The VA Central Iowa Health Care System is recruiting for one (1) full-time Early Intervention Substance Use Disorder Therapist for the Mental Health Service Line. This position may be filled by a Social Worker, Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, or Marriage and Family Therapist. This position is located at the Des Moines VA Medical Center, 3600 30th St, Des Moines, IA 50310. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program. Please see below for more information. 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. 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. 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. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Grade Determinations: 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: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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; and medical terminology. 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. OR 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 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: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) Skill in independently conducting psychosocial assessments and treatment interventions to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II, Appendix G39 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: This position is mainly sedentary and will be performed in an office setting. ["The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. This position is administratively within the Mental Health Service Line at the VA Central Iowa Health Care System, with assignment to the mental health area at Des Moines, placed within the Behavior Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). The incumbent will be an advisor to the BHIP teams in the area of the assessment and treatment of Substance Use Disorders and mental health needs. The clinician will be a member providing evidenced-based mental health treatment to Veterans with SUD and mental health needs. In general, it is our belief that treatments for Veterans with both SUD and Mental Health can be effectively delivered concurrently. The clinician is responsible for providing the full spectrum of counseling services including initial consultation assessment for the BHIP, and brief individual therapy for Veterans who have increased risk for substance use disorders. This could include bridging care into the Atlas SUD program, along accepting Veterans, who have discharged from Atlas for ongoing support and stabilization. The clinician will provide an informed early intervention approach with a full range of proactive, integrated and comprehensive outpatient mental health care that is recovery oriented and evidence-based, including when possible and where indicated, VA Evidence Based Treatment such as Motivational Interviewing or Motivational Enhancement Therapy. This clinician will provide in both face-to-face and Telemental health modalities. The incumbent will also provide education regarding a veteran-centered recovery model, and work with veterans to help them connect with the appropriate level of care. Duties include, but are not limited to: A. Independently selects and implements appropriate psychological, behavioral, and counseling techniques to assess/diagnose problems accurately and plan appropriate treatment interventions for the client. B. Provides highly skilled clinical service for the full range of clients seeking mental health services. Conducts, scores and interprets assessments, and recommends treatment programs to other professionals based on these assessments. Designs and makes recommendations for therapeutic programming. Provides skilled diagnosis and psychotherapy utilizing individual, group, telemedicine, and other standard care delivery formats. C. Provides consultation to other health care professionals within the Mental Health Service Line and throughout the medical center on relevant mental health issues specific to scope of clinical privileges. D. Provides specialized assessment and/or treatment services to appropriate clinical populations and programs as mutually negotiated with the Director, Mental Health Service Line or designee. Such services will be provided in accordance with federal regulations, relevant state law and commonly accepted guidelines established by specialty disciplines or sub-disciplines E. Develops, implements, and documents the psychotherapeutic treatment plan for Veterans with psychological and psychiatric problems. VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU PLEASE SEE THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS BELOW 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. 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. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Available - Ad Hoc as appropriate Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP: Authorized Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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