This position works within the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Specialty Clinic Treatment Team located in the White City, OR VA Medical Center. 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. English proficiency: All candidates must be fluent in spoken and written English. Education: Master's degree in social work (MSW) from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), or other master's in science in social work (MSSW), social service administration (MSSA), social service (MSS), social administration (MSA) or social welfare as accredited by the CSWE. You MUST have earned your degree by the time the job announcement closes. Those without the required master's degree will be disqualified. (If you are a VA intern graduating in the next 2 months, you may be eligible, pending credentialing and graduation with required Master's degree.) Licensure: 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 the GS-9, entry level position. For those hired without a license, they will be required to obtain licensure within three (3) years of appointment. Experience GS-11: Must have a license to independently practice social work along with 1 year post-MSW experience in the field of health care social work, OR possess a doctoral degree in social work that may be substituted for the required 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting Grade Determinations: GS-9 Requirements: This is the entry level for social workers and is used for social workers with less than 1 year of post-MSW experience. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for GS-9: (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, 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. GS-11 Requirements: This is the full performance level for social workers. GS-11 Social Workers are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. They are assigned to all program areas, including inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for GS-11: (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 G39 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-9 to GS-11. You must obtain licensure before you will eligible to be promoted to GS-11. Please Note: If you are not yet independently licensed, you will not be promoted to grade 11. Physical Requirements: Light lifting and carrying (under 15 lbs); use of fingers, both hands required; walking & standing (1 hour); both hands required; Operation of motor vehicle; ability for rapid mental & muscular coordination simultaneously; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted). Environmental factors include exposure to: excessive heat/cold, dust/fumes, working alone & with others, working around moving vehicles, overhead light, ambient noise, smells from being in close proximity with others (including soap, shampoo, perfume, food and/or lingering tobacco smoke from smokers). ["The Social Worker works within the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Specialty Clinic treatment team providing primarily group psychotherapy and case management to veterans seeking specialty SUD care, with the opportunity to develop specialty SUD assessment and evidence-based SUD psychotherapy skills over time. The primary age of Veterans served in the clinic is normally between the ages of 18-65 or older, most of whom are men. Appointments will be conducted in person and via video technology. Approaches used include harm reduction, motivational interviewing, mindfulness based relapse prevention, and CBT modalities. Major duties will include, but will not be limited to: a. Screening/Assessment: With supervisory oversight, begins to develop assessment skills in information gathering, problem identification, diagnosis, treatment planning, implementation, evaluation, and follow-up. Fully utilizes the current DSM in making diagnoses and formulation of treatment goals and application of appropriate clinical interventions.\nb. Delivers services both in person and via video technology.\nc. Treatment Planning/Interventions: As evidence-based psychotherapy trainings become available, the GS-11 SUD Therapist will have the opportunity to attend trainings and begin to develop specialized knowledge of a wide variety of individual, group, or family counseling interventions. Treatment approaches include but are not limited to cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, and motivational enhancement therapy. Establishes goals/treatment through a collaborative process with the patient, including evidence-based practices. Provides complex crisis intervention and stabilization to patients who are in psychological distress.\nd. Conducts approximately 8 SUD groups per week focusing on skills and psychoeducation.\ne. Conducts case management services for veterans enrolled in SUD Specialty services, to include but not limited to: coordination of care with other clinics/programs/facilities, provision of resources/education, completing clinical reminders, administering measurement based care, and managing emergent veteran needs within the clinic.\nf. Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures (e.g., entering diagnostic and procedure codes). Maintains appropriate records and follow-up data on patients who are their responsibility.\ng. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. h. Complies with peer review procedures.\ni. Participates as a member of VA SORCC committees as directed. Attends regular meetings in the SUD Specialty Clinic, Outpatient Behavioral Health Service, and Behavioral Health Service Line. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:00AM-4:30PM\nCompressed/Flexible: May be available.\nTelework: Partial telework available on an ad hoc basis and subject to change Virtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]