This position is located within the Behavioral VA Care Line, with primary assignment to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Services located at the Buffalo VA Medical Center. The social worker functions as part of an interdisciplinary team, providing comprehensive evidence based treatment to Veterans, as well as clinical consultation and systemic consultation to allied clinicians and administrators.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Work is primarily concerned with the welfare of patients/families with mental illness that might be at considerable risk of personal damage or emotional involvement which would require particular caution to prevent or minimize destructive consequences. Will be responsible for interviewing Veterans to establish facts regarding the situation, its nature, cause, components and impact on the client. Work would also include making diagnosis of the Veteran's condition. Interviews Veterans and families, interprets VHA's guidelines and eligibility requirements and completes comprehensive psychosocial history and assessment. Spend sufficient time learning enough about the Veteran affected to understand correctly the present and potential consequences to the client. Responsible for insightful assessment of cases involving Veterans with mental illness, who may react to their situations with impulsive behaviors that may be self-destructive and emotional problems that are associated with health conditions. Develops treatment plans in collaboration with the Veteran/family and with interdisciplinary treatment team. Incumbent possesses the skills to offer psychosocial interventions and measures outcomes to interventions. Responsible for the development of individualized recovery plans. Assess the likelihood that the Veteran will accept the differing types of assistance through the available resources. Incumbent also assesses whether the current level of care is appropriate for continuation for the Veteran or if a referral is needed and appropriate. Through the process of evaluating, following-up and adjusting treatment when necessary, the incumbent establishes a continuing relationship with the Veteran, evaluates progress made towards goals, performs follow-up after referral or if the Veteran misses an appointment and works with the Veteran to make changes to the recovery plan according to the Veterans' current goals for treatment. Monitors the Veterans progress in treatment, maintain comprehensive case documentation and ensures accurate diagnosis and treatment of clinical disorders. Provide individual and group evidence based therapy to Veterans diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the outpatient and/or residential treatment setting. Incumbent provides these clinical services to the Veteran within the policies of the assigned clinical setting. Provides comfort, emotional support and other assistance through empirically based therapeutic interventions to both Veterans individually or, if appropriate and requested, the Veteran's family. Serves as a referral source for Veterans to other community resources or other Governmental resources to resolve problems and meet the needs of the Veteran. Coordinate community-based services, including information and referral for additional services from other VA programs, other government programs and community agency programs. Utilizes highly professional skills to motivate Veterans to identify their own personal strengths and empowers the Veteran to understand the role that his or her strengths play in facilitating growth, change and the maintenance of this gained effectiveness in their lives. While interacting with Veterans and families, will demonstrate acceptance, interest, encouragement, empathy and genuineness. Incumbent will selectively use questioning, explanation and guidance while working with Veterans and families to explore their problems. Incumbent employs clinical methods and skills to engage Veterans and families to maintain a therapeutic relationship that will help Veterans and families work towards the most helpful and appropriate way to manage and cope with problems. Independently performs case finding functions and outreach, identifying and screening patients for psychosocial needs. Identifies high-risk patients and provides case management services. Provides crisis intervention services, seeking to address the cause as well as the presenting complaint, coordinates family conferences and serves as liaison to family members. Has working knowledge and experience in use 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. Independently work with patients and families who are experiencing a variety of psychiatric, medical and social problems utilizing individual, group and family counseling and therapy skills. Engage in outreach activities as needed to promote awareness of PTSD services. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD39191F 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: Possess 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. For grades below or at the full performance level, VHA social workers who are not licensed or certified at the time of appointment must become licensed or certified at the independent master's level within 3 years of their appointment as a social worker. Licensure: Possess a full and unrestricted license or certification by a state to independently practice social work at the master's degree level. English Language Proficiency: Social workers must be proficient in spoken and written English. GS-11 Grade Determinations: 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. 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. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of community resources, how to make appropriate referrals to community and other governmental agencies for services, and ability to coordinate services. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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 Preferred Experience: At least 3 years clinical experience providing individual and group therapy for PTSD. Certification in CPT, PE, and/or EMDR The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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 VA Western New York Healthcare System 3495 Bailey Avenue Buffalo, NY 14215 US
• Name: Crystal Collier
• Email: [email protected]