Social Worker BHIP Case Manager

Summary

This position is eligible for the 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

This position serves as the Case Manager for two virtual Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) teams. While many team members are remote, the Social Worker Case Manager is an on-site position. The social worker functions in accordance with the policies, principles, professional ethics, and techniques of accepted Social Work practice to include the National Association of Social Work, professional licensing code, and state laws. Direct clinical and associated administrative responsibilities include: 1. The Case Manager (CM) completes a comprehensive assessment of the concerns, needs, and preferences of the Veteran related to their mental health care. Subsequent reassessments/monitoring are created in collaboration with the Veteran, their family or caregiver, and interprofessional team, as clinically indicated. 2. desired or expected goal(s) and outcome(s), as well as a resource assessment to identify available benefits, assistive options, and appropriate services and resources within and outside VHA. Resources may include existing natural supports, and internal skills and coping mechanisms. 3.The CM plans and implements a care plan through coordination and collaboration with the Veteran, the family or caregivers, and VHA and community providers. The intensity and duration of CM services are dependent on the Veteran's Care needs. The CM assists Veterans/caregivers with system navigation, and linking them in a timely manner to health, mental health, health education, self-management and social services, community-based resources, or benefits, as clinically indicated. The CM will facilitate proactive, patient-centric communication and information sharing between the Veteran or Servicemember, their family or caregiver, providers, and other care team members. 4. The CM will engage, develop, and maintain therapeutic relationships with both the Veteran, families, and caregivers, utilizing resiliency-based, recovery oriented, Veteran-centered communication and practice techniques as well as time-limited psychotherapy (in unique situations) to facilitate progress, growth, and positive lifestyle changes. The CM may conduct psychosocial screening and evaluations for the wide range of mental conditions utilizing best practices for initial and follow-up assessment (i.e., measurement-based care), as well as participates in the development of appropriate treatment plans. 5. The CM provides emergency/crisis intervention services to outpatients experiencing acute psychological crises, helping to stabilize these individuals, assisting in the referral arrangements for transfer to a psychiatric facility for inpatient care if necessary and providing follow up care as needed. 6. The CM will provide Same Day Access services, including screening for risk and other needs assessments, determining appropriate level of care for services, referring Veterans to appropriate services, and assisting with immediate needs. 7. The CM coordinates effective and timely referrals to ensure the appropriate level and type of care, working collaboratively with VA teams across ECHCS, community care providers, and other VA facilities. The CM manages transitions of the Veteran to other interfacility VA programs (e.g., Salt Lake City Telemental Health Clinical Resource Hub), as well as other VHA, DoD, federal, state, and local home and community-based services (to include the Office of Community Care). 8. The CM uses CM best practice processes, procedures, tools, and templates in their work to allow for better tracking, monitoring, and reporting of quality and performance metrics. 9. The CM completes all clinical charting and documentation accurately and in a timely manner as required by and according to procedures outlined by applicable accrediting organization, VHA, Medical Center, and Service policies. 10. The CM engages in various administrative activities, to include peer review to assess the quality of professional care standards provided in the organization, participating in team-, clinic-, and service-based staff meetings, and engagement in continuing education activities to maintain professional licensure and any certification, to include Basic Life Support. The CM maintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Social Work standards, Joint Commission standards, and facility standards. The CM may serve on committees, work groups, and task forces as needed. 11. The CM is responsible for all other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: GS9: 554-52426-A, GS11: 554-62427-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. Social Workers must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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 https://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. GRADE DETERMINATION GS-09 Experience, Education, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to utilize counseling skills when working with Veterans and family members. 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