Summary

The Social Worker provides Mental Health services as part of a BHIP team to the Veteran population enrolled throughout the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System. Services include facilitation of psychosocial assessments and provision of high-quality case management - individual and group psychotherapy - clinical treatment - crisis intervention - advocacy - and coordination of referral to other appropriate VA or community services providers/agencies - as needed by the Veteran.

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:

• The basic requirements for employment as a VHA social worker are prescribed by statute in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(9) - as amended by section 205 of Public Law 106-419 - enacted November 1 - 2000
• To qualify for appointment as a social worker in VHA - all applicants must meet the following: Citizenship:
• Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g this part)
• 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 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 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 GS-9 grade level - VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent - master's level within three years of their appointment as a social worker
• Most states require two years of post-MSW 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 - master's level within one year of meeting the full state prerequisites for licensure Grandfathering Provision
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date (9/10/2019) of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• 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: Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic - cultural - ethnic - educational - and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills
• 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
• 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
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients - staff - and representatives of community agencies
• 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
• NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c
• 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: Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• Knowledge of community resources - how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services - and ability to coordinate services
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Fully licensed
• experience providing EBPs Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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: Physical demands of the work are generally minor - as the position requires sitting - standing - and walking
• Some travel is required as the incumbent is required to conducted monthly active outreach in the community which may require traveling long distances
• The emotional demands can be stressful in working with high-risk for suicide veteran population and their families
• A high level of self-awareness is essential
• Work - divided between office and clinical settings - is primarily sedentary
• May require prolonged standing - moderate walking - and manual dexterity
• Requires carrying light items - such as books - files - or laptop computer.

Duties

• Incumbent will practice within the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics
• Incumbent will develop a psychosocial assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the veteran and family members/significant others
• The incumbent demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment and skills needed for all adult patients - being sensitive to human growth and development - age-appropriate needs - and concerns of the veteran - and be able to provide current and advanced techniques to the treatment of this veteran population
• Incumbents possess a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses: disabilities - and treatment procedures - including acute - chronic - and traumatic illnesses - common medications - and their effects/side effects
• and medical terminology
• Working within the interdisciplinary treatment team - the incumbent will share in the development of a treatment plan with the veteran based on this psychosocial assessment
• Incumbent is responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan and setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran - family members/significant others and other Outpatient Mental Health clinical staff
• The incumbent is also responsible for facilitating discharge planning through collaboration with Veterans and their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate discharge plans are executed in a timely manner
• Incumbent provides individual - family - and group psychotherapeutic treatment of mental and emotional disorders and emotional pain using evidence-based psychological methods (i.e. - ACT - CBT - CPT - PE - etc.)
• The purpose of psychotherapeutic treatment is to address the psychosocial impact of coping with severe mental illness(es) - chronic/disabling illness(es) - onset of a catastrophic illness - etc
• Psychotherapeutic goals include relieving symptoms - increasing understanding - and changing behavior to foster recovery and over all well-being
• Incumbent will collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs
• The incumbent is responsible for educating the veteran and family members/significant others of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the veteran's preference or that of his surrogate decision-maker
• Incumbent understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran and family members/caregiver
• When appropriate and feasible - the incumbent will educate and encourage the veteran to advocate on his/her own behalf - thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment
• Incumbent is experienced in making rapid assessments and developing crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs
• The incumbent has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis
• In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency: staff will follow the protocol of his/her respective mental health unit/program and VA Medical Eastern Colorado Healthcare System
• Incumbent provides education related to VA and community resources - entitlements - Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer veterans and family members/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs
• Incumbent will review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each veteran
• The incumbent will educate the veteran - their family members/significant other and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the veteran and family members/significant other on the preferred option
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00 AM -4:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 554-54112-A -554-54112-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized