittent employees identified by VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

The pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment to determine the physical and mental fitness for candidates for appointment in VA.

The examination will be concerned with the mental and physical ability of the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment and will include requisite laboratory and other screening as required by Federal regulatory agencies.

The work is primarily sedentary, but may require some walking, bending, stooping, standing, stretching, and carrying objects.

The physical demands of the work requires use of fingers; moderate walking and standing; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in on eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; hearing aid permitted; clear speech; emotional stability; moderate duty.

Major Duties:

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.

The Substance Abuse Treatment Team (SATT) Social Worker - Admissions Coordinator facilitates efficient and appropriate delivery of services across episodes of care, which may encompass discharge issues from inpatient detoxification, ambulatory detoxification, outpatient treatment, and residential treatment within the VA or under contract in community care programs.

The SATT social worker coordinates care with other services provided within the Medical Center, including Vocational Rehabilitation, Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program, the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team, and other Mental Health Services, along with community partners.

The work affects a wide range of agency activities and operations. It directly affects the health and well-being of the patients served and relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

The work requires the exercise of independent mature professional judgement and flexible use of clinical, administrative, and leadership skills.

The population served has unique needs, involving the rebuilding of lives that have been devastated by the effects of substance dependence, mental health issues such as PTSD, MST, and other anxiety disorders, mood disorders, TBI, SCI, and legal problems related to their mental health issues, financial crises while awaiting VA compensation, application for Social Security, or re-employment.

The SATT social worker makes referrals to VA services and benefits, and to community resources to address financial, housing, legal, transportation, employment, and educational needs.

Decisions concerning planning, organizing, and implementing the plans are often complicated by the various agencies and individuals involved in the care plan.

The SATT social worker advocates for resolution of these issues and will involve management as needed in order to meet the Veteran's needs.

The SATT social worker generally practices as part of an interdisciplinary team and has specialized knowledge of practice typically related to a particular diagnosis or population.

Duties may include but are not limited to: Interviews Clients and Conducts Psychosocial/Mental Health Assessments Case Management Makes Psychosocial/Mental Health Diagnoses Plans Effective Treatment Implements Treatment Plans Provides education to Patient, Stakeholders, and Staff Other duties will be performed as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm 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 V8_EDRP_NFSG@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: PD50301F and PD52113F Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional