Social Worker - Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM/ICMHR)

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 functions as the VA Maine Health Care System (VAMEHCS) Case Manager for the Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHlCM) and is part of the multi -disciplinary treatment team, providing comprehensive case management to patients assigned to the MHICM team. Duties may include, but are not limited to: Provides complex clinical services to clients with serious psychological problems on a regular and continuing basis, including suicide preventions, crisis intervention, short- and long-term treatment, emergency food and shelter location, legal referral, employment, structured placement, financial matters, socialization, and any problems encountered in daily living. Completes annual psychosocial assessments that are updated each year. Makes routine home visits for case management and/or coordination of care based upon the acuity of each Veteran following the assessment. Conducts community visits to clients to maintain and encourage community living. Collaborates with Community Residential Care homes where Veterans reside to facilitate community living in the least restrictive environment and to provide support services for the homes. At times, the client may request assistance with placement into a different facility. Accommodates the Veteran, when possible, in providing transportation to take Veterans to medical appointments, job sites, social activities, and other community resources. Responsible to spend at least 75% of their time in the community. Referrals may also be initiated by other interdisciplinary team members that identify psychosocial issues. Responsibilities include an ongoing assessment and adjustment of the Veteran's treatment and progress, as well as developing discharge plans. Works in conjunction with Inpatient MH Social Workers by providing assistance with difficult discharges, provides continuity of care by following up with clients discharged from Mental Health Inpatient care. Provides outreach services to clients and engages in community networking which may include coordination with lawyers, residential care home operators, physicians, clergymen, and representatives of other discipline s who are concerned with the client or same group of clients. Performs other related assigned duties as listed in functional statement. Work Schedule: Full-time; Monday - Friday; 7:30am-4:00pm 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 EDRP Code: B3 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: May Be Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PDF02755 and PDF2330 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees. This position is not a Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by a special rate. This position is in the Excepted Service. May be required to attend conference at other facilities or other VA sites on occasion. Selectee may be required to work at any VA Maine Healthcare System campus, as needed. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.

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: 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). 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 the CSWE website to verify if that social work degree meets the accreditation standards for a Master of Social Work. Licensure: Persons hired or reassigned to social worker positions in the GS-185 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 on the OHRM website. 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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). Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation. (1