Summary
This position is eligible for Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
Duties
The Job functions / Scope of Practices for this Senior Social Worker - Substance Use Disorder (SUD), GS-0185-12, are listed below but not limited to: A. Provides direct SUD services for HUD-VASH within the Medical Center catchment area. B. Provides outreach services for HUD-VASH in the community. C. Provides training for other CBOC members of the multidisciplinary treatment team in areas related to SUD assessment, and life skills and SUD with co-occurring disorders. D. Independently conducts intake and needs assessment of homeless Veterans and their significant others. Identifies symptoms leading to clinical diagnoses of SUD. E. Provides all necessary assessment functions, e.g. interviewing, psychosocial histories, and SUD assessments to aid in the development of treatment plans F. Develops comprehensive treatment plans with the Veteran that address the factors that contributed to homelessness, including SUD and other co-occurring factors within a recovery model framework. G. Works with the Veteran to realize the Veteran's treatment goals and reassesses and revises goals as indicated by the Veteran's engagement in treatment. H. Organizes and conducts individual and group case management and SUD treatment, to include early interventions and supportive follow-up to ensure stability in home visits and facility-based contacts. I. Provides SUD support to the HUD-VASH team as a functional member of this team, to include consultation, interventions, or accompanying other case managers on home visits, when indicated by suspicion of HUD-VASH participant SUD use. J. Will develop partnerships with community agencies, especially those serving homeless and SUD Veterans, with regular contact and communication. K. Will provide liaison services with other programs referring homeless Veterans to HUD-VASH to ensure continuity of care and promote successful transition of Veterans from one program to another. L. Will provide consultative services to SFVAHCS HUD-VASH and Comprehensive Homeless Center, as needed. M. Will participate in policy making, goal setting, and treatment service planning discussions with other members of HUD-VASH and Homeless Programs. N. Will provide appropriate clinical documentation for all contacts with or about Veterans. O. Provides recovery -oriented treatment with the goal of establishing the Veteran independently in the community at the Veteran's highest level of functioning and quality of life. P. Possess the knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. Q. Has the ability to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team R. Possess the knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures S. Possess the knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals T. Has the ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families U. Has the ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychosocial needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and compliance with treatment V. Has the ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means W. Has the ability to lead team members in the consultative nature of treatment and identify treatment modalities that will affectively guide team members to provide care for Veterans with addiction issues X. Has the ability to independently evaluate his/her own practice through participation in professional peer review case conferences, research studies, or other organized means Duty Location: 3841 Brickway Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Tour of Duty: Monday-Friday 8:00a to 4:30p, or determine by the hiring manager Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Travel Demand: This position requires to travel up to 75%, includes home visits, visits to community agencies, visits to care giving facilities in the community etc., depending on the specific assignment. Driver License: This positions requires to posses the Current and Active California Driver License and maintain a good standing Physical Demands: This position involves primarily walking, talking, driving, use of the telephone, etc. Strenuous physical activity is not required although it is expected to withstand pressure and stress as part of their day-to-day activities.
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. Subject to physical evaluation As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you might be required to serve a 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. 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 dentification 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).
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. 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.