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. 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

This position is an onsite, triage social worker in the outpatient Mental Health Department, Triage Clinic also known as the Front Door, at the Madison VA Hospital. Triage social workers are responsible for addressing and completing initial evaluations of same day access needs for Veterans reporting mental health concerns, inclusive of Veterans that present to the Emergency Department. Same day access needs can vary in intensity and may include, but are not limited to coordinating the scheduling of an intake, submitting VA/non VA referrals, working with eligibility, completing applicable risk assessments (inclusive of suicide/homicide), developing safety plans with the patient and/or applicable support systems, and performing crisis intervention services that may include working with local police/VA police, suicide prevention staff, emergency department staff, and local crisis units. Triage Social Workers also take a primary role in ensuring that Mental Health intake appointments are completed (inclusive of coordinating staff coverage, contacting Veterans when slots open unexpectedly due to cancellations, etc.) and may provide brief mental health services as a bridge for Veterans that are waiting for their intake appointment and/or first therapy session, if appropriate. Mental Health Triage Social Workers are part of a slightly larger MH SW group that includes inpatient acute psychiatry Social Workers. Triage and Acute Psychiatry Social Workers are cross trained to provide coverage in either area (inpatient unit or triage clinic). Inpatient Acute Psychiatry social work duties focus on discharge planning inclusive of coordinating outpatient mental health services post-discharge, developing safety plans, facilitating family meetings, completing and providing education about advance directives, submitting and monitoring referrals (transportation, financial, legal, food, housing, etc.) and serves as the lead/contact for any guardianship/placement/HCPOA issues/plans. For both areas (triage and inpatient) the Social Worker must be able to perform the following duties: Conduct psychosocial assessments and bio-psycho-social assessments inclusive of a mental status examination and diagnostic interview. Provide psychosocial interventions/treatments with supervision (as needed) to a wide variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds. This requires knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological), and the differential influences of the environment, society, and culture. Complete inpatient MH consults for suicide risk evaluation and CSRE on medical/surgical units with patients who have a positive C-SSRS both at admission and discharge. Work independently with Veteran and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. Perform case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. Assess psychiatric conditions according to the DSM-5. Perform mental health diagnostic interviews with patients referred to specialty mental health clinics. Develop treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team within established time frames. Possess the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measure outcomes of interventions. Provide crisis intervention services, including timely and appropriate interventions to prevent harm to self or others, as well as coordination of family involvement when indicated. Consult with supervisor, psychiatrist, Suicide Prevention Coordinators and/or other team members when moderate or high risk of harm is identified. Complete suicide prevention documentation in accordance with established guidelines. Provide any necessary follow up calls for High Risk patients due to the following reasons: they lack a consistent provider, provider called off, they missed their last appointment and need contact for the measure, availability is too far out for regular provider, walk-ins. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0800-1630 Telework: Ad-hoc Telework Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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. 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. English Language Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. ? 7403(f). Social Worker, GS-11 Experience and Licensure. Appointment to the GS-11 grade level requires completion of a minimum of one year of post-MSW experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in the field of health care or other social work-related settings, (VA or non-VA experience) and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. NOTE: For appointment licensure or certification at this level please refer to paragraph 3c. OR Education. In addition to meeting basic requirements, a 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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 G39The 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-9 to GS-11.

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 William S Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital 2500 Overlook Terrace Madison, WI 53705 US
• Name: Cecile Ovalle
• Phone: (845) 728-4127
• Email: [email protected]