Social Worker – Substance Use Disorder Program

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

VA Careers – Social Work:

• https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties of this position are, but not limited to: Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments, aiming to understand the needs of veterans, their families, and their caregivers.
• Active engagement in the treatment planning process alongside other disciplines is crucial, ensuring the patient and family’s psychosocial needs are carefully considered.
• Possesses a comprehensive understanding of diverse human backgrounds, adept counseling skills, and the ability to implement treatment plans in collaboration with the clinical supervisor and/or interdisciplinary team.
• Provide a wide array of counseling services, including individual and family counseling, helping patients and their families cope with the experiences of disability, terminal illness, and death.
• Extend their support beyond direct counseling, offering consultation and education to veterans and families on community resources, advance directives, and VA benefits.
• Act as a consultant to their team members, providing valuable insights and guidance.
• Acts as a liaison between the VA and community resources, shouldering additional responsibilities such as marketing and public relation duties when needed.
• Commitment to comprehensive care is evident as they provide case management services throughout the continuum of care, ensuring that veterans and their families receive the necessary support at every stage.
• Their holistic approach to care is further exemplified through their efforts in providing wellness and prevention education.
• Proficiency in utilizing computer software applications for documentation, data management, and tracking is essential, particularly within the framework of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
• Maintains data and statistical reports to comply with JCAHO, VA, and Medical Center policies and procedures.
• The incumbent meticulously documents social work interventions and activities in patient clinical records, ensuring a smooth hand-off when transferring patient care.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills are vital for establishing and maintaining effective relationships with patients, families, and a spectrum of community agencies, communicating fluently in diverse cultural and professional settings.
• An in-depth knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures is indispensable, encompassing acute, chronic, and traumatic conditions, as well as an understanding of common medications and their associated effects and side effects.
• Continuous professional growth and self-evaluation are encouraged, and active participation in professional peer reviews and case conferences is expected.
• This role presents an invaluable opportunity to contribute significantly to the well-being and overall quality of life for our nation’s honored veterans and their families, ensuring they receive the holistic support and care they deserve.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
• Contact VHAVISN23EDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
• Learn more 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.
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Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver’s licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the “Required Documents” section of this announcement.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: Current permanent VA employees of the facility, to include past/current/upcoming VHA HPT Graduates. All other permanent VA employees, to include past/current/upcoming VHA HPT Graduates.

Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies All other applicants. 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.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume Transcript Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted ‘Resume’ document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the ‘Other’ document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), etc.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License **Highly Recommend** Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separate document – KSAs are found under qualification/grade requirements in the announcement.
• Resume/CV exceeding two-pages
• Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript