A Social Worker (Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program) works closely with an interdisciplinary team in coordinating care for the veteran. The incumbent completes mental health psychosocial assessments, treatment plans and discharge planning. He/she provides supportive services to the family and caregiver as appropriate.

Duties

VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU The duties of the Social Worker - RRT include but are not limited to: Clinical Functions: Incumbent is a professional social worker, who uses a high level of skill in assessing and treating the complicated psychosocial problems of Veterans. Social Work responsibilities include the assessment of psychosocial problems often al a time when the Veteran is experiencing crisis and include the provision of solution-focused counseling with Veterans and/or their families. The incumbent must complete thorough assessments determining presenting lssue(s), factors impacting the issue(s), and potential obstacles to treatment and/or follow up with recommended treatments. The incumbent provides case management services, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, to engage the Veteran and/or support system to determine a coordinated effort to meet agreed upon goals for a Veteran's treatment. This may include liaison with community programs and services regarding needed services for Veterans and/or their families. Services include, but are not limited to, Individual and/or group psychotherapy services, homeless programming, Life skills training, social skills training, hospice services, rehabilitation and/or nursing home care referrals, home health services, financial resource management, VA benefits, transportation services, and psychoeducation group work with Veterans as clinically indicated. - Possesses a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans/support systems. The incumbent independently works with Veterans/support system who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, financial, and psychosocial issues. - Independently identifies high-risk needs and prioritizes case management services. - Independently completes an appropriate (brief or comprehensive) - Independently identifies high-risk needs and prioritizes case management services. - Independently completes an appropriate (brief or comprehensive) psychosocial assessment to determine the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and/or their support systems. The incumbent utilizes the assessment, in conjunction with the Veteran, to facilitate a treatment/action plan which maximize the use of treatment programs/resources for attainment of the highest feasible level of independent functioning. - Actively participates and collaborates with the interdisciplinary treatment team and with Veterans/support systems to develop and implement treatment goals and interventions. Non-Clinical Functions: - Supports the mission, policies, and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the appropriate Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), and the facility. - Can actively participate on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility as deemed appropriate by the supervisor, Mental Health Services Assistant RRTP Chief and/or RRTP Chief, Deputy ACOS and/or ACOS, Mental Health Service. - Keeps their supervisor apprised of problems and recommended solutions to problems encountered in the incumbent's area of responsibility. - Ensures professional growth through continuing education by complying with licensure requirements and continuing education as appropriate to the area of assignment. Completes all Mandatory Talent Management System (TMS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) within required timeframes. - Assists with the orientation and mentoring of newly hired social workers and serves as a field Instructor for social work students, if interested and qualified. - Maintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the assignment and consistent with Mental Health, Joint Commission, CARF and facility standards. As a member of Mental Health Services, the incumbent Is accountable and responsible for Adhering to the Mental Health Service Policies and Guidelines. Attending Service meetings as required Providing sufficient clinical care for competency assessment Participation In a peer review process, as assigned On-call duties on a rotating basis, as appropriate or assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:598-00196-F or 598-00039-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). 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. 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. 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, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Ability to work with Veterans and family members from various socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diversified backgrounds utilizing counseling skills. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate with clients, staff, and representatives of community agencies. (e) 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. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). 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. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. 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: (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. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). Preferred Experience: Experience providing evidenced based treatment approaches to individuals with chronic mental health issues, substance abuse and homelessness. References: VA Handbook 5005/120, Part II Appendix G39, Social Worker Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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: light lifting (under 15 pounds), walking 1-2 hours. Environmental factors include outside and inside, working closely with others. Position does require driving a Government Owned Vehicle (GOV) requiring a state issued driver's license and a clean driving record. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services).

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 L McClellan Memorial Veterans' Hospital 4300 West Seventh Street Little Rock, AR 72205 US
• Name: Sandi Adkins
• Phone: 601-368-4431
• Email: [email protected]