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The Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Social Worker incumbent is responsible for coordinating addictions programming and providing direct care to Veterans. The PCMHI SUD Social Worker is also a member of the treatment team in providing substance abuse services to include assessment for SUD Programming, including Harm Reduction, and Medication Assisted Therapy.
07/05/2022 to 07/26/2022
$63,609 - $100,044 per year
GS 9 - 11
No
No
Not required
No
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
11
No
No
CBDT-11557051-22-VM
663343400
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Current excepted service federal employees.
Current federal employees of this agency.
1st area of consideration: current permanent VA New Jersey Health Care System employees. 2nd area of consideration: current permanent VA employees and Past/Current/Upcoming VHA HPT Graduates. 3rd area of consideration: other current permanent excepted service federal employees. 4th area of consideration: United States Citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
The primary goal of the PC-MHI SUDs Social Worker is to provide same-day access for completion of clinical assessments and state-of-the-art substance abuse and recovery-oriented treatment/services to Veterans diagnosed with alcohol and/or substance abuse or dependence.
Duties may include but are not limited to:
- Participate in PACT huddles, meetings, and/or other functions to represent and champion SUD-specific care considerations within primary care
- Promote engagement of Veterans with substance misuse who may be reluctant to begin care within PCMHI or Specialty SUD services.
- Within the primary care setting, raise awareness and understanding regarding the course of SUD recovery (e.g., relapse/remission cycles, chronicity, readiness for change, harm reduction, etc.)
- Assist PACT in streamlining procedures for standard screening (e.g., AUD-C) and referral (e.g., same day warm handoffs)
- Utilize proactive patient identification and outreach activities related to substance misuse for the PACT population
- Serve as team Subject Matter Expert and Point of Contact related to SUD concerns within PACT, with emphasis on Opiate and Alcohol Use Disorders
- Provide education and training to PACT about SUD care (e.g., brief interventions, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, biopsychosocial factors, etc.)
- Offer formal or curbside consultation regarding the treatment of SUD within primary care
- Support and/or deliver PCMHI Collaborative Care Management for Veterans with substance misuse concerns
- Deliver SUD-specific, brief, evidence-based, individual or group interventions appropriate for the PACT setting and in collaboration with PCPs
- Leverage telehealth modalities to provide SUD-specific services to patients in PACT at locations that may be more remote or otherwise lack access to such services, as well as to be available for cross-coverage of colleagues as indicated/needed.
Functional Assessments - The Social Worker interviews the Veteran, family member and/or significant other to establish facts about the Veteran's current situation with emphasis on primary concerns identified by Veteran and/or family. In collaboration with the Veteran, family member and/or significant others, the Social Worker, completes an accurate functional assessment in line with PCMHI model of care.
Treatment planning/goal setting - The Social Worker in PCMHI functions as part of the expanded/integrated PACT. As such, agreed upon goals and treatment interventions will added to extend the existing treatment plan as outlined by the PACT PCP.
Provision of clinical services - The Social Worker provides SUDs specific clinical services of 4 to 6 sessions with at least 75% of these sessions being 30 minutes or less (i.e. brief individual psychotherapy, and marital or family counseling), care management services (i.e. education, activation and monitoring of adherence and progress over time following established protocols, scripts and assessment tools), and psycho-educational services to Veterans, family members and/or significant others in support of the Veteran's treatment goals.
Documentation - The Social Worker documents all visits with the Veteran, family member and/or significant other electronically through the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and completes encounter forms for each visit.
The Social Worker may also clinically oversee social work students or entry level Social Workers if they meet the certification/supervision requirements. Responsibility for clinical oversight includes co-signing all progress notes.
Referrals - The Social Worker has knowledge of the VA and community's service systems and processes to access them. With this knowledge, as well as the Social Worker clinical training, insight, experience, ability to interpret data and identify viable treatment options,
Advocacy - The Social Worker acts as an advocate for Veterans within the hospital system, wider VA, and community services whenever necessary. When appropriate and feasible, the Social Worker educates and encourages Veterans to advocate on their own behalf, thus fostering a sense of empowerment, independence, and assertiveness.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration - The Social Worker participates with other members of the treatment team in attending weekly treatment team meeting, rounds, community meetings, family conferences and other endeavors as needed and appropriate to the role of social work.
Administrative Responsibilities - The Social Worker attends all administrative and programmatic meetings. He/she may perform other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD25335-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
IMPORTANT: A transcript (official or unofficial) must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/26/2022 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11557051.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/663343400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?
