Supervisory Social Worker (Substance Use Disorders Programs)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs invites applications for a Full‑time Supervisory Social Worker in the Mental Health Service, Substance Use Disorders Programs at the Dayton VA Medical Center. The role oversees outpatient services and MAT/OTP components, ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care.

Applicants must meet education and licensure requirements, with preference for experience in substance use disorders and supervisory capabilities within a federal healthcare setting.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work from CSWE-accredited program.
• Licensed or certified to independently practice social work at the master's level.

Responsibilities

• Provide supervisory leadership for social work staff within the SUD programs.
• Coordinate and oversee clinical services and program operations, including MAT/OTP components.
• Ensure compliance with VA policies and standard clinical guidelines.

Job description

The full-time, permanent Supervisory Social Worker is assigned to the Substance Use Disorders Programs (SUD), which is in the Mental Health Service (MHS). The SUD programs include outpatient services and the the Medication Assisted Treatment Program (MAT), which includes the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP). 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.
• Education. Must 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. Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Masters of 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. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/.
  • 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 (Program Coordinator), GS-13

Experience/Education.

One year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience must demonstrate possession of advanced practice skills and judgment, demonstrating progressively more professional competency. Candidates may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience.

Licensure/Certification

Individuals assigned as social worker program coordinator must be licensed or certified at the advanced practice level, and must be able to provide supervision for licensure.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• (a) Skill in coordinating and implementing one or more specialty program(s), across the facility.
• (b) Skill in local policy and practice development, procedures, and/or practice guidelines for the program as prescribed by the program handbook or national directive.
• (c) Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting multiple deadlines, and evaluating assigned program area(s).
• (d) Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to further program goals and enhance patient centered care.
• (e) Ability to provide the full range of supervisory duties including assignment of work to be performed; performance evaluations; and selection of staff, training, and recommendation of awards, advancements, and when appropriate, disciplinary action.
• (f) Ability to oversee the fiscal matters of the functions supervised (including fund controls, contracts, and equipment expenditures), forecast resource and equipment needs, and administer the allocated budget.
• (g) Knowledge of organizational structure and impact on program operations.

Preference is given for individuals with clinical and/or management experience with evidence-based interventions for substance use disorders.

References:

VA Qualification Standards: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards.

Physical Requirements

Work is mostly sedentary and primarily performed in an office setting located at the Dayton VA Medical Center. Typical office work involves active listening, reading, observing, and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior, writing reports and clinical notes, writing policies and procedures, and speaking to groups of people as part of providing trainings. The position requires the use of office equipment such as computers, keyboards, telephones, fax machines, and photocopy machines. Visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity are required. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.