Social Worker Homeless Program Substance Use Disorder Specialist

We're Looking for a skilled Social Worker Homeless Program Substance Use Disorder Specialist in the Veterans Health Administration based in Winter Park, Florida. Read through the job description to see if it matches your current experience.

The Successful Applicant

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: Noncitizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Education: Have a masters 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 masters 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 GS0185 series in VHA must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the masters 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 GS9 grade level. For the GS11 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. For appointments at the GS9 grade level VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent masters level within three years of their appointment as a social worker. Most states require two years of postMSW 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 masters level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure. 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS09 (Entry Level) Experience Education and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. GS11 (FullPerformance Level) Experience and Licensure: Appointment to the GS11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one (1) year of postMSW experience equivalent to the GS9 grade level in the field of health care or other social workrelated settings (VA or nonVA 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 (1) year of professional social work experience in a clinical setting. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Preferred Experience: Experience in performing assessments treatment planning care coordination crisis intervention and advocacy. Experience working with client populations experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders. Able to work independently providing psychosocial support to client populations with highly complex health mental health and/or substance use problems and the provision of shortterm solutionfocused counseling with clients and/or their families. Experience in locating and obtaining community resources and assisting with linkage to appropriate referrals. Ability to drive a government vehicle. Ability to provide care coordination for people experiencing housing insecurity. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be in overall good health able to sit at a desk working at a computer engage in light to moderate physical activity including sitting walking bending and carrying supplies. The incumbent must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands with reasonable accommodation if necessary without endangering the health and safety of others. Position requires walking throughout the clinic and/or Medical Center standing for extended periods of time and involves sitting at a computer and in counsel and consultation with Veterans and interdisciplinary teams. Position requires regular and recurring periods of standing walking lifting accessing transportation and driving a government car or van. Work requires being physically able to lift and carry objects up to 15 pounds conducting street outreach in the community in the extreme heat and unpredictable inclement weather of Central Florida walking a moderate to high distance to obtain a government vehicle and to make contact with Veterans for facetoface visits as a part of outreach efforts ability to climb and descend several flights of stairs and to maintain an individual level of selfpreservation in the community.

What’s on Offer

The role offers excellent opportunities for top performers to further develop their competencies as a social worker and improving the lives of people.