Senior Social Worker - Substance Use Disorder

About the role

The Social Worker practices in the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System (VAECHCS) assigned to the outpatient Substance Use Disorders Clinic under the Mental Health Service. The incumbent participates as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team.

Responsibilities

• Actively implements evidence-based treatments within the SUD Clinic.
• Provides clinical supervision towards licensure in social work or addictions counseling and/or actively represents the SUD Clinic in facility or VISN-level workgroups/committees.
• Provides clinical consultation to other members of the workgroup, as needed.
• Provides administrative and/or clinical coverage in the absence of the Program Manager, Detox/MAT Coordinator, or as other clinical needs indicate.
• Completes all components of the intake and assessment process and develops a treatment plan pertaining to all assessed needs.
• Serves as case manager for a panel of patients, the size of which is commensurate with other clinicians on the staff of the SUD Clinic. As case manager, the incumbent attends to a broad range of patient needs that are not fully met directly through the clinical services provided by the SUD Clinic itself, including but not limited to those needs dealing with physical health, employment, finances, family, social support, and housing.
• Provides same-day services, as needed, for Veterans, including referring patients for emergency medical treatment, psychiatric medication evaluation, SUD specialty care or non-medical detoxification as well as coordinating the admission of patients to the inpatient psychiatric unit of the nearest VA Medical Center or local non-VA facilities.
• Treatment services, including but not limited to individuals and group treatment. Group treatment includes psycho educational as well as psychotherapeutic groups. Utilizes evidence-based treatment methods whenever possible. Applies Motivational Interviewing skills and techniques, as clinically indicated, and applies, as clinically indicated, interventions based on both abstinence and harm reduction approaches to substance use disorders.
• Assesses patient interest in and eligibility for Medication Assisted Therapies and provides referrals for evaluation for these treatments.
• Assists with drug and alcohol monitoring, as needed, in conjunction with psychosocial services.
• Timely follow up with Veterans on their case load who prematurely drop out of treatment in compliance with any VA policies or SOPs.
• Participates in weekly staff meetings and team huddles regarding clinical, administrative, and staff development issues.
• Maintains up-to-date charting in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), documenting all assessment, treatment and case management contacts with patients. Documentation meets all local, state, and national guidelines and is completed in a professional and timely manner.
• Makes recommendations for changes in policies and procedures as needed, as opportunities arise.
• Maintains up-to-date charting in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), documenting all assessment, treatment and case management contacts with patients. Documentation meets all local, state, and national guidelines and is completed in a professional and timely manner.
• Facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility.
• May provide services in Community Based Outpatient locations other than their assigned duty station and/or may provide services to these locations over Telehealth, including VA Video Connect and other technology.

Requirements

General knowledge of Veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service-connected compensation, and non-service-connected pension is required. The incumbent facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level.
• Advanced practice clinical licensure and at least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure, with one year equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.
• Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes.
• Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills.
• Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area.