This position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (HVAMC), under the Community Based Clinics (CBOC) Service Line. This position is aligned with the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program/Outpatient Mental Health Services.

Duties

Clinical Responsibilities Complete psychosocial assessments to determine the psychosocial functioning, including acuity, high risk or at-risk factors, and needs of the Veterans and/or their families. Uses clinical training, insight, and experience to interpret data to identify treatment options. Must possess knowledge and ability to independently implement treatment modalities, provide skill-based and Evidenced-Based Psychotherapies in group and individual therapy for Veterans and their families in the BHIP team, and as needed, Specialty Mental Health Programs. At a minimum, must be able to practice trauma-informed mental health care, as the Veteran population has high rates of exposure to trauma. Has the ability to serve Veterans who tend to have serious frequent and severe crises, lack family or adequate community support network, be poor at self-monitoring, frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment, and have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychological support. Must possess a working knowledge and experience in use of medical and mental health diagnoses, disabilities, and treatment procedures, including acute, chronic trauma and PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, anxiety and adjustment disorders, personality disorders, psychotic spectrum disorders, etc. as well as common medications and their effects/side effects, and medical terminology. Active member of the BHIP team who contributes to program development, consultation, and treatment planning within an interdisciplinary treatment team. Must have a high level of skill and expertise to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with Veterans served by the BHIP Team and CBOCs. Must possess and demonstrate ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds. Administrative Responsibilities Responsible for supporting 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. Maintains a level of productivity and quality consistent with the complexity of the BHIP assignment and consistent with Social Work standards, Joint Commission standards, and facility standards. Assists the Program Manager and the BHIP Team Lead in the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for Veterans served in the team. Complies with national and local performance measures, including timely health care screening, treatment planning, documentation, and completion of clinical reminders for all patients. Is able to demonstrate knowledge and skill in the use of software applications for drafting documents and data management as well as other computer applications and systems in use by the VHA. Keeps the supervisor apprised of problems and recommend solutions to problems in the incumbent's area of responsibility. Responsible for furthering one's own professional growth through continuing education and ensuring continuing education is appropriate to the area of assignment. Attends and participates in administrative and informational meetings held by the Service Line Chief (or designee) and facility Director as requested. i. Attends regular CBOC Mental Health and Social Work staff meetings, and CBOC and Medical staff meetings as requested. Other Significant Responsibilities Complies with all CPRS documentation procedures, including timeliness standards for documentation and proper patient check out procedures. Is responsible for timely completion of all clinical charting and documentation. Serves on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility, VISN, and/or National VA as deemed appropriate by supervisor and Service Line Chief. Involved in performance improvement and quality assurance initiatives. May represent Social Work on decision-making committees at the Medical Center or Healthcare System, as assigned. Is able to provide assistance with the orientation and learning of less experienced social workers and, if interested and deemed appropriate by supervisor and Social Work Service Chief, to serve as a field preceptor for social work students. These duties at the GS 9 level will essentially be the same but, with close supervision. Performs other related duties as assigned. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The work is primarily sedentary in nature and usually occurs within climate controlled clinical and administrative settings. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Ad-Hoc. As described in agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Mayleka.HicksAmerson@VA,gov or [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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: Have a master's degree in social work from a school of social work fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). 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 (For GS 11). Grade Determinations: GS-09 Experience, Education, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: (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. Assignment. Social workers at the GS-9 entry level are typically assigned to program areas that do not require specialized knowledge or experience. Duties may include but are not limited to: identifying behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect or exploitation; providing education on advance directives and advanced care planning; providing social work case management; acting as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers/agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver; assessing the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills and psychosocial acuity, in collaboration with the Veteran, family, and interdisciplinary treatment teams; maintaining a current network of internal and external resources to educate the Veteran and/or family members/caregivers and assist with the appropriate referrals. Since social workers at this level are not practicing at an independent level, they should not be assigned to program areas where independent practice is required, such as in a CBOC, unless there is a licensed social worker in the program area who can provide supervision for practice. GS-9 social workers provide psychosocial services in the assigned area under supervision. GS-11 Experience and Licensure: 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, and licensure or certification in a state at the independent practice level. Assignment. Are assigned to all program areas, including but not limited to: inpatient or outpatient medicine, surgery, mental health, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, and geriatrics. Employees provide professional, independent social work services in the assigned area. Duties include but are not limited to: assessing and documenting identified behaviors or symptoms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and/or intimate partner violence; use of clinical social work skills and knowledge to maintain Veteran privacy and confidentiality per policies, handbooks or directives; and acts as an advocate with appropriate VA and community service providers and agencies when it serves the best interest of the Veteran and family members/caregiver. Incumbent independently assesses the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members, identifying the Veteran's strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. In collaboration with the Veteran, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary treatment team, the social worker facilitates the delivery of health care services. The social worker identifies family/caregiver stressors, conducts assessment and provides specific interventions. The incumbent provides case management and care coordination to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services, incorporates complex multiple causation in differential diagnosis and treatment of Veterans, including making psychosocial and psychiatric diagnoses within approved clinical privileges or scope of practice. The social worker links the Veteran with services, resources, and opportunities, in order to maximize the Veteran's independence, health, and well-being. The social worker conducts timely assessment of at-risk Veterans in crisis to identify immediate needs, evaluate risk, and initiate safety plan as appropriate. The social worker provides interventions independently with Veterans and their families/caregivers who are experiencing a wide range of complicated medical, behavioral health, financial, legal, and psychosocial problems. They provide a range of interventions and treatment modalities which may include individual, group, and/or family counseling or psychotherapy. They independently formulate and implement a treatment plan including measurable, achievable goals identifying the Veterans' needs, strengths, weaknesses, coping skills, and psychosocial acuity. Social workers serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility and VISN level or in the community. They provide subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of Veterans offering professional opinions based on experience, expertise and role modeling effective social work practice skills. The social worker establishes and maintains ongoing education programs for Veterans, community agencies, students, and staff, to facilitate understanding of social work interventions specific to the Veteran/Military population. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities: (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 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-09 to GS-11.

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 Hampton VA Medical Center 100 Emancipation Drive Hampton, VA 23667 US
• Name: Michael Schultz
• Phone: 804-274-9694
• Email: [email protected]