Social Worker Substance Use Disorder

We're Looking for a skilled Social Worker Substance Use Disorder in the Veterans Health Administration based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Read through the job description to see if it matches your current experience.

The Successful Applicant

Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met Basic Requirements: US Citizenship: Noncitizens may only be appointed when its not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance w/ VA Policy English Language Proficiency: Social Workers appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken written English Education. Have a masters degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Social work graduates of schools in candidacy status dont meet this requirement until the School of Social Work is fully accredited A doctoral degree in social work may not be substituted for the masters degree in social work Verification of the degree can be made by going to http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify social work degree meets accreditation standards for a Masters Social Work Licensure. Persons hired or reassigned to a social worker position GS0185 series in the VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters degree level. Current state requirements may be found by going to http://vaww.va.gov/ORHM//T38Hybrids Exception. VHA may waive licensure or certification requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure/certification examinations The exception only applies at the GS9 grade level GS11 grade levels above must be licensed or certified At the time of appointment the supervisor chief social work or social work executive provides the unlicensed/uncertified social worker w/ written requirements for licensure or certification including the deadline for license or certification the consequences for not becoming licensed or certified by deadline For appointments at the GS9 grade level VHA social workers who arent licensed/certified at the time of appointment must become licensed/certified at the independent masters level w/in 3 years of their appointment as a social worker Most states require 2 years of postMSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam VHA gives social workers 1 additional year to pass licensure/certification exam In states such as California Washington others where prerequisites for licensure exceed 2 years social workers must become licensed at the independent masters level w/in 1 year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure A social worker who doesnt yet have a license that allows independent practice must be supervised by a licensed independent practitioner of the same discipline whos VA staff who has access to the electronic health record Different states have different levels of licensure/certification making it difficult for VA staff to determine the independent practice level Each state Puerto Rico the District of Columbia completed surveys identifying the licensure/certification level allowing independent practice Surveys copies are on file in the VHA Office of Care Management Social Work Services a summary spreadsheet of the levels of licensure/certification is available to social work professional standards board members for purposes of determining whether a social workers level of licensure/certification meets the VHA qualification standards All states except California use a series of licensure exams administered by the ASWB Information can be found at https://www.aswb.org/ ASWB is the association of boards that regulates social work ASWB develops maintains the social work licensing examination used across the country is a central resource for information on the legal regulation of social work ASWB offers three examinations The masters examination is generally used by states for the independent practice level of licensure/certification the advanced generalist clinical examinations are used for the advanced practice level of licensure/certification Differences between the masters advanced exams demonstrate the expectation that advanced practice social workers have a more sophisticated knowledge of practice theory its application Failure to Obtain License or Certification. In all cases social workers must actively pursue meeting state prerequisites for licensure/certification starting from the date of their appointment Failure to become licensed/certified by the deadline will result in removal from the GS0185 social worker series may result in termination of employment Loss of Licensure or Certification. Once licensed or certified social workers must maintain a full valid unrestricted independent license/certification to remain qualified for employment Loss of licensure/certification will result in removal from the GS0185 social worker series may result in termination of employment Preferred Experience: Substance Abuse experience Grade Determinations: GS9 Social Worker Experience Education Licensure: None beyond basic requirements Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities KSAs In addition to experience listed above candidates must be able to demonstrate all the following KSAs 1) Ability to work w/ Veterans family members from various socioeconomic cultural ethnic educational other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills2) Ability to assess psychosocial functioning needs of Veterans their family members to formulate implement a treatment plan identifying Veterans problems strengths weaknesses coping skills assistance needed3) Ability to implement treatment modalities in working w/ individuals families groups to achieve treatment goals. Requires judgment skill in utilizing supportive problem solving or crisis intervention techniques4) Ability to establish maintain effective working relationships communicate w/ clients staff community agencies representatives5) Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses disabilities treatment procedures. This includes acute chronic traumatic illnesses/injuries common medications their effects/side effects medical terminology GS11 Social Worker Experience and Licensure. Appointment to GS11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of 1 year of postMSW experience equivalent to the GS9 grade level in the field of health care or other social workrelated settings (VA or nonVA experience) licensure/certification in a state at the independent practice level 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 1 year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting Demonstrated KSAs In addition to experience listed above candidates must be able to demonstrate all the following KSAs 1) Knowledge of community resources how to make appropriate referrals to community other governmental agencies for services ability to coordinate services2) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic cultural ethnic educational other diversified backgrounds3) Knowledge of medical mental health diagnoses disabilities treatment procedures (ie acute chronic traumatic illnesses/injuries common medications their effects/side effects medical terminology) to formulate a treatment plan4) Skill in independently implementing different treatment modalities in working with individuals families groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric medical social problems to achieve treatment goals Please see section titled Additional Information for the rest of qualification information

What’s on Offer

The role offers excellent opportunities for top performers to further develop their competencies as a social worker and improving the lives of people.