Summary

The incumbent serves as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker providing Primary Care Mental Health Integration and Behavioral Health services to patients with complex bio-psycho-social issues enrolled at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VAMC. The Social Worker coordinates the day-to-day integrated mental health patient care treatment needs of the Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• 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
• (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED) Licensure/Certification
• 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/
• (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED FOR GS-11) GRADE DETERMINATIONS: 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 - 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
• (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT WITH CONFERRED DATE REQUIRED) 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
• 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 GS-11
• PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Use of fingers - both hands required - able to see computer screen - and hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Environmental factors include working closely with others and working alone.

Duties

• RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED Develop an assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members and significant others
• Provide compassionate care to Veterans with serious medical and psychiatric problems thru crisis intervention - counseling - and/or referral
• Assist Veterans to develop coping skills for multiple complex psychosocial issues which impact functioning through group classes on family life skills
• Identify resources to meet the needs of Veterans
• Deliver psychosocial services via individual - couple - family - and group counseling utilizing face-to-face - telephone - or tele-mental health video conferencing
• Provide the following integrated mental health service delivery in a Primary Care setting: Collaboration with PCP/Team - making \"warm hand-off\" a priority
• Open Access format in place to address same day clinical issues - \"Trouble shooting\"
• Rapid evaluation and stabilization - consultation
• Once stable - will work in collaboration with Primary Care Provider (PCP) and return patient to PCP for routine care
• Refer and help facilitate transfer (Referral Management) to specialty mental health care when indicated
• Develop the treatment plan in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team - the Veteran - family members - and significant others - setting achievable treatment goals with the Veteran/family and treatment team
• Collaborate with other service providers in reassessing the Veteran's needs
• Educate the Veteran and/or caregiver 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
• Use the social work resource file of VA and community social service programs to refer Veterans
• Act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the Veteran/family
• Educate and encourage the Veteran/family to advocate on their own behalf - thus fostering a sense of independence and empowerment
• Make rapid assessments and develop crisis management plans for transfer to a safe and supportive environment
• Provide education related to VA and community resources - entitlements - Advance Directives/Living Will and will refer Veterans/families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs
• Review the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each Veteran being referred for mental health services
• Educate the Veteran - their families and the team of all the options available to them and will collaborate with the Veteran and family on the preferred option
• Provide Veterans and their caregivers with ongoing supportive counseling and evidence-based therapies as appropriate
• Enter Veteran/family contacts in the electronic record using appropriate 3 formats and templates
• Ensure that communication is compliant with privacy - Release of Information and Health Information Portability and Accountability Act regulations
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with employees - volunteers - consumers and stakeholders within the VA and outside community agencies Attend staff meetings
• Participate in activities that obtain feedback from clients and work to enhance services as needed
• Participate in providing Tele-Mental Health Services to Veterans in rural remote areas as appropriate to address their specific psycho-social care needs
• Social Work: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Social-Worker-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available - depending on the needs of the department Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be Authorized 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) 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: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized