Summary This individual functions as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker on a multidisciplinary team located primarily in the Substance Use Disorder Clinical (SUD-C) Team at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. The incumbent provides routine to complex counseling and therapeutic services to include suicide prevention, crisis intervention, short and long term treatment with veterans exhibiting Substance Use Disorders, and/or other mental health issues. Responsibilities Major duties include, but are not limited to: Participates in the admission/screening process by interviewing patients and their families and completing intake data collection with purpose of establishing treatment for SUD and related psychiatric disorders. This may include obtaining psychosocial history, maintaining data sheets, completing high risk screens, and developing discharge planning assessments. Continually monitors progress in treatment using Measurement Based Care principles. Participates in or facilitates selected evidence-based psychotherapies related to the treatment of SUD, conducts individual, group, and family counseling, and other social work privileged functions independently or under supervision as professional license dictates. May conduct psychoeducational activities following professionally prepared resource guides. Functions as a primary manager (therapist) for a number of patients on a prescribed caseload of SUD patients. This includes preparation and implementation of treatment plans (using the MH Suite software) developed in concert with the incumbent's multidisciplinary team. Acts as a liaison between staff, patient, and other stakeholders in the development and review of treatment plans. Participates in periodic review of ongoing treatment of patients under the care of the SUD-C team. Help patients (1) adjust to current living situation, (2) explore areas of deficit in activities of daily living, (3) provide and/or arrange skill building educational activities (4) explore areas of psychosocial conflicts or trauma seeking resolution or psychological stability by using a "Recovery Model" based approach. Use supportive/facilitative techniques with patients and their families to help them better communicate with each other and, when necessary, help confront problem behaviors. Acts as a resource and liaison person to public and private providers and agencies to assure continuity of care and appropriate referrals for patients and their families as levels of care change. Conducts or assists in carrying out planned QA studies or research projects. The incumbent will document social work interventions and activities in patient's clinical record and ensure appropriate hand off when transferring of patient care. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0800-1630 EDRP Authorized: 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. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. 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: Ad-hoc may be available at supervisory discretion Functional Statement #:918810-0 & 91882-0 Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. 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. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: 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 http://www.cswe.org/Accreditation to verify that the social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a masters of social work. Licensure: 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 http://vaww.va.gov/OHRM/T38Hybrid/. Exception. 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 soci
