Summary

This position works as a psychotherapist in the Substance Treatment Program (STP) within the Behavioral Health Service (BHS). This position will also work with the Women's Health PACT teams to provide specialty SUD care to women veterans. The position is physically located at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane - Washington.

Qualifications

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. To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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
• 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
• For appointments at the GS-9 grade 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 three years of their appointment as a social worker
• Failure to Obtain License or Certification
• In all cases - social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure or certification starting from the date of their appointment
• Failure to become licensed or certified within the prescribed amount of time will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment
• English Language Proficiency
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• 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 - GS-9 Experience - Education - and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to utilize a Veteran centric approach when providing interventions and counseling for Veterans - their family members - caregivers - and survivors
• 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
• 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 please refer to paragraph 3c
• 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 - educational - and other 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 Preferred Experience: Experience with women veterans and substance abuse Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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: Light lifting - under 15 pounds
• Both hands required
• Able to see computer screen
• Hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Working closely with others or alone;

Duties

• The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series
• For more information - refer to Required Documents below
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Completes biopsychosocial assessments and develops both mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses based on the DSM-5-TR
• Formulates evidence-based treatment plans based on accurate diagnosis - collaboration with the Veteran - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) - and National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) recommendations
• Updates treatment plans every 45-days
• Conducts psychotherapy groups and individual appointments weekly for Veterans who have less than 90-days in recovery as part of the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and STP outpatient program
• Completes needs assessments and coordinates ongoing care after graduation from IOP
• Delivers services both in-person and via telehealth technologies
• Has knowledge of and is able to implement individual - group - and family counseling interventions - including CBT - DBT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - MI/Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) - Contingency Management (CM) - harm reduction - mindfulness-based relapse prevention - evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) for PTSD (i.e. - PE - CPT - EMDR)
• Provides crisis intervention and stabilization intervention and develops Mental Health Safety Plans for Veterans at risk of suicide
• Coordinates care for residential treatment and detoxification across the SUD continuum of care using the Stepped Care for Opioid Use Disorder Train the Trainer (SCOUTT) model
• Provides reports to legal authorities for court-mandated SUD treatment and collaborates with Veteran's Justice Outreach (VJO)
• Possesses knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes - case laws - ethical codes - and regulations - and provides consultation to clinical staff regarding these
• Serves as the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) for assigned Veterans
• Communicates effectively - both verbally and in writing - with Veterans - family members - clinical staff and others - all with varied backgrounds
• Is able to clearly articulate clinical treatment rationale - strategies - and techniques that will best help patients function effectively in their recover and within interpersonal relationships
• Complies with all electronic health record (EHR) documentation procedures - including timeliness standards - use of correct procedure and diagnostic codes - note titles/templates - assessments - treatment plans - discharge plans - and shared decision-making conversations
• Complies with national and local performance measures - health care screening recommendations - and measurement based care (i.e. - Brief Addiction Monitor at 30- and 60-day increments - PHQ9 - GAD7 - PCL5 - Life Events Checklist - etc.)
• Provides asynchronous consultation to the Acute Psychiatry Unit (APU) - medical units - Primary Care teams - Healthcare for Homeless Veterans - among others
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized