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The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting two Social workers to serve in the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs. One Social Worker in the Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP) and one Social Worker in the Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (PRRTP). These Social Workers will operate within the Psychology Service. 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. 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. Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. 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 as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Current employees 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). 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-Masters 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. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time work week. For example, one week of full-time credit is equivalent to two weeks of part-time work. Fellowships or Post-Graduate Training. Fellowship and post-graduate training programs are typically in a specialized area of clinical practice, i.e., group or family practice. Training as a fellow or post-graduate may be substituted for creditable experience on a year-for-year basis. Practicum in a VA Setting. A VHA practicum experience may not be substituted for experience, as the practicum (field placement) is completed prior to graduation with a master's degree in social work. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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. 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: (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 5005/120 PART II APPENDIX G39 September 10, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. ["VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties of this position may include but not limited to; Provides routine to complex counseling and therapeutic services to include suicide prevention, crisis intervention, short and long term treatment with veterans exhibiting psychiatric disorders including Major Depression, PTSD, Substance Use Disorder, and/or mental health issues. Experience and certification in evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Substance Use Disorder, Motivational Interviewing, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Social Skills Training and others is preferred. The incumbent is required to exercise judgment and decision making in the formulation of the treatment plan with the treatment team. The incumbent is expected to write treatment plans using the Mental Health Suite software package. Additional responsibilities include an ongoing assessment of the patient's progress and treatment, as well as developing discharge plans. The incumbent is expected to provide complex clinical services to clients with serious problems on a regular and continuing basis. The incumbent may assume responsibility for coordination with lawyers, board and care home operators, physicians, clergymen, and representatives of other disciplines who are concerned with the same clients or group of clients. The incumbent performs administrative functions such as actively participating in team meetings; maintains accurate records of his/her clinical interactions; and collaborates with other team members and with professionals, paraprofessionals, volunteers, and others in VA facilities and community agencies to help veterans recognize and resolve their problems and needs. The incumbent may provide training experiences for graduate social work trainees; may make community visits needed to effectively perform his/her responsibilities, may participate in research and pilot studies, and will maintain an active participation in the Psychology Service and the other Mental Health Services. The incumbent functions as a champion and advocate for the provision of recovery focused services to Veterans. As such, the incumbent is expected to model Recovery and its defined values in all aspects of her or his professional activities and partnerships. Work Schedule: Mon-Friday 0800-1630. Due to the nature of this position some evenings and weekends may be required in emergent situations Compressed/Flexible: not available Telework: not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized"]

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