Social Worker - Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program

Social Worker - Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program Job at Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Anchorage, AK
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

The Social Worker provides primarily mental health services to the homeless veteran population enrolled in the Alaska VA Healthcare System (AVAHS) Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (MH RRTP) to include as the Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans - the Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP) the Compensated Work Therapy Transitional Resident Program. Incentive Authorized
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. (HPTs must meet requirements by time of starting position)
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
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 to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work
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
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
(a) 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
Most states require two years of post-MSW experience as a prerequisite to taking the licensure/certification exam - and VHA gives social workers one additional year to pass the licensure/certification exam
In states such as California - Washington - and others where the prerequisites for licensure exceed two years - social workers must become licensed at the independent - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure
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
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)
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
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
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 populations experience substance use disorders - homelessness - and vocational challenges
Experience working in a mental health residential treatment setting
Residential Experience SUD/Addiction education Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
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
Light carrying - under 15 pounds
Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
Hearing (aid may be permitted)
Environmental Factors: Outside and inside
Slippery or uneven walking surfaces

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The Social Worker provides primarily mental health services to the homeless veteran population enrolled in the Alaska VA Healthcare System (AVAHS) Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (MH RRTP) to include as the Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans - the Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP) the Compensated Work Therapy Transitional Resident Program
The treatment orientation of the MHRRTP is cognitive behavioral within a therapeutic community milieu
The focus is on assisting veterans to take responsibility for their recovery - behavior - and treatment in partnership with the professional staff
Conducts screenings and assessments - interprets VHA guidelines and eligibility requirements - and completes a biopsychosocial history and assessment
Develops an appropriate - individualized treatment plan for each veteran assigned to him/her - and meets with caseload weekly
Makes initial and continuing decisions regarding the services available and referrals needed
Decisions are based upon the employee's professional judgment with regards to the individual's rehabilitative potential and possible consequences of less controlled rehabilitative efforts
Documents the patient assessment and all treatment plans in accordance with the requirements of Mental Health Services (MHS) policy and requirements of various accrediting bodies
Provides case management services to all residents enrolled in the MH RRTP where the incumbent is assigned
Provides supportive counseling individual and group treatment - and makes appropriate referrals both within the VA and the greater community
Employs individual and group treatment methods and techniques to maintain a therapeutic relationship that will help the resident work towards the best way of dealing with their problems
Builds rapport - establishes a continuing relationship with the resident - evaluating progress towards goals - performs follow-up after referral - and adjusts treatment plan when needed
Monitors resident's progress - maintains comprehensive case documentation and shows competent discretion in the decision to adjust treatment
Completes Suicide screenings and documentation within MH RRTP policy and guidelines
Participates in interdisciplinary treatment team and staff meetings
Assists staff in periodic or as needed room inspections within MH RRTP policy and guidelines
Work Schedule: Flexible - Compressed
Monday through Friday 8am - 4:30pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
Contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@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
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
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