Social Worker - Substance Use Disorders Recovery Program

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP eligible

Paid time off

Federal benefits

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Social Worker for the Substance Use Disorder Recovery Program to deliver outpatient mental health services and opioid substitution treatment for Veterans.

The role requires an MSW from an accredited school and independent state licensure, with potential for progression to GS-11 after one year of qualifying experience. The position emphasizes recovery-oriented care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and comprehensive psychosocial assessments to support

Qualifications

• Must have U.S. citizenship
• Master’s degree in Social Work from CSWE-accredited program
• Licensed or certified to independently practice social work at the master's level
• Must become licensed within three years of appointment
• One year post-MSW experience (GS-9 level) and independent licensure for GS-11
• Knowledge of community resources and ability to coordinate referrals
• Ability to conduct psychosocial assessments and formulate treatment plans
• Ability to implement multiple treatment modalities with individuals, families, and groups
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients and community agencies

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health services within the Substance Use Disorder Recovery Program/Opioid Substitution Clinic for Veterans
• Deliver opioid substitution treatment (e.g., methadone or buprenorphine)
• Provide outpatient clinical services for substance use disorders
• Deliver recovery-oriented services and evidence-based treatments
• Complete psychosocial assessments and develop mental health treatment plans
• Provide ongoing case management, counseling, and discharge planning
• Serve as Mental Health Treatment Coordinator when assigned
• Promote recovery-oriented approaches fostering safer lifestyles

Skills

Veteran-centric approach

Psychosocial assessment

Crisis intervention

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Communication skills

English proficiency

Education

MSW degree

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.

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

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 and/or Experience Combination: 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-09 Social Worker Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify for the GS-09 - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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 Social Worker Licensure Requirement: You must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• Experience or Education Requirement: 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- 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
• Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: 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 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-09 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the position involve standard office requirements such as using the telephone - retrieving files - writing reports - data entry and maintenance of computer databases - etc
• Work is typically performed sitting at a desk and using a computer
• This position may require occasional travel
• The position requires periods of walking - standing - sitting and bending.

Duties

• VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The major duties of the Social Worker - Substance Use Disorder Recovery Program include - but are not limited to: Provides mental health services within the Substance Use Disorder Recovery Program/Opioid Substitution Clinic (SUDRP/OSC) for Veterans receiving substance use treatment and recovery services
• Delivers treatment for opioid dependence using substitution medications such as methadone or buprenorphine (Suboxone)
• Provides initial and ongoing outpatient clinical services to patients with substance use disorders
• Delivers a full range of SUD services - including: Outpatient Chemical Dependence treatment - Dual Diagnosis management - Outpatient Ambulatory Detoxification - Adjunctive Pharmacology - Opioid Substitution services - Inpatient and Outpatient Consultation
• Provides recovery-oriented services and evidence-based treatment modalities addressing psychological and behavioral aspects of addiction - including addiction-focused pharmacotherapy and psychosocial interventions
• Serves as a multidisciplinary team member responsible for completing comprehensive psychosocial assessments and developing mental health treatment plans
• Provides ongoing case management - supportive counseling - and discharge planning assistance
• Functions as the Veteran's Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) - when assigned
• Promotes and supports recovery-oriented approaches that foster safer and healthier lifestyles for Veterans
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Monday to Friday
• 08:00am to 04:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Contact [e-mail] - 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) 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 #: 92355-A and 92356-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized