Social Worker - Older Adult Mental Health Clinic

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 Social Worker duties include, but are not limited to: Screening/Assessment - In conjunction with the interdisciplinary medical team, the OAMHC Social Worker screens and assesses the Veteran psychological and psychosocial needs and barriers in order to facilitate his or her access to appropriate VA and community resources. Through collaborative relationships with the Veteran, his or her family/caregiver and other VA programs and VA staff, the OAMHC Social Worker gathers clinical information vital to the process of setting appropriate treatment goals and time frames for achieving those goals. Assessment information, comprising the Psychiatry Assessment Template includes, among other issues: Marital/family/social status Psychiatric and substance use history Employment/educational/financial status Use of entitlement programs Legal problems/issues Impact of medical problems on psychosocial functioning Strengths/Limitations Military history (especially as it pertains to PTSD). Case Management - The OAMHC Social Worker, as the Primary Mental Health Provider for his/her caseload, will be responsible for all aspects of clinical management, including (but not necessarily limited to): Provision of individual psychotherapy services Referral to appropriate group therapy services Referral to appropriate psychiatric medication management services Referral for appropriate psychological testing services Referral to appropriate substance abuse services Referral to appropriate medical services Crisis management Follow-through on no-shows, according to the Service No-show policy Regular review and update of progress through treatment plan reviews Advocacy Education/health promotion Completion of required paperwork supporting or documenting Veteran's care. Direct Patient Care - Provides a full range of psycho-diagnostic services including assessment and using the most appropriate Evidence-Based psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care. 2. Performs general social work mental health/psychological evaluations. 3. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions for patients in assigned clinical setting. 4. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including facilitation of recovery-oriented groups and psycho-educational classes within the Psychiatry and Mental Health Service programming. 5. Provides individual therapeutic contact as needed within the OAMHC. 6. As a clinical Social Worker at the full performance level, duties include but are not limited to: a. Assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; b. Using clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; c. Acting as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. 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: Available In accordance with VA Policy and Supervisor discretion Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 92810-A, 92811-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: 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 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. Indiana requires Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) 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 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 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 (Graduate) 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 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, pr