Social Worker-Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

Summary

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. Program 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.

Duties

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The social worker serves as a therapist on a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team. Practices within the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics. Develops a psychosocial assessment of the veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the veteran and family members/significant others. Demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment & skills needed for all adult patients, being sensitive to human growth & development, age-appropriate needs, & concerns of the veteran, & be able to provide current & advanced techniques to the treatment of this veteran population. Possesses a working knowledge & experience in use of medical & mental health diagnoses: disabilities, & 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 the psychosocial assessment. Responsible for contributing to the development of the treatment plan & setting achievable treatment goals with the veteran, family members/significant others and other BHIP clinical staff. Facilitates discharge planning through collaboration with Veterans & their families as well as interdisciplinary treatment team members to ensure that appropriate discharge plans are executed in a timely manner. Provides individual, family, & group psychotherapeutic treatment of mental & emotional disorders & emotional pain using evidence-based psychological methods. 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, & changing behavior to foster recovery & over all well-being. Collaborates with other service providers in reassessing the veteran's needs. Understands the intimidation of bureaucracy and will act as an advocate when it serves the best interest of the veteran and family members/caregiver. Makes rapid assessments, when needed, and develops crisis management plans, including admission to mental health inpatient programs when appropriate. Has access to multiple resource directories in addition to previously developed resources to meet the demands of a crisis. Provides education related to VA & community resources, entitlements, Advance Directives/Living Will & will refer veterans and family members/significant others to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs. Reviews the progress notes from the other providers to accurately determine the strengths and limitations of each veteran. Educates 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. Participates in Mental Health Social Work peer review. Completes all clinical documentation according to facility timelines. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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 #: 54112-A & 54113-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens 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 & 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. 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: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience, Education, & Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to utilize counseling skills when wo