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

The Social Worker provides counseling and coordination of care, for Veterans receiving care in the Behavioral Health Service (BHS), and acts as the transitional coordinator of care for patients moving to and from inpatient and outpatient Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program settings. Incumbent may provide brief psychotherapy services in the outpatient Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) setting; including Evidence Based Treatments and Trauma Treatment. Performs duties as part of a Home Team model and will also provide services in secondary assignment areas and will occasionally provide coverage for other areas of activity within BHS or coverage while other staff is on leave. Position may float between BHIP teams or other areas of BHS. Care Management is a routine level of care within the mental health continuum assigned to Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) teams. They provide clinical mental health expertise for Veteran transitions of care for BHIP patients, including assessments and reassessments, 1-6 sessions of skill building, skill refresher, counseling for life stressors and adjustment, and limited psychotherapy as appropriate. Care Management refers to other mental health programs; within BHIP, up or down the continuum of Behavioral Health care and within and outside the overall Behavioral Health Service. May participate in Clinician of the Day (COD) activities; screening and assisting same day walk ins and phone calls of established BHS patients. Duties include but are not limited to: Provide a variety of direct psychological treatment services addressing the complex psychosocial issues faced by the Veteran patients served in the BHIP setting. These direct services include, but are not limited to intake assessment, treatment plan development and implementation, treatment interventions (such as individual, family, marital, or small group therapy, trauma, crisis intervention, case management, education, advocacy), and support group development and leadership. Provide a variety of assessment, psychotherapeutic, and training services within the outpatient BHIP setting. Facilitate utilization of resources by assessing eligibility and making referrals to a variety of VA resources and community agencies for assistance with social, emotional, financial, and physical problems. Aid as needed with applications for benefits or negotiating service systems. Coordinate placements in therapeutic housing and other placement options including domiciliary, state soldier's homes, and community residential alternatives. Provide services to established patients of BHS, including patients who need assistance with behavioral health care, housing acquisition, close attention, and monitoring of symptomatology, and assistance with meeting treatment plan goals. May maintain a caseload of patients. Serve as an active member of an interdisciplinary BHS treatment team that develops, implements, evaluates, and updates individualized treatment plans for identified Veterans seeking care through various BHS outpatient programs. Provide occasional coverage for other areas of activity within BHS or coverage while other staff is on leave. Record clinical information in the patient's medical record according to prescribed standards. Collect and maintain required statistical information. Participate on a variety of service and facility committees, task groups, or special projects groups as assigned by Supervisor. Participate in community or field activities in a variety of situations to better coordinate care resources for Veterans. May provide training opportunities and either direct or indirect supervision of graduate Clinical Social Worker students or other related human services students as directed by the Supervisor. Provide consultation to VAMC or community program staff regarding special problems of, and resources for, Veterans suffering from mental health related problems. Uses word processing software to execute several office automations functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files; activating printers; inserting and deleting text, formatting letters, reports, and memoranda; and transmitting and receiving e-mail. Uses the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture to access information in the Medical Center Computer System. Maintain tracking system for special projects, and ongoing data requirements. Attend appropriate educational programs, seminars, etc. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Telework: AD-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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. Loss of Licensure or Certification: Once licensed or certified, social workers must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted independent license or certification to remain qualified for employment. Loss of licensure or certification will result in removal from the GS-0185 social worker series and may result in termination of employment. 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). Grade Determinations: Social Worker, GS-9 Experience/Education: None beyond the basic requirements. *In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs 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. Social Worker, GS-11 Experience/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. 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. *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. Preferred Experience: Experience with veterans. Mental Health experience in outpatient setting with adults age 18 to geriatric. References: VA Handbook 5005/120 Part II Appendix G39. 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-9 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: This work requires use of fingers, both hands required, specific visual requirement to see computer screen and hearing (aid permitted). The environmental factors are silica, asbestos, etc., working closely with others and working alone.

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 Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4815 North Assembly Street Spokane, WA 99205 US
• Name: Jovita Murphy
• Phone: 253-583-3850
• Email: [email protected]