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This position is located in the Social Work Service at the Albany VA medical center in Albany, New York. The Social Worker functions as part of the staff in the Addictions Treatment Services Program, inclusive of outpatient and residential treatment (12 residential beds) with primary focus in the outpatient program. 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: Social Worker Citizenship: US Citizen 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. 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 Master 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/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed for this vacancy. 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). 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: Creditable Experience: The candidate must have knowledge of current professional social work practices. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics associated with current professional social work practice. The experience or education must be post-Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Experience and education satisfying this requirement must be active professional practice, which is paid/non-paid employment as a professional social worker, as defined by the appropriate state licensing board. Quality of Experience: Experience is only creditable if it is obtained following graduation with a master's degree in social work and if it includes work as a professional social worker directly related to the position to be filled. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to social work experience at the next lower level. Social Worker GS-11 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. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level must be Unrestricted, at the Independent Practice Level, with the ability to work independently. OR Education: In addition to meeting basic requirements, 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of 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. Make sure the KSA's are demonstrated in your resume. Assignments: This is the full performance level. Social workers at this level are licensed or certified to independently practice social work. Duties include but are not limited to assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team, the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors, conducts assessment and provides specific interventions. The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The social worker links the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities, in order to maximize the Veteran's independence, health, and well-being. The social worker conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate. The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems. They provide a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy. They independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/120 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 the GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Major Duties and Responsibilities: The social worker will provide ongoing risk assessment for suicide. Implementation of solution focused interventions for crisis intervention are also required. The incumbent provides individual, group, marital, and family psychotherapy. Case management responsibilities include coordination of treatment, information and referral with VA, community agencies, and legal institutions. The social worker will provide consultations to medical staff regarding veterans with dually diagnosed substance use and mental health conditions. The incumbent provides education of medical staff on substance use, diagnosis and treatment to VA staff and the community. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran and family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Establish and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with veterans and their families. The social worker will provide clinical interventions that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques to facilitate change and any additional evidence-based treatments for addictions. Didactic presentations are an adjunct to CBT and Motivational Interviewing interventions. Provides coverage to other areas of the Behavioral Health Service as needed or required. Clinical Duties: The incumbent is an active participant in the treatment planning process with other disciplines and implements a variety of treatment modalities to groups experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems. The incumbent will participate in discharge planning with other disciplines and will be responsible for ensuring that discharge plans are executed in a manner that is timely and appropriate. The incumbent will provide individual, family and group counseling as appropriate. The incumbent will provide consultation/education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives and VA benefits. 6. The incumbent will act as a consultant to other team/staff members. The incumbent will provide consultation/education to medical residents on social work practice and VA policy and procedure. The incumbent will act as liaison between VA, other government agencies, and community resources, to include marketing and public relation duties as needed. The incumbent will provide case management to veterans and families, as needed, throughout the continuum of care. The incumbent will provide a full range of social work services within commonly accepted standards of social work practice which includes case work, individual, family and group counseling, discharge planning, case management and other services as appropriate. The incumbent will address Advance Directives and Organ Donation in accordance with the standards of their work area. Administrative Duties: The incumbent is responsible for supporting the mission, policies, and procedures of the VA, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network(VISN), and the facility. May serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN, and/or VA Central Office levels. Keeps supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility. Is responsible for furthering own professional growth through education, appropriate to area of assignment. Provides coverage for colleagues during staff absences within the Social Work group. Must maintain a level of productivity and quality consistent with facility and discipline specific standards and the complexity of the assignment. Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings and attends appropriate facility meetings. Shares knowledge and experiences gained from own clinical practice and education relevant to the field of Social Work. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation required by the Medical Center or VISN, as appropriate. Other Duties as Assigned Work Schedule: Mon-Thurs 8am - 6:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 24420-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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