The Senior Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) provides specialty mental health services to the population enrolled in the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center and its affiliated Community-Based Outpatient Clinics. This includes clinical treatment, advocacy, and coordination of linkages to other appropriate VA or community service providers/agencies as needed by the Veteran.

Duties

Major Duties and Responsibilities: Performs Suicide Risk Screening and Psychosocial Assessments The Senior Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) has the ability to serve Veterans who access services, may be experiencing severe crises, lack family or an adequate community support network, has difficulty self-monitoring, seeking resources, services and treatment, or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychosocial support. The incumbent is experienced in making rapid and thorough assessments of suicide risk and developing safety plans and/or crisis management plans for admission to mental health inpatient programs. The incumbent follows the facility policy and national directives regarding suicide prevention, screening for suicide risk, and management of high-risk Veterans. Makes Psychosocial Diagnoses Independently evaluates the Veteran's situation, including the Veteran's reaction and ability to deal with it, and the impact on the Veteran's functioning. Based on the psychosocial assessment, uses professional judgment and advanced practice skills to make a diagnosis consistent with DSM-V. Plans Effective Treatment Collaboratively develops treatment plans with Veterans and Veterans' families or significant others, as indicated, and in coordination with interdisciplinary team members. Treatment plans should include objectives, goals, and interventions that address the Veteran's identified problem or what matters most to them and should include measurement-based care. The incumbent will complete the treatment plan and make updates as necessary and indicated based on Veterans' changing needs and response to interventions, per the Standard of Work document. Implements Treatment Provides evidence- and measurement-based, clinical services focused on substance use disorders to Veterans and family members/significant others in support of the Veteran's treatment. Gives advice, guidance, emotional support, and other assistance. Provides individual psychotherapy and group counseling services. Assists and encourages Veterans and significant others in facing problems, thinking them through, evaluating the situation realistically, considering alternative courses of action, and arriving at plans for using resources to resolve problems. The Senior Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) actively participates as a member of all BHIP teams for JJP and its affiliated CBOCs as the subject matter expert (SME) for substance use disorders, as part of the interdisciplinary treatment process. Evaluation, Education, Supervision, Coaching, and Mentoring Evaluates his/her practice on an on-going basis through participation in professional peer review, case conferences, research studies, or other organized means. Is active in and accepts responsibility for the development and maintenance of professional standards of treatment. Senior Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) will maintain appropriate continuing education for licensure renewal and provide documentation to credentialing staff to maintain up-to-date clinical privileges. Administrative responsibilities The incumbent will enter all Veteran/family contacts, assessments, screenings, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, follow-ups, and referrals in the electronic medical record using appropriate formats and templates within 24 hours of the contact. This information will be entered in a complete, confidential, and professional manner. The incumbent will participate in performance improvement processes and comply with performance standards as required by the VA for their specific population and/or program. The incumbent will participate in activities that obtain feedback from Veterans to work to enhance services as needed. The Senior Social Worker - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) will complete a professional development plan and discuss with supervisor. The incumbent will attend all appropriate staff meetings and other committee meetings as assigned or as appropriate Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am-4:30pm. After Hours, On-Call Status on a rotation basis is required for this position. Telework: ADHOC Telework, based on supervisory approval. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Recruitment Incentive Authorized. EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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. Note: 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. Licensed or certified by a state to independently practice social work at the advanced practice level which included an advanced generalist or clinical examination, unless they are grandfathered by the state in which they are licensed to practice at the advanced practice level (except for licenses issued in California, which administers its own clinical examination for advanced practice) and they must be able to provide supervision for licensure. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade. The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade. Senior Social Worker, GS-12 Experience: At least two years of experience post advanced practice clinical licensure and should be in a specialized area of social work practice of which, one year must be equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Senior social workers have experience that demonstrates possession of advanced practice skills and judgment and are experts in their specialized area of practice. Senior social workers may have certification or other post-masters training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship or equivalent supervised professional experience in a specialty. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special patient populations. This includes individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy and advanced level psychosocial and/or case management. Ability to incorporate complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. Knowledge in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of social work practice and services in the specialty area, utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes. Ability to provide specialized consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients in the service delivery area, as well as role modeling effective social work practice skills. Ability to expand clinical knowledge in the social work profession, and to write policies, procedures, and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area. Preferred Experience: Experience in Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program BHIP positions preferred. Certification and Experience Providing Evidence Based Therapies preferred. References: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-39 Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position involve active listening, reading, speaking, observing and evaluating verbal and nonverbal behavior, limited walking, sitting, writing reports, writing clinical notes, and using office equipment such as computers, telephones, fax machines, and photocopy machines. Strenuous physical activity is not required. Occasional travel from approved alternative worksite to main facility and affiliated CBOCs is required.

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 John J Pershing VA Medical Center 1500 North Westwood Boulevard Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 US
• Name: Jerome Edmonds
• Phone: (573)712-3971
• Email: [email protected]