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Summary

The incumbent provides integrated treatment for patients with Substance Use Disorder, as well as a variety of other comorbid conditions, as part of the Outpatient Behavioral Health Program at the Montana VA Health Care System. The Social Worker will diagnose mental and substance use disorders, conduct psychosocial assessments, and treatment mental and substance use disorders through a variety of modalities. Among the modalities provided are individual, family, and group psychotherapies.

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
• Education
• 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
• A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the master's degree in social work
• For grades below or at the full performance level, 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 3 years of their appointment as a social worker
• Licensure
• Possess a full and unrestricted license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level
• English Language Proficiency
• Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Grade Determinations:GS-9: Basic requirements as described above
• In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 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: Completion of a minimum of 1 year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work (VA or non-VA experience); OR, A doctoral degree in social work from a school of social work may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting
• In addition, the candidate must 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, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G39
• Social Worker Qualification Standard, GS-185
• 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 Incumbent 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 incumbent or others.

Duties

"Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to: Must have advanced knowledge of and mastery of theories and modalities used in the specialized treatment of complex physical and mental illness.
Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of veteran patients, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice.
Ability to determine priority for services and provide specialized treatment services.
Must have advanced and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations.
Must have the ability to provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients treated in the specialty area, rendering professional opinions based on experience and expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills.
Ability to teach and mentor staff and students in the specialty area of practice and to provide supervision for licensure or for specialty certifications.
The incumbent is responsible to the Administrative Supervisor of the program area assigned but practices independently, exercising initiative and independent judgment in day-to-day activities.
Supervision/ consultation is of an administrative and professional nature; with the Administrative Supervisor providing guidelines as to the general policies and program direction.
In unusual and/or complex administrative and clinical problems, the incumbent initiates consultation with the Program Supervisor as well as with other authoritative resources at the Medical Center, such as the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health.
Incumbent must meet the needs of customers while supporting VA missions; consistently communicate and treat customers (Veterans, their representatives, visitors and all VA staff) in a courteous, tactful and respectful manner; provide customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures; and handle conflict and problems dealing with customers constructively and appropriately.
The primary age of patients treated and cared for are normally at the age level of 18 - 60 years of age or older.
The position requires the incumbent possess an understanding of the developmental needs of veterans based on age.
Sensitivity to the special needs of all veterans with respect to age, developmental requirements and culturally related factors must be consistently achieved.
Incumbent must protect printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provision of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, Federal regulations, VA statutes and policy; protect the data from unauthorized release or from loss, alteration, or unauthorized deletion; follow applicable regulations and instructions regarding access to computerized files, release of access codes, etc., as set out in the computer access agreement signed by the incumbent.
Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 53527-O, 53528-O, 53529-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"