The incumbent serves in a multidisciplinary Outpatient Mental Health Program within the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center and North Eastern Wisconsin Ambulatory Clinics (NEWAC). The duty station is located at the John H. Bradley VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Appleton, WI

Duties

The social worker in this role serves as a member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Team and provides a full range of social work treatment modalities directly to individuals, families, and groups in an outpatient mental health setting. The social worker in this role also offers psychotherapy services within the BHIP Team; consultation to other departments and the community; education to Veterans, families, and staff on a wide range of mental disorders and treatment; and case management services and crisis assessment or management services as needed. Provides a full range of psychodiagnostics services and uses the most appropriate psychotherapeutic techniques in providing quality care to the Veteran population within the NEWAC Outpatient MH clinic. The incumbent is responsible for meeting Veteran needs through psychosocial assessment; psychotherapeutic intervention; crisis assessment and management; individual, family, and/or group treatment; and or psychoeducation and referral. Provides a full range of therapeutic interventions including: evidence based psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapies, group therapy, individual therapy, family/couples therapy, education about MH illnesses, crisis intervention, referrals and consults as appropriate. Independently conducts psychosocial assessment and develops treatment plans in collaboration with Veteran and the interdisciplinary treatment team. Measures outcomes to treatment interventions and monitors treatments offered for efficacy. Information collected is used in collaborative treatment planning with Veteran. Independently identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services, crisis intervention services, family conferences, and interdisciplinary or BHIP team meetings. Maintains a working knowledge of mental health and medical diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and effects/side effects; and medical terminology. Establishes and maintains effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans, families, and others as needed. Maintains complete, accurate, timely, and confidential medical record documentation of patient information. Participates on local, VISN, and/or National councils, committees, and work groups as designated. Participates in the professional peer review process and all professional and administrative evaluation and continuing education activities. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Education: Must 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) Licensure: Must be licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. (COPY OF LICENSE REQUIRED) 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. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Grade Determinations: GS-9 Level: Experience, Education and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. And candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA): Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills 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 communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Fundamental knowledge of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures. This includes acute, chronic, and traumatic illnesses/injuries; common medications and their effects/side effects; and medical terminology. GS-11 Level: In addition to the basic requirements, you must have a minimum of one year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work or other social work-related settings (VA or non-VA experience). OR 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) AND Candidates must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. 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. 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. 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39 Social Worker Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Physical demands do not exceed those of a typical office setting. There may be some walking, standing, twisting, turning, sitting, pushing, bending, repetitive keyboarding, or carrying of light items.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Clement J Zablocki Veterans Administration Medical Center 5000 West National Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53295 US
• Name: Alicia Prindle
• Phone: 414-384-2000 X42030
• Email: [email protected]