The primary responsibilities of this position are to provide intensive case management services, continuous quality improvement activities, evaluation/consultation, psychosocial assessments, patient groups, individual therapy, placement services, and referrals to various community agencies and hospital services to Enhanced Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (ERANGE) patients.

Duties

This Social Worker position provides independent mental health services to veterans and families, consultations to other services and to the community, and educations of patients, families, and hospital staff on mental disorders and related treatments. The incumbent provides direct patient care, telephone conferences, and Telemental Health services as appropriate, and maintains full professional responsibility for clinical interventions. Major Duties: Independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifies and screens patients for psychosocial needs and implements treatment modalities, provides counseling or psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups. Independently conducts psychosocial assessments and develops treatment plans in collaboration with the veteran/family and with the interdisciplinary treatment team. Makes referrals as appropriate to groups, individual therapies and other complementary services for specialty care (e.g., PCT, SUD, MST, etc.). Coordinates community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. Independently identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services. Independently provides consultation services to other staff regarding the psychosocial needs of veterans and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care and adherence to treatment plan. General knowledge of veterans' benefits and services relating to special programs, service connected compensation, non-service connected pension. Facilitates referrals based upon veterans needs and eligibility. Provides same day access to Veterans requesting care, as needed and appropriate. Provides "on-call" duties. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 15 days of the closing date of this announcement. Basic Requirements: U.S. citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Education: Must have a Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) 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. Licensure: 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 up to the full performance level. For grade levels above the full performance level, the candidate must be licensed or certified. GRADE REQUIREMENTSGS-9 Level: In addition to the basic requirements listed above, you have less than one year of post-MSW experience or are not yet licensed or certified at the independent practice level AND You must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 1. Ability to provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, 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. 2. Ability to work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical, and social problems utilizing individual, group, and family counseling skills. Work with more complex problems is done under close supervision. With guidance from the social work supervisor, ability to assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of patients and their family members, and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and assistance needed. 3. Basic knowledge of psychosocial treatment modalities and, under supervision, 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. 4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with people from varied backgrounds. 5. 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. 6. Basic skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking. Ability to learn and utilize software programs GS-11 Level: In addition to the basic requirements above, you must have a minimum of one year of post-MSW degree experience in the field of health care social work OR Doctoral degree in social work from an accredited school of social work AND You must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:1. Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services 2. Ability to independently assess the psychological functioning and needs of patients and their family members and to formulate and implement a treatment plan, identifying the patient's problems, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and assistance needed, in collaboration with the patient, family and interdisciplinary treatment team; 3. Ability to independently conduct psychosocial assessments and provide psychosocial treatment to a wide variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds requiring knowledge of human development and behavior (physical and psychological) and the differential influences of the environment, society and culture; 4. Knowledge and experience in the use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities and treatment procedures including acute, chronic and traumatic illness/injuries, common medications and their side effects and medical terminology; 5. Knowledge of psychosocial treatment and ability to independently implement treatment modalities in working with individuals, families and groups who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems to achieve treatment goals requiring independent judgment and skill in utilizing supportive, problem solving or crisis intervention techniques; 6. Ability to independently provide counseling and/or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups and families within the bounds of your license or certification; 7. Ability to provide consultation services to other staff about the psychological needs of patients and the impact of psychosocial problems on health care compliance with treatment, and provide orientation and coaching to new social workers and social work graduate students 8. Ability to independently evaluate your own practice through participation peer review case conferences, research studies or other organized means; 9. Knowledge and skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, and tracking. References: VA Handbook 5005/50, Part II, Appendix G39. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application .

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 Oscar G Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 325 East H Street Iron Mountain, MI 49801 US
• Name: Kevin Estrada
• Phone: 319-338-0581 X636728
• Email: [email protected]