This Social Worker (Substance Use Disorder) position is located at the Williamsport Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The Social Worker (SUD) will be instrumental in both developing and providing services to meet the needs of veterans struggling with issues of both Mental Health and Substance Abuse. The SUD Clinician will work with both veterans and their family members to facilitate the development of a comprehensive program of recovery to meet their needs. 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. 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Current valid driver's license due to the travel required for this position. 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). All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard 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. For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:(1) Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.(4) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. NOTE: If social workers covered under the grandfathering provision of the 1991 Federal law regarding licensure or certification of VHA social workers leave the GS-0185 social work series, they lose the grandfathering protection. If they choose to return at a later date to the GS-0185 series, they must be licensed or certified to qualify for employment as a social worker. Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 (Entry Level) Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:(a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills.(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, & assistance needed.(c) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families, and groups to achieve treatment goals. This requires judgment & skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving, or crisis intervention techniques.(d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships & 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 & their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. GS-11 (Full Performance Level) 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-39The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work is case management in the community, and is primarily sedentary. It may require occasional lifting (10-20 lbs.); Reaching above shoulder; Frequent keyboarding and Sitting (4-7 hours per day); Walking up to 6 hours per day; Standing up to 8 hours per day; Infrequent or frequent climbing/descending of stairs depending on the veteran's location; Some bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Correctable near sighted and far sighted vision; Hearing Aid permitted. ["The position would include working social work on call. The position of SUD Social Worker is under the direct supervision of the Specialty Social Work Supervisor, and will receive direction and supervision from Social Work Service. By working in conjunction with both Social Work and MH/BM, the MH/SUD Social Worker will be instrumental in ensuring that treatment needs for veterans and their families are adequately met both through those services provided within the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, as well as utilizing those services within the community at large to meet treatment goals. The SUD Social Worker may be required to implement measures to assess effectiveness of exiting treatment programs and modalities, to ensure that the highest standards are met. The SUD Social Worker will work to evaluation, case management, provide emergency triage support, and provide counseling services to Veterans that are not enrolled in formal SUD/IOP or RRTP services. The population focus is Veterans with high rate of use patterns, relapse, detox and emergency care services that are not engaged in a recovery program. Harm reduction strategies will be utilized with ongoing case management. The SUD Social Worker will work with other members of the MH/BM department not only within the SUD Clinic/IOP, but may also provide services to SARRTP (Substance Abuse Recovery Rehab Treatment Program), and consult inpatient programs. The SUD Social Worker will also need to be familiar with community MH/SUD support groups to ensure that the Veteran receives the support to successfully recover. The SUD Social Worker will actively participate in VA sponsored trainings and education on issues impacting both MH and Substance Abuse, sharing that knowledge through trainings as requested. The SUD Social Worker will take an active role in working with recovering veterans to coordinate a viable and successful program of treatment. Performs work related to the review, monitoring, analysis, planning and assessment of\nvarious programs. The incumbent is responsible for completing the following duties/responsibilities: Participating in treatment planning, and making recommendations to ensure a beneficial outcome to veteran recovery. Providing individual, group and/or vocational counseling in accordance with Mental Health, Medical Center and VA Central Office (VACO) procedures. Completing and/or addresses SAIL Performance Measures/Reminders. These may include but are not limited to SUD Continuity, Waiting Times, Access, Depression, PTSD, Tobacco counseling, C&P Quality/timeliness indicators and Patient Satisfaction Surveys as appropriate to assigned unit/program/clinic. Participating as needed in the Level-of-Care Assessment Team. Participating in trainings, meetings, or conferences related to treatment of SUD. Providing reports to leadership on effectiveness of existing programs, and making recommendations specific to improving patient outcome. Participating in facility Social Work and Behavioral Health staff meetings and policy planning groups. Complying with agreed-upon minimum standards for documentation when writing/recording in medical records. This includes, but is not limited to assessments, treatment plans, transfer progress notes, discharge summaries, and performance measures/reminders as assigned. Reporting to the Suicide Prevention Coordinators, immediately, or as soon as practicable, information received regarding completed suicides and/or suicide attempts. Performing other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm\nTelework: Available. Up to 50% of time\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]